Foundations of Special Education

Course Details

Course Number: 4113, 5613  Section Number: 270

Spring 2011

Location: Ferguson Hall

Classroom Number: 202

Days & Times:

Monday 5:30-8:20 pm

Course Attachments

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Millie Gore   
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Course Objectives

Objectives

The candidate will meet the Special Education Standards required of all beginning Special Education Teachers of the Individualized General Curriculum as described by the Council for Exceptional Children on the table below.  In addition, the candidate will also demonstrate the appropriate dispositions relative to the Foundations course.

 

Dispositions   The candidate will demonstrate the dispositions of dependability, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to becoming practitioners and leaders in the profession of education who practice within the Code of Ethics adopted by the CEC January, 2010.


Course Expectations

Undergraduate Candidates

Book Report                                                   175

Video Reports                                                 25

Law Project                                                    200

Advocacy Activities                                           100

Midterm Exam                                                 200

Final Exam                                                     300

Total                                                           1000

Advocacy/Service Learning Requirements 

The undergraduate candidate will: 1) complete two hours of service learning in the MSU Autism Support Program assisting with study hall, independent living skills, recreation, etc.; 2) complete two hours of service learning by assisting with the MSU Autism Conference of Texoma (Saturday, April 16); 3) complete four hours of service learning with The Arc of Wichita County, of which two hours may be assisting with their major fund raiser, Boot Scootin’ Boogie (Saturday night, February 20). 

 

Undergraduate students will participate in at least one advocacy campaign selected by the class.

 

Graduate students will complete the following assignments in lieu of the service learning assignments completed by the undergraduate students

 

Collaborative Autism Program Project                 250

Multimedia lesson on a Current Issue                150

Minidocumentary                                              200

Midterm Exam                                                 200

Final Exam                                                     200

Total                                                           1000

 

Graduate students will each be responsible for collaborating with the Program Director, Peer Mentors, and residents of MSU’s Autism Support Program to develop a MAJOR special activity that will take place off campus.  Examples of previous appropriate projects include a Ropes Course, a trip to two museums in Fort Worth, and a camp-out in the Wichita Mountains.  An example of a previous inappropriate project was a pizza and movie night. Graduate students may not take an incomplete for this requirement; the requirement must be completed by May 1 or the graduate student will not receive a passing grade for the class.

 

By February 7, graduate students must have selected a project and set a date for its completion in collaboration with the stakeholders.  The comprehensive plan must be submitted to Dr. Gore (approved by Ms. Dunn) by February 14.

 

Graduate students will each create and present to the class a 30-minute multimedia lesson on a Current Issue in Special Education.  The presentation must include five scholarly references. The graduate student will collaborate with the professor in selecting the topic from those identified as current issues by CEC.

                 

Graduate students will create a 15-minute documentary on a disability that includes an interview an adult with that disability on how the disability affected her/his life. 


Grading Standards

The rubrics attached to the syllabus provide detailed standards for work submitted to the professor.


Final Exam5/10/2011  5:30

Submission Format Policy

Submission formats are provided on the rubric for each assignment.



Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

 Other Class Policies:

Candidates are expected to be prepared for class by reading assigned material and being able to engage in meaningful discussion of content.

 

Assignments will not be accepted after the beginning of class on the date that they are due.  Students should complete written assignments well in advance of the due date so they do not have difficulties at the last moment that prevent them from submitting work on time.


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance Policy

 

Upon your second absence from an undergraduate education course, your final grade will be lowered by one letter grade. Upon the third absence you will be dropped from the course and a Fitness Alert will be filed with the College of Education. In extreme circumstances (e.g. documented medical emergency), your continued participation the course will be determined in a scheduled meeting with your professor(s).

 

Two tardies will be counted as an absence. 


Other Policies

Behavioral problems identified on the Fitness Alert will result in the filing of such an alert with the college.

 

 

 

 

Plagiarism Statement

“By enrolling in this course, the candidate expressly grants MSU a ‘limited right’ in all intellectual property created by the candidate for the purpose of this course. The ‘limited right’ shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the candidate’s work product in order to verify originality, authenticity, and educational purposes.”from Student Handbook

Plagiarism or falsifying field experience reports will result in a grade of F, a Fitness Alert, and possible expulsion from the special education program.


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.