Syllabus

Master of Science in Education

EDU 753: Working with Special Needs Students

Credits - 3

Description

This course will explore the variety of lesson plan modifications, workplace adaptations, and Individual learning plans required to meet the needs of all students. Participants will be asked to review sample Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and student records / files to determine best adaptations for CTE programming. Special Education Laws, Vocational Rehabilitation strategies, and work placement activities will highlight course expectations.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Students will:

• Examine all aspects of student diversity and the impact that working with all populations of students has on teaching and learning.
• Explain how the National, State and Local Special Education laws, regulations and procedures and I.E. P.’s apply to individual teaching and/or leadership situations in the CTE teaching arena.
• Assess the classroom learning environment for inclusion of students from special populations served in CTE environments and explain specific modifications required for a workplace setting for students with special needs.
• Research Differentiated Instructional (DI) methods, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and other adaptive strategies and explain effective ways to revise current teaching practices and adapt lesson plans for all populations of students.
• Design rigorous and relevant lesson plans and assessments with evidence that instructional planning, assessments and activities address the needs of all students including those with special needs or from special populations included in CTE environments.
• Develop a resource tool/handbook relevant for educators who work with students with special needs and special population in CTE environments.
• Examine resources, transition services and concerns for students with special needs or special populations and their families and develop a local resource guide for theirr area.
• Examine emerging trends in special education with relevance to CTE teaching environments.
• Evaluate their learning as a result of the topics explored in this course and reflect on how they may adapt and revise current teaching practices to work effectively with all populations of students.

Assignments

• Discussion Postings and Weekly activities. These assignments will be graded by your ability to clearly and accurately apply concepts from your readings and from your experiences in writing (see grading rubrics for Discussion Posts and Activities). It is expected that you are online several times during each week in order to fully interact with the material and your classmates. You are expected to post/participate often and comment on others’ postings. You are expected to complete all activities on or before the due date.

• Research Paper- You will conduct research on a topic relevant to working with students with special needs and write a short paper using APA style. Your work will be awarded points based on the rubric. Topics will be explored in the first three weeks of class. More specific information on this assignment will be included in the weekly course content.

• Lesson Plans (2) – you will develop at least two lesson plans for the discipline that you teach. The lesson plans will include components, including but not limited to; standards used, objectives/learning targets, assessments, instructional strategies, resources, procedures, adaptations or accommodations for students with special needs or from special populations, differentiated teaching strategies and activities and student work products.

• Resource Tool/Handbook for CTE teachers working with students with special needs- You will develop a tool for other educators who work in CTE settings with students with special needs or students from special populations. The handbook will include but is not limited to the following:
  • Roles, responsibilities and rights of teachers in
    • E.P. meetings
    • Making accommodations and modifications in the classroom (use your own specific State requirement, local rules for providing accommodations and modification for students with special needs.
    • Working with families (FERPA).
    • Collaborating with local schools, special education personnel and community
    • Transition plans for careers or post-secondary education.
  • Referral procedures in your local school or situation
  • Resources for teachers who work with students with special needs such as ways to differentiat instruction or make accommodations and modifications or other resources that will assist teachers in CTE classrooms.
  • General instructional strategies that are successful for working with students with special needs and from special populations

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Discussion Board Posts	Point Value	Total Points
8 Discussion Board Posting	3 points each	24
4 Activities	5 points each	20
2 Lesson Plans	8 points each	16
Research Paper	20 points	20
Resource Tools for Educators	20 points	20
TOTAL POINTS	100 POINTS	100

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00