Low Vision
SPE 519
Spring 2010
College of Education Conceptual Framework
Syllabus
Course days time:01-26-10
02-09-10
02-23-10
03-09-10
03-30-10
04-13-10
04-27-10
05-05-10 Everything Due- no class
All sessions will begin at 6:00 PM CST and end at 8:00 PM CST.
Classroom:All classes will be held over the internet using Elluminate.
Contact information:
Instructor:Michael Munro, M.Ed.
Office: Department of Human Services #222
PO Box 13019-SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX75962
Telephone: 936-468-1036
Fax:936-468-1342
Cell:903-641-7917
E-mail:
Office hours: MondayBy appointment
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Wednesday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST
Thursday 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST
Friday NA
And by appointment by telephone or virtual office hours explained below
Web Site:
A Word about Office Hours:
One of the biggest challenges I face in the process of learning how to structure a distance-learning program is ensuring that I amavailableto you. Because practically none of you are able to come to campus and because most of you work in schools, traditional office hours often aren’t helpful to you. I have listed both a cell and an office number above. If you are unable to reach me during the office hours I encourage you to call me or text me on my cell phone. If I am unavailable I will call you back as soon as I can. Please leave a message including where, when, and how (phone number) I can reach you. Please do not call after 10 pm.
Required text:
Corn, A. L. & Koenig, A. J. (1996). Foundations of Low Vision: Clinical and Functional Perspectives
New York: AFB Press.
Levack, N. (1991) Low Vision: A Resource Guide with Adaptations for Students with Visual Impairments
Austin: TexasSchool for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Articles
Various readings and/or articles will be linked or posted on the class website
Course description:
Course Description: Low Vision- Visual assessment and intervention methods for persons with low vision.
Course Rationale:
The course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills to work with persons with low vision. Topics will include development of the field of low vision, effect of low vision on performance, adaptations to improve visual efficiency, the social/emotional impact of low vision, and working with families, teachers and other parties connected to persons with low vision.
The information in this course provides a foundation of knowledge and skills that are necessary to develop competencies essential for teaching children with visual impairment. These competencies apply to all of you enrolled in the program to prepare professionals in the field of visual impairment (Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Orientation and Mobility Specialists and Rehabilitation Specialists working with individuals with visual impairments). Specifically, the competencies related to this course are:
Domain I - Understanding students with visual impairment.
Competency 1 - Knowledge of the visual system
Competency 2 - Effects of visual impairments on development and learning
Competency 4 - Effects of factors other than disabilities.
Domain II - Assessment of students with visual impairments.
Competency 5 -- Selecting, adapting, and administering assessments.
Competency 6 -- Interpreting and communicating assessment results.
Competency 7 -- IEP and IFSP development.
Domain III - Fostering student learning and development
Competency 8 -- Organizing the learning environment
Competency 9 --Communication and literacy.
Competency 11 --Sensory efficiency.
Competency 12 --Social interaction and recreation and leisure skills.
Competency 13 -- Independent living and orientation and mobility.
Domain IV - Professional Knowledge
Competency 16 -- Working collaboratively with families.
Competency 17 -- Legal and ethical foundations and professionalism.
Course Prerequisites:This is an advanced course in visual impairment. Prerequisites include SPE-516 The Eve its Function and Health and SPE- 515 Programs and Services for Individuals with Visual Impairment or their equivalents
Course objectives:
It is the mission of the Stephen F. Austin College of Education “to prepare competent, successful, caring and enthusiastic professionals dedicated to responsible service, leadership, and continued professional and intellectual development.” This statement essentially sums up the intent of this class and our program as a whole. We make every effort to insure that this class (and all other vision courses) is solidly grounded in the realities of practice. It is intended to be a pragmatic, practical class with maximum emphasis being placed on equipping you to be effective and efficient facilitators of learning for students with visual impairments across the state of Texas.
The Core Values of our College are:
- Academic excellence through critical, reflective, and creative thinking
- Life-long learning
- Collaboration and shared decision-making
- Openness to new ideas, to culturally diverse people, and to innovation and change
- Integrity, responsibility, diligence, and ethical behavior, and
- Service that enriches the community.
This class emphasizes these values in its pedagogy and in its assessment of outcomes. We, as instructors, strive to reflect these principles in the teaching of this class and we also have the highest expectations that these values will be demonstrated by you, our students.
A Word about Online courses:
Over the course of the last few years, I have learned that the all delivery systemsare far from infallible. No matter the system (Elluminate, TETN, or others) there may be times that one part of the system may cease to work. If you are unsure if the problem is with your system or mine feel free to call and check and or inform me of your difficulties. If this happens, don’t panic. We will make arrangements to get the information to you either through the web site, email, or at the next class meeting.
A Word about the Web site:
This class is VERY dependent on the internet. You MUST be able to use the internet to:
- connect to and attend the class
- obtain instructions on completing Learning Activities
- submit assignments
- do research on assigned topics
- participate in class activities
- take exams
- complete other activities as assigned.
It is, therefore, essential that you not only have ready access to the internet, but also that you are comfortable in using it. If you are not, please contact the persons responsible for internet instruction in your district or at your site. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING YOU TO USE THE INTERNET, NOR FOR SOLVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WHICH ARE NOT A PRODUCT OF THE WEB SITE. If you have questions about the web site (how assignments are posted, what you are responsible for, etc.) or, if there is a problem with accessing the material on the web site (ex: “I can’t access the instructional resources links in Learning Activity 2”) please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call me. I need to know about these problems so that I can fix them and pass information along to your classmates.
For many reasons, it is the policy of the Department of Human Services that all handout material is provided to the student via the web site. This means that you will be responsible for printing out any and all materials related to this class.
Course requirements:
Class preparation:
You are expected to come to class prepared for discussion and activities. Please have assignments completed and materials (if applicable) read prior to attending class. Chapters from the text will be covered during discussions and on the exams.You are expected to take part in all class activities and discussions. This is a rigorous class that covers a large quantity of material and requires a significant amount of independent study. You cannot afford to get behind with your assignments!
Attendance:
Faculty are required to include the official policy of the university on attendance in their syllabi,
Original Implementation: November 9, 1981
Last Revision: January 15, 2002
Class Attendance
Regular and punctual attendance is expected at all classes, laboratories, and other activities for which a student is registered. For those classes where attendance is a factor in the course grade, the instructor shall make his/her class policy known in writing at the beginning of each term and shall maintain an accurate record of attendance.
Regardless of attendance, every student is responsible for course content and assignments.
Excused Absences
It is University policy to excuse students from attendance for certain reasons. Among these are absences related to health, family emergencies, and student participation in certain University-sponsored events.
Students are responsible for providing documentation satisfactory to the instructor for each class missed. Students with acceptable excuses will be permitted to make up work for absences to a maximum of three weeks of a semester or one week of a six-week summer term when the nature of the work missed permits.
FOR THIS CLASS: You are expected to attend class. Attendance will be taken each class day. You may receive excused absences for illness and family emergencies, but must present written documentation for such absence (i.e. doctor's note, emergency room admissions, funeral notices). You will be allowed one unexcused absence without penalty. After that, one letter grade will be subtracted from the final grade for each unexcused absence.Remember your attendance counts. You must be in class to participatefully in the course.
Class participation:
This class is designed to be highly interactive between you and the instructor. Your experiences and input on presented topics is essential.I will be asking questions and calling on each of you at some point during the semester. A total of 75 points will be awarded based on your level of class participation. Please note that these points are not assigned on the basis of correct responses, but on your willingness to respond and work through the problem.
At the end of the semester, you will be evaluated by the me on the following criteria:
• Appropriateness of participation in class discussions and computer chats.
• Willingness to answer questions.
• Evidence of critical thinking during class activities.
• Demonstration of good “consulting skills” (e.g. politeness, manners, diplomacy, etc.)
• Display of a positive attitude toward the subject material, class activities, etc.
Up to 75 points will be added to the final point total based on the criteria listed above. At the end of each session, I will give students a grade on their class participation score.
• Sharing of useful information and materials with the class
Web Instructional Activities:
Due to the limited amount of Distance Ed time that we have available for this classadditional instructional material will be provided through Web Instructional Activities (WIAs). These WIAs are designed to be instruction provided over the web. Therefore, they DO NOT have assignments that will be turned in attached. Several of the topics that are covered in this class will have an accompanying Web Instructional Activity. WIAs are a very important part of the class, and students are responsible for completing them (reading the materials, doing the exercises, etc.) as part of their course work. The material covered in the WIAs will be included on exams and in Learning Activities.
Examinations:
Two examinations (worth 100 points each) will be administered in this class. A proctor system will be used to take each of these exams. Remember that students will be responsible for all material covered in class, in readings, and in any outside assignments or exercises.
Academic Honesty
Academic Honesty—It is the policy of StephenF.AustinStateUniversity that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University. (see Academic Integrity A-9.1)
For purposes of this class, any student who is identified as cheating based on the definition above will receive an “F” in the class. If the student is pursuing an M.Ed., the student’s status in the program will be reevaluated and the individual may be dismissed from the program.
Course evaluation:
You will be given an opportunity to participate in an anonymous formal evaluation at the end of the semester. This is required as your tuition is paid by a grant. Your evaluations will be submitted to SFASU. We will receive a list of students who have not submitted their evaluation. You will not receive a grade for the course until you have submitted your evaluation. These evaluations are online and must be submitted before finals are given. The instructor encourages students to visit with her during her office hours or to schedule an appointment with her in order to discuss opinions on the quality of the course or ways to improve it. I am truly dedicated to providing you with a high quality learning experience which is supportive as well as instructive.
Grading Scale:
ActivityPoints
Class Participation 75 Points
Article Summary 25 Points
Annotated Bibliography 75 Points
Exam 1 100 Points
Exam 2100 Points
LA 1 75 Points
LA 2 125 Points
LA 3 75 Points
LA 4 75 Points
Course Evaluation 25 Points
Writing Assignment150 Points
TOTAL900 Points
The following grading scale will be used to determine letter grades awarded for this class:
A = 810-900 Points
B = 719-809 Points
C = 628-718 Points
D = 537-627 Points
F = Anything below 537Points
Adaptations/accommodations:
To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, Room 325, 936-468-3004/936-468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify me and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided.
Caveat:
The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.
Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54)
Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if you cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. You must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If you register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.