(Revised 8/16)
Course Syllabus
I & L 2511, Curriculum and Program Development,
Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Instructors: Steven R. Lyon, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Special Education
5154 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Phone: 412.648.7203 (Voice Mail)
E-mail:
Office Hours: By Appointment
Class Meeting: Tuesdays, 4:30-7:10 PM, 5400 WWPH
Description: This course covers information regarding assessment, curriculum and instruction and program design for students with IDD.
Specific Objectives:
1. The student will acquire general knowledge about the background and current trends in the education of students with IDD.
2. The student will acquire general knowledge about parent, family, and team collaboration.
3. The student will acquire and demonstrate the knowledge and performance competencies needed to plan and conduct assessments of students with IDD.
4. The student will acquire and demonstrate the knowledge and performance competencies needed to develop and implement instructional plans for students with IDD. .
5. The student will acquire and demonstrate the knowledge and performance competencies needed to monitor and evaluate student performance/progress.
6. The student will acquire general knowledge about the principles and current best practices in positive behavior support for students with IDD.
7. The student will acquire general knowledge about supporting the needs of students with sensory, physical, and health impairments.
8. The student will acquire and demonstrate the knowledge and performance competencies needed to develop and implement curricular and instructional strategies for teaching communication, language, social, motor, personal care, functional academic, community-living and recreational/leisure skills
9. The student will acquire general knowledge about structuring learning opportunities in a variety of special and general education settings.
10. The student will acquire general knowledge about planning for and supporting students’ transition to post-school community living and employment.
Methods of Instruction: Lecture, Discussion, Class Activities, Group Assignments
Text: Snell, M. E. & Brown, F. (2010). Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities (7th Ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Topical Outline:
Homework/
Session # Date Topics Chapters Assignments
1 8/30 Background/Current Trends 1
2 9/6 Family and Professional Partnerships 2
3 9/13 Assessment 3 H1
4 9/20 Teaching Strategies 4 H2
5 9/27 Measurement & Evaluation 5 H3
6 10/4 Instructional Programs 6 H4, IPPs
7 10/11 Positive Behavior Support 7 H5
8 10/25 Health Care/Physical Challenges 8, 9 H6
9 11/1 Personal Care 10 H7
10 11/8 Social/Communication 11, 12 H8
11 11/15 Academic Skills 13 H9
12 11/22 Home and Community 14 H10
13 11/29 Transition 15
14 12/6 Adulthood 16
15 12/13 Student Poster Presentations IPs
Course Requirements:
1. Class attendance.
2. Completion of text readings on schedule.
3. Class participation in group activities and completion of quizzes.
4. Completion of two instructional plans and ten homework assignments.
5. Preparation and presentation of instructional plan poster
Course Policies:
Class attendance is STRONGLY recommended. Course topics are covered weekly and all of the class topics are considered essential for preparing to teach students with IDD. If you must miss class contact your instructor in advance. Quizzes, which will be given in class CANNNOT BE MADE UP. Five small group “class activities” will be conducted in class (in addition to other class activities) for points toward the course grade and these class activities also CANNOT BE MADE UP IF YOU MISS CLASS.
You are permitted (and encouraged) to bring your laptop to class so long as you are using it FOR CLASS RELATED ACTIVITIES. CELL PHONE USE IS NOT PERMITTED IN CLASS. However if you are expecting a personal call please set your ringer on vibrate and politely excuse yourself to take or make your call outside the classroom in the hall.
As collaboration and active participation is in integral part of professional practice in education, class participation in all activities is expected. This includes but is not limited to class-wide discussions, small group activities, small group assignments, and class presentations. Failure to actively participate will result in grade reductions.
Required text and assigned supplementary readings are to be done on schedule in advance of the class they are assigned for.
Course Grades:
Course grades will be determined by scores on two instructional plans (50 points each x 2= 100), 10 homework assignments (5 points each x 10= 50), 5 class activities (5 points each x 5= 25), 10 quizzes (5 points each x 10= 50), and a class poster presentation of instructional plan (25 points) for a total of 250 points. Percentages will be assigned the following grades:
A (100 – 93%)
B (92 – 86%)
C (85 – 77%)
D (76 – 70%)
F (<70%)
G grades will only be permitted if the student meets with the instructor in advance and provides an acceptable reason for not completing all of the required coursework by the last session of class.
If you are experiencing difficulties in your placement or other personal difficulties that interfere with you performance in class you are encouraged to schedule an appointment with your instructor.
Disability Policy:
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact your instructor and Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 140 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890 , (421)228-5347 for P3 ASL users, as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.
University Policies:
Following are links to various university policies and information
New Student Handbook-School of Education
http://www.education.pitt.edu/publications/StudentOrientationHandbook.pdf
Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
http://www.bc.pitt.edu/policies/policy/07/07-01-03.html
Sexual Harassment
http://www.bc.pitt.edu/policies/policy/07/07-06-04.html
Grading System
http://www.bc.pitt.edu/policies/policy/09/09-01-01.html
Plagiarism resources and Information
http://www.englishlit.pitt.edu/lit_plagiarism.html
Research Integrity/Plagiarism
http://www.bc.pitt.edu/policies/policy/11/11-01-01.html
Disability Policies
http://www.drs.pitt.edu/policies.html
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