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Unit of study_

EDUP4010: Special Education (B) Special Course

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The education of students with special education needs is the business of all teachers. This unit will further the study of policy and practices that assist teachers to cater for students with special needs through (a) examining strategies of how teachers can work together to address student need, and (b) how they can adjust their classroom practices to support challenging and difficult social behaviour. This unit will address issues and review current literatures about effective practices in catering for students with special education needs. At the completion of the unit students will be familiar with evidenced based approaches and whole school strategies for addressing the education outcomes for students with special education needs.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDUP4010
Academic unit Education
Credit points 4
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
170 credit points including EDUP4009
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jessica Zanuttini, jessica.zanuttini@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration Exploring the Myths of Special Education
In-class presentation
25% Week 02 5 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO3 LO2
Assignment Designing a Professional Development Workshop: Instructional Strategies
Written file upload
60% Week 04 2,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Cover Letter
Written file upload
15% Week 06 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

  • Exploring the Myths of Special Education: In Week 1 you will be selectone of the 12 myths of special education. You will have 5 minutes to present in agreement and disagreement of this myth. ​
  • Designing a Professional Development Workshop – Instructional Strategies: This assignment requires you create a professional development presentation for staff (plan for 1 hour’s duration) on one evidence-based strategy appropriate to the suppprt of students with special educational needs (you do not have to present it).
  • Cover Letter: This assignment requires you to write a 500 word cover letter in response to a job advertisement that will be posted to Canvas. Your cover letter should address the selection criteria listed in the advertisement through the use of examples. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Special and Inclusive Education; Teachers as Researchers; Teachers as Leaders Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO7
Week 02 Collaboration and Consultation; UDL Across the Curriculum Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7
Week 03 Supporting Positive Behaviour Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Teacher's Supporting Students' Mental Health Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Becoming a Reflective Practitioner Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Week 06 Professional Development Sessions (Positive Partnerships & EDMED) Online class (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 4 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 80-100 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. critically analyse literature in relation to inclusive practices that cater for the needs of students with special education needs
  • LO2. analyse a range of models for whole school approaches to catering for the diverse needs of students
  • LO3. demonstrate skills of collaboration when working with peers
  • LO4. demonstrate skills of curriculum analysis across all the syllabus areas
  • LO5. evaluate differing models of behaviour support in terms of their theoretical assumptions and research evidence
  • LO6. demonstrate an understanding of skills in assessment, strategies in behaviour change, and adjusting the environment to change behaviour
  • LO7. reflect on professional practices in catering for the diverse needs of students.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.