300
Characteristics of Students with High Incidence Disabilities. This course focuses on the physical, sensory, communication, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics of students with high incidence disabilities. Characteristics of learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, emotional disabilities, and communication disorders will be covered with specific emphasis on the impact of these characteristics on learning, curriculum, program development, and needed services and support.Students will complete 15 hours of observation in a classroom with students who have high incidence disabilities.
Characteristics of Students With Low Incidence Disabilities. This course will provide a strong foundation for building sound critical-thinking skills based on classic and current empirical-based research byproviding an overview of the best practices for working with persons who have low incidence disabilities. Students will be encouragedto develop their own appreciation for individuals who are the most vulnerable because of their disabilities and demonstrates how to effectively collaborate with educators, families, and professionals in a variety of settings. Students will develop their philosophy for working with persons with low incidence disabilities and the complex issues affecting these individuals' lives. The course provides an overview of low incidence disabilities and appropriate practices for working with persons with low-incidence disabilities, including ethical guidelines for professionals who partner with these diverse individuals Students will complete 15 hours of observation in a classroom with students who have low incidence disabilities.
Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education. This course provides an introduction to assessment of academic and social-emotional behavior among students in school settings, with a focus on using assessment information to promote academic and social-emotional competence among students with special needs. Students will learn about the use of assessment information within a response-to-intervention/multi-tiered system of support (RTI/MTSS) model. They will learn how to select, administer, interpret, communicate, and use assessment materials in order to promote competence among students with special needs. Class activities will include lecture, discussion of key concepts and practicum experiences, and direct instruction and practice administration of select assessment tools. Students will be assigned to a local classroom where they will practice their developing assessment skills.
This course addresses the following four topics: 1) formal and informal assessments of students’ reading interests and abilities; 2) proven reading strategies, methods and techniques (research-based); 3) diagnostic teaching strategies, and 4) methods of reporting students’ strengths and weaknesses. Students are required to complete a clinical experience in a K-12 school setting.