Course Description
Explore the foundations of specialized education in this course, covering key topics in special and Deaf education, including history, methods, legal aspects, and cultural insights. Designed for future educators and professionals, it offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to inclusivity and advocacy in education. Prerequisite: Must have fewer than 60 credits to enroll or can enroll by Written Permission.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Identify and explain concepts, personnel, laws, and procedures guiding special education.
- Learn about students with high-incidence disabilities (such as ADHD, learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, and emotional or behavioral disorders) and low-incidence disabilities (such as intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities), including their causes, how common they are, key traits, and effective teaching strategies.
- Observe, identify, and explain young children’s development across developmental domains within home, school, and community contexts.
- Analyze young children’s learning and development to plan and implement meaningful learning experiences.
- Analyze contemporary issues in early childhood education, including equity, anti-biased education, workforce challenges, and explain their implications for children, families, and educators.
- Identify and explain the significance of Deaf culture, history, and sign languages, demonstrating a foundational understanding of their importance to the Deaf community.
- Analyze and evaluate Deaf-related professions, specifically in Deaf Education, Interpreting, and Advocacy Services, and disability laws, to effectively support and promote inclusivity for Deaf individuals through demonstration.
- Apply critical thinking and allyship skills to address discrimination and accessibility issues and advocate for Deaf culture and language preservation.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Module 1- Special Education | 30 points |
| Introduction Posts in Canvas | 3 points |
| Reflection Paper Out of My Mind (Draper, 2010) | 9 points |
| History of Special Education Timeline Group Project | 12 points |
| Special Education Quiz | 3 points |
| Class Attendence & Participation | 3 points |
| Module 2- Birth-Kindergarten | 30 points |
| Child Observation #1 | 6 points |
| Child Observation #2 | 9 points |
| Early Childhood Response Paper | 9 points |
| Quiz | 3 points |
| Class Attendence and Participation | 5 points |
| Module 3-Deaf Education | 30 points |
| Deaf Education Timeline | 12 points |
| IDEAS Reflection Paper | 9 points |
| Class Attendence Participation | 9 points |
| Spartans Thrive Module | 10 points |
| Total | 100 points |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance/participation is not a graded component included in the student's final grade for this course.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
No course materials are required.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.