EDU 524: Exceptional Students in Inclusive Classrooms

Overview

This course is designed to present an overview of current special education issues as they relate to inclusive practices. Students will gain an understanding of the challenges faced by exceptional students and analyze the responsibilities of educational professionals to all students.

Future educators will have the opportunity to become familiar with the history and background of current special education laws; develop a knowledge base of the attitudinal issues regarding inclusive education; develop a philosophical orientation toward effective instruction in inclusive settings; increase technical skills in observing, assessing, planning, and evaluating students with instructional, behavioral, and cultural challenges; and increase interpersonal skills for working collaboratively in decision making and problem solving.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss information about special education laws, procedures, and services.
• Develop a philosophical view about inclusive education.
• Identify various learning exceptionalities of students with low-incidence and high-incidence disabilities, students with cultural and linguistic diversity, and students who are gifted and talented.
• Use specific knowledge of students' medical conditions and medications, and their possible effects on student learning and behavior.
• Assess individual students to identify their learning and behavioral needs, and participate in the development of individualized educational plans in collaboration with members of the team including parents, guardians, teachers, administrators and the student.
• Engage in collaboration and consultation with members of the team to support students with disabilities in inclusive settings.
• Design and/or modify standards-based instruction in response to diagnosed student needs, including the needs of exceptional learners and English language learners, to ensure success in inclusive settings.
• Modify methods to evaluate student progress in inclusive settings.
• Develop and implement lessons that involve co-teaching in collaboration with special education teachers.
• Support students in transition from one inclusive setting to another.

Course Requirements

Webcam (optional)

Required Texts
EDU 524 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore