Survey of Trends in Special Education – EDSP 429

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course provides an overview of special education related topics including legal/ethical issues, documentation procedures, development of the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). Models of service delivery and the importance of collaboration among professionals across settings are addressed. *Please note, this course is not part of a program leading to eligibility of a Virginia state teaching license (or license in any other state). Individuals seeking to obtain a state teaching license should contact soelicensure@liberty.edu for recommended course options.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Special education is an area that continues to expand and change in many ways. It is of utmost importance that classroom and special education teachers stay as current as possible on these changes, many of which will have a direct impact on how they will meet the needs of the students with disabilities they will serve.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the purpose of the Discussions is to generate interaction among candidates in regard to relevant current course topics. The candidate is required to post one thread of at least 400 words and two replies of at least 250 words each. Each thread must integrate one biblical principle. Each thread and each reply must be supported by at least one scholarly citation in current APA format, which may include the textbooks, Bible, educational websites, and journal articles. (CLO: B, C, H, K)

Fact Sheet on Disability Categories Assignment

The candidate will use information from the text and specified internet resources to compose a fact sheet to explain each of the 13 federally recognized disability categories. The fact sheet will follow current APA format and include a resource page. (CLO: B, D)

Video Case Assignments (3)

The candidate will watch a presentation related to the assigned reading and respond to accompanying questions. Responses should be at least 250 words, double-spaced and in short essay form. (CLO: A, F)

Journal Article Review Assignments (2)

The candidate will review two scholarly special education-related articles. Each review must be at least two pages and follow current APA format. All articles must be current (published within the last five years). (CLO: A, D, E, G)

Differentiated Instruction PowerPoint Assignment

The candidate will create a PowerPoint presentation to address special education teachers in an in-service training on differentiated instruction. The PowerPoint presentation must be 10–12 slides. The presentation must address the definition of differentiated instruction and advantages of differentiated instruction for students with special needs. It must contain three specific differentiated instructional strategies and must incorporate one scholarly resource per slide, cited in current APA format. The presentation will include a references slide at the end. (CLO: A, G)

Case Study: A Broken Arm Assignment

The candidate will read the case study provided. They will answer four questions based on synthesized course materials and the information gleaned from the case study. Each answer will be at least 150 words and in current APA format. (CLO: A, C, G)

Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan Process Summary Assignment

The candidate will write a two-page summary in current APA format discussing the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) process. The candidate must include their experience built from completing the Functional Assessment and Program Development for Problem Behavior handbook. (CLO: A,, J)

Special Educator Interview Assignment

The candidate will interview an educator regarding behavior management skills. After completing the interview, the candidate will write at least a one-page summary of the interview in current APA format. (CLO: A, C, J)

Behavior Intervention Plan Assignments

Rough Draft Assignment

After reading the provided Jackson’s Functional Behavior Assessment document, the candidate will complete a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) template based on information gleaned from Jackson’s FBA. (CLO: A, J)

Final Draft Assignment

After receiving feedback from the instructor, the candidate will use those comments to revise the rough draft, then submit the final draft in Canvas. (CLO: A, J)

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and will include 25 multiple-choice questions covering the information studied throughout the specified modules. The candidate will have 60 minutes and one attempt to complete each Quiz. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L)