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Canyon College
Canyno College
COURSE SYLLABUS: ED549 - Foundations of Special Education

Course Title: ED549 - Foundations of Special Education
Department: Education
Instructor: Joseph W. Pasquerilla, M.S.Ed.; Ed.D. Candidate - - Vita


COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW

This course concentrates on the historical aspects of special education students in the public schools. The candidate will evaluate the diversity between the wide varieties of students in the defined special education population. The course also focuses on diversity issues such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, behavior, and personality. The course also addresses the family, educational, and societal perspectives of diversity. Finally, the course will examine selected innovations in American public and non-public education with an emphasis on the use of past practices to improve current reform.

TEXTBOOK  Online Bookstore

Schwartz, S. & Conley, C. (2000). Human diversity: A guide for understanding, 4th edition. New York, NY. McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 0072428317

CONTACT INFORMATION

The most effective means of contact is via email . With very few exceptions, I will respond to your inquiries and submitted assignments within 24 hours.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION
  1. your name,
  2. your student identification (example: stu00000),
  3. the course number (example: ED549), and
  4. the assignment title (example: Assignment One) are included in the SUBJECT box of your email message.
EXAMPLE: Subject: Jane Doe; stu00000; ED549; Reflection and Reaction Paper #1

NOTE: Assignments that are attached to email must be Microsoft Office compatible!
If you are unsure if your document is compatible please save it in "Rich Text Format" to ensure Microsoft Word can open the file.

COURSE COMMENTARY

Each candidate enrolled in this course has up to eight weeks to complete the assignments indicated below. However, a candidate may elect to accelerate his/her course of study and finish the assignments at an earlier time without permission from the instructor.

After each assignment that is submitted, the candidate will receive an email within 24 hours indicating his/her score along with possible comments or feedback from the instructor.

Each assignment in this course aligning with the chapters outlined in part 1 (chapters 1-10) of text and part 2 (chapters 11-20) of the text is valuated at thirty (30) possible points. The final paper is valuated at forty (40) possible points. Therefore, the candidate’s grade is derived from the following framework.

ASSIGNMENTPOSSIBLE POINTS
Assignment One30
Assignment Two30
Final Paper40
Total100
GRADE DERIVATION

90 - 100= A
80 - 89= B
70 - 79= C
60 - 69= D


COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment One
Read the Schwartz Text: Chapters 1-10
Provide brief responses to the following questions. Email your responses to the instructor.
  1. What constitutes an individual to be classified as one with an exceptionality?
  2. What are some of the major aspects and distinctions of culture discussed in the text? How about in your classroom?
  3. List and describe the major pieces of legislation that protects individuals with disabilities.
  4. What is racism and how has it affected your classroom? What interventions are appropriate to thwart racism?
  5. Discuss the gender gap. What are some of the major gender movements/Gender Bill of Rights?
  6. What is the issue surrounding sexual orientation? What are some of the support systems available?
  7. List and describe some of the major religions of the world. What are some effective and appropriate ways to interact with students with diverse religious beliefs?
  8. What is socioeconomic status? What are some common concerns, how does it effect student’s education, and what are some support services available?
  9. Why is inclusion of special needs students so important? What are some effective interactions when dealing with students with special needs?
  10. What are the different categories of learning disabilities?
Assignment Two
Read Chapters 11- 20 of the Schwartz Text
Provide brief responses to the following questions. Email your responses to the instructor.
  1. Define gifted and talented as stated in the text. What is multiple intelligence and what are some appropriate interactions when dealing with these types of students?
  2. What are the three criteria used to identify developmental delays? Describe the characteristics of persons with developmental delays. How do you help with these students effectively?
  3. Where can a person look for help in attempting to cope with health difficulties? List and describe several ways to interact with people who are ill, while fostering healthy interpersonal interactions.
  4. List and describe three of the six common communication disorders.
  5. List and describe some of the factors which influence people’s responses and behaviors. Explain how to effectively deal with behavior issues.
  6. List and describe the factors that can disrupt the hearing process.
  7. What are the three causes of visual impairment? Describe the effects they have on a child’s learning.
  8. Discuss the process a family goes through when accepting a member of the family who stands out as “different”.
  9. What are some of the modern risk factors affecting student’s academic success?
  10. What are some of your own strategies for assisting people in dealing with diverse individuals?
FINAL PAPER

The final paper asks the candidate to discuss what he or she feels to be the key components of his/her own personal educational philosophy with respect to special education (2 pages). It also calls the candidate to provide the instructor with a brief summary of his or her own personal preferences (in your opinion what are the most effective classroom strategies and techniques) when dealing with children with disabilities. This summary may result from either the reading or your own professional experiences (1 page). The paper should be three to five (3-5) pages total in length, 12 point font, double spaced. While the text should be consulted for your response, it is encouraged that it is personalized with your opinions and feelings.

COURSE ITINERARY
  1. Order the required text for the course
  2. Complete each assignment and email to the instructor
  3. Complete your final paper and email to the instructor
  4. Your final grade for the course will be submitted to the Registrar within 24 hours of submitting your final paper.