012235 Professional Experience 5: Teaching Students with Special Educational Needs
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2021 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade, no marksRequisite(s): (012231 Professional Experience 1: Beginning Teaching OR 023151 Professional Experience 1: Beginning Teaching Issues in the Primary School OR 028230 Professional Experience 1: Preparation for Teaching) AND (012232 Professional Experience 2: Developing Classroom Management OR 023152 Professional Experience 2: Developing Classroom Management OR 028231 Professional Experience 2: Introduction to Classroom Management) AND (012233 Professional Experience 3: Integrating Learning Technologies OR 023153 Professional Experience 3: Assessment and Evaluating in Education) AND (012234 Professional Experience 4: Integrating Diverse Contexts in Education OR 023154 Professional Experience 4: Designing Educational Programs)
Description
This subject examines strategies for teaching students with special education needs within the regular classroom. It explores methods of assessment, programming, explicit teaching and classroom organisation to meet the needs of primary students who are experiencing difficulty, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Students with special educational needs can include students from the entire spectrum of skill and development levels, including gifted and talented students.
The subject examines literature in which approaches to educational programming for students with special needs have been evaluated. As such, the subject forms linkages and extends concepts visited by other curriculum subjects in this degree. Students have an opportunity to discuss how changes in the design and delivery of special education impacts on their teaching in mainstream classrooms. It provides the basis for reflective practice in this important area of rapidly changing professional practice. The practical component of this subject allows students to apply the concepts and skills developed in the subject, and reflect on their application in a regular primary classroom and refine their teaching practices accordingly. This subject requires 11 days in a school setting.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
a. | Describe and critically analyse key issues and approaches in the education of students with special needs and those experiencing learning difficulties |
---|---|
b. | In consultation with others, assess special needs of students who are unable to demonstrate satisfactory educational progress given existing teaching strategies |
c. | Specify learning outcomes for students with special educational needs and monitor progression towards attainment |
d. | Adjust and document classroom programs to meet the needs of students with learning difficulties |
e. | Implement and evaluate teaching strategies to maximise student outcomes |
f. | Evaluate their own teaching and teaching program in the context of diverse educational need |
g. | Understand and utilise appropriate school system and community support services in the area of special educational needs. |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject addresses the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
1. Professional readiness
1.1) Know students and how they learn, with an ability to critically evaluate the physical, social and emotional dimensions of learners
1.3) Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning with a broad knowledge of educational practice, pedagogy, policy, curriculum and systems
1.5) Engage in professional learning, demonstrating problem solving and intellectual independence
2. Critical and creative inquiry
2.1) Enquire into and research practice to improve educational experiences and outcomes
2.2) Critically analyse and reflect on and synthesise theories of learning and teaching
3. International and intercultural engagement
3.1) Demonstrate extensive knowledge and respect for diverse societies, cultures and an ability to inform inclusive practices
5. Active citizenship
5.1) Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
5.2) Are professionals with a profound ethical foundation and sense of social responsibility and a commitment to social justice
6. Effective communication
6.1) Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
6.3) Are effective communicators highly skilled in new literacies
Teaching and learning strategies
Students will engage in lectures, class discussions, individual and small activities, case studies and short presentations. Students will engage in online lectures and associated preparatory activities prior to each tutorial. UTSOnline will be used for announcements, discussions, and access to copies of subject documents. A central element of the subject will be student appointment for an 11 day block field bases professional experience in a K-6 classroom.
Mode of Presentation
1 x online lecture + preparation activities x 9 weeks (approximately 2 hpw) AND
2 hour tutorial x 9 weeks
Content (topics)
The subject addresses two main areas:
- Knowledge about
- students with special needs and learning difficulties: definitional issues, causes and effects of learning difficulties
- implications of failure for preventive programs and early intervention
- issues around inclusive service delivery for students with special education needs
- appropriate curriculum in the management of problem behaviour
- assessment, monitoring and evaluation as part of the teaching continuum
- available school system and community support services
- Skill in
- programming for students with learning difficulties, including considerations based on learning acquisition, maintenance and generalisation
- structuring programs for students with special education needs, including considerations related to implementation in the context of the regular classroom.
- implementing different types of activities and teaching for specific student outcomes, including the matching of instructional intensity with differing student need level
- assessing students utilising formal and informal approaches, including quality instruments, and commercial and teacher-made tests
- monitoring and documenting student progress towards outcomes
- assessing and teaching literacy and numeracy skills to students with special education needs
- grouping students for educational purposes, including multi-level and graded grouping, peer tutoring
- working with other professionals and with volunteers in the classroom
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Creating a learning resource
Objective(s): | a, d, e and g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Professional Practice Assignment
Objective(s): | a, b, c, d, e, f and g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weight: | 70% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Required texts
Weekly readings are available as UTSLibrary eReadings http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/drr/search.html?q=012235
FASS Student Study Guide - http://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/fass-student-study-guide.pdf
FASS Course Assessment Guidelines Overview - http://www.fass.uts.edu.au/students/assessment/index.html
APA Reference guide - http://www.fass.uts.edu.au/students/assessment/preparing/APA_Ref_Guide.pdf
Recommended texts
Please refer to UTSOnline - Special Education Resources OR
http://kirstyyoungeducation.wikispaces.com/home
References
Please refer to UTSOnline - Special Education Resources OR
http://kirstyyoungeducation.wikispaces.com/home
Other resources
You may request to join the UTS Special Education Facebook group -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UTSspecialeducation/
This is a private group and will not give you or your lecturers access to each other's personal Facebook profiles.
This Facebook page will be used to post information about seminars/courses/professional development opportunities, share resources and discuss current issues in special education.