Murray State University

Course Syllabus Outline

DEPARTMENT: Special Education CREDIT HOURS: 3

COURSE NUMBER: SED 400

PREREQUISITE: SED 300 or equivalent

I. TITLE:

Characteristics and Needs of Children and Youth with Mild Disabilities

II.CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

Includes an overview of the educational characteristics of children and youth with mild disabilities Participants will gain information in characteristics and needs of students with mild disabilities. (Prerequisite: 230 or equivalent)

III.PURPOSE:

This course is designed to familiarize students with characteristics and definitions of students with mild disabilities. Participants will gain information regarding service delivery models and Kentucky outcomes.

IV.COURSE OBJECTIVES:

(Numbers in parenthesis refer to New Teacher Standards that each objective meets)

Note: LBD refers to students with mild disabilities that qualify for special education services under the categories of Emotional-Behavioral Disorders (EBD), Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Mild Mental Disabilities (MMD), and Other Health Impaired (OHI).

Students will demonstrate knowledge of:

  1. Major legislation and litigation affecting recent advances in public education of exceptional children [8,9]
  1. Major journals, organizations and advocacy groups for each area of exceptionality [7,8]
  1. Common educational and social characteristics of students with mild disabilities. [8]
  1. Etiologies of LBD categories [8]
  1. The collaborative role in delivering special education services [8]
  1. The principal model of service delivery applied to students qualifying in the EBD category including the behavioral model, the psychodynamic model, the biophysical model, the ecological model, etc.[8]
  1. State and federal definitions of LBD categories [8,9]
  1. State and federal special education procedures for delivery of special education services to students with mild disabilities from pre-referral stage to re-evaluation. [8]]
  1. The differences and commonalties found in the mild disability categories. [5,8]
  1. The major curriculum areas specified under the Kentucky Education Reform Act and accreditation guidelines, give examples of scope and sequence objectives in each areas, and discuss commercial materials. [5,8,9]

V.CONTENT OUTLINE:

  1. Review of Special Education History
  2. Review or Special Education Procedures and state regulations
  3. State and Federal Definitions of LD, EBD, MMD & OHI categories
  4. Prevalence of LD, EBD, MMD & OHI categories
  5. Characteristics LD, EBD, MMD & OHI categories
  6. Strategies to teaching students with mild disabilities
  7. Instructional models for students with mild disabilities

VI.INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Professional Expectations of Students. The expectations for students are as follows:

Students are expected to act as if they are already professionals.

All assignments and projects are to be completed in a professional manner.

-Students are expected to complete their assignments on the dates specified. Late work is not accepted. Students may turn in work previous (within 4 days) to the deadline date. You may mail or fax the work to me if you are unable to attend class. The postmark must be within the timelines.

-written work should be typed in 12 pt. font

- writing skills should be commensurate with the level of the course or are not acceptable.

Portfolio: A working portfolio entry is required in this class. The entry must address Kentucky Experienced Standards 1 and/or 4.

Activities:

Activities for this class were created to provide practical experience in the application of the material presented. (*P = Possible Portfolio entries)

  1. Class time will incorporate lecture, videocassettes, simulations, discussions and small group activities. List Serve: Part of class interaction will incorporate electronic list serve participation directed by the instructor. Each student must have a minimum of 10 entries over the semester.
  1. Quizzes: Eleven one essay question over the assigned reading will be given. One quiz score will be dropped. No make up quizzes will be given.

1

  1. Compare/ contrast Paper: Each student will write a paper comparing and the main categories of mild disabilities, LD, EBD, and MMD. The characteristics to be compared will be chosen by the student. *P

VII. FIELD, CLINICAL, AND/OR LABORATORY EXPERIENCES:

None required for certification

VIII. RESOURCES:

To be specified by the instructor.

*Any student with special learning needs should contact the instructor. Any student not progressing well in the course should contact the professor for an appointment to discuss how to improve understanding

1

IX.GRADING PROCEDURES:

The course is pass/fail. A grade of pass will be assigned to students completing course outcomes. A grade of fail will be assigned to students who do not complete course outcomes or demonstrate academic dishonesty

X.ATTENDANCE POLICY:

This course adheres to the policy published in the Murray State University Undergraduate Bulletin.

XI.ACADEMICHONESTYPOLICY:

Cheating, plagiarism (submitting another person’s mater as one’s own), or doing work for another person which will receive academic credit are all impermissible. This includes the use of unauthorized books, notebooks or other sources in order to secure or give help during an examination, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments, reports, or term papers or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it were the student’s own work. Disciplinary action may be taken beyond the academic discipline administered by the faculty member who teacher the course in which the cheating took place.

XII.TEXT AND REFERENCES:

  1. Text:
  2. Henley, M., Ransey, R. S. & Algozzine, R. F. (1999). Characteristics of and Strategies for Teaching Students with Mild Disabilities: Third Edition
  1. Additional reading will be assigned during the semester
  1. Students must have internet access for List Serve and research.

XIII.PREREQUISITIES:

SED 300 or equivalent

Revised Spring 2000

1