ECE237-Diget-Fall2008

ECE 237-98: Young Children with Special Needs

Fall 2008

Instructor:	Deborah Diget
Phone:	Home 1-269-963-2263 before 9 p.m. please email: digetd@kellogg.edu
Office Hours: Online:	It is best to contact me via email to set up an appointment. I will respond within 72 hours.
Course Prerequisites:	None
Textbook	Required: Young Children with Special Needs, Richard Gargiulo and Jennifer Kilgo. Recommended:
Online Course Features and Requirements	Number of tests: 0 of which must be proctored. Required on campus sessions: 0 Special labs or practicum: 0 Number of assignments: 6 major assignments Estimated time per week: 6 hours Group interaction required: yes Scheduled activities or self paced: all activities are scheduled Requirements: Students must have access to the following: Equipment: You will need a computer that is able to access and interact with the Web. For best results, a Pentium or PowerMac with a 56 Kbps or faster modem and 256 MB or more of RAM should be considered the minimal system. Software: You will need one of the following Internet browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher; Firefox; Mac users may use Safari or Firefox. Internet connection: Home users need Internet access through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that offers a reliable connection to the Internet.
Course Site:	http://bb.kellogg.edu
Core Abilities	1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in gathering, analyzing, interpreting facts, and problem solving using scientific inquiry. 2. Demonstrate writing, listening, computer, verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Description	This course examines young children with disabilities and a variety of methods to help them integrate successfully into a program. Emphasis will be placed on different disabilities, teaching modalities and strategies, curriculum, learning materials, environment, and personnel. The evaluation process, the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be examined.
Competencies	1. Contrast different disabilities, developmental delays, and special abilities of young children ages birth to 8 years. 2. Create a running anecdotal record in reference to special needs children. 3. Analyze DAP guidelines as to how adaptations and instructional techniques can be tailored to meet each child's individual needs. 4. Design learning experiences to accommodate the individual child's varying patterns of growth and development. 5. Analyze at least 3 structured learning experiences that accommodate an individual child's varying patterns of growth and development. 6. Analyze an inclusive environment and note appropriate and inappropriate strategies used in the inclusive environment. 7. Characterize the importance of involving each family in assessing the child's needs, setting individual goals, and updating the child's progress in an ongoing manner. 8. Compare the IEP and IFSP, including the process, the family involvement, features that make each document well written, and the importance of following the team's planning for each individual child with a disability. 9. Analyze the laws related to children with disabilities, including the IDEA (and amendments) and ADA. 10. Implement positive communication strategies to work with families and involve them in appropriate practices that support special needs children.
Assignments	Online participation and attendance - 210 points 25% of your grade will be dependent on completing the graded assignments, participation and attendance: logging onto the course web site at least three times each week to check announcements, post contributions to each week's discussion board forum, post questions, read the postings of others, and engage in peer review collaborative activities, including chat groups. You should also check your email at least three times a week. it is recommended that you sign on to Blackboard every other day to look for new Announcements and to respond to questions and postings from fellow students and the instructor. Observation: Targeting Skills - 50 points Each student will observe a student in an inclusive early childhood setting. The observation will focus on the child's strengths and delays. Students will target strategies that will help the individual child with an impairment or delay. Students will share their observations and targeted strategies with the class. Modifications for Daily Center Activities -50 points Students will select/create strategies to use in the early childhood centers for the child with a disability/delay Skill Development - 50 points Students will target a skill and develop one center the child could work in to achieve the targeted skill. Parent Interview - 120 points (paper) 40 points (DB) Each student will interview a parent who has a child with a special need and write a 2 - 4 page paper summarizing the interview. A discussion board posting will be part of this assignment. Partner Classroom Evaluation - 100 points (paper) 40 points (DB) For this assignment you will need a preschool environment to evaluate and a partner. Separately you will rate the same facility, using the rating scale, then compare your findings and together write a 1-2 page summary of the findings. Research Paper - 130 points (paper) 40 points (DB) Students will select a disability, syndrome, or developmental delay and write a research paper on the selected topic. A minimum of 3 professional journals or websites pertaining to your topic should be used. A discussion board posting of one paragraph on what was found is part of the assignment. For each assignment, I will provide specific directions and grading criteria. The assignment instructions and matrix will be posted in the 'Assignments' section of the class.
Observation Requirement	Time outside of class in the field for assignments, field trips and observations of children and at environments including licensed centers and preschools, schools, and state-licensed child care homes, may be required to successfully complete this course. For this course, you will be expected to complete approximately 4-6 clock hours outside of the regularly scheduled course sessions. Upon completing observations, it is important for you to schedule an exit conference with the program director or licensee. This will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and allow the program director or licensee to explain certain things. It is also important for you to inform any site used for observations that potential rule violations will be reported to licensing.
Clearance Requirement	Each student in this course is required to complete the State of Michigan Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry (CA/NR) form and receive clearance prior to starting a field experience or completing observations if he or she is participating at a site other than their own employer or at a public school. This form takes approximately two weeks to process and is processed at no cost. Once the form has been returned to you from the State of Michigan Child Care Licensing Bureau, you will make a copy for me. Students must still complete any additional security clearances required by the employer or field experience site. It is the employer's or site's responsibility to determine if a student volunteer intern, employee intern, or student observer meets the requirements under the laws that apply to each program. Any student who has not returned a completed and approved CA/NR form by the designated date will not be allowed to continue completing assignments outside of class that involve direct contact with children. Students will not receive the points associated with these assignments and will not be offered alternative assignments to earn missing points.
Grading	Grading Rationale: At any time, a student can compute his or her approximate letter grade by first dividing the total points he or she has earned by the total points possible. Next, the student can refer to the chart below to locate the percentage and corresponding letter grade.
Grading Scale	94 - 100% A 90 - 93% A- 87 - 89% B+ 84 - 86% B 80 - 83% B- 77 - 79% C+ 74 - 76% C 70 - 73% C- 67 - 69% D+ 64 - 66% D 60 - 63% D- Below 60% F

Academic Policies Withdrawal date for refund and for Grade of W:
It is the responsibility of the student to know the date by which he or she may obtain a refund of tuition and the date by which withdrawing from the course can result in a grade of "W". The general formula is:

Refund of tuition - first one tenth of class days

Grade of "W" - Prior to seven eights of the duration of the class
Specific dates are available from the Customer Service Center.

"I" Grades: Incomplete ("I") is only given for the most extenuating circumstances. All "I" grades are at the discretion of the Instructor.

Attendance Attendance and Participation Requirements:
Early Childhood professionals must develop professional and personal skills that enable them to be successful in the workplace. Developing a strong work ethic centers on one's having a good attitude about attendance. The College policy is that regular class attendance is considered an essential part of a student's educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress.

As an online student you are expected to enter the Blackboard site to read Announcements, participate in the Discussion Board, take part in group discussion in the Chat Room and in Discussion Board groups at least three items a week. There is an automatic tracking system in Blackboard so that the Instructor can check your attendance.

Absences will cause a loss of points as follows:

When a student does not attend the first session, I will complete a No Show Report. When a student misses two weeks of assignments or when absences reach a level when the overall completion of the course is jeopardized, I will complete an excessive absence report. The Student Services department will follow up with individual students.

Late Assignments will lose points as follows: Half a grade for 1 - 3 days late, one grade for 4 - 7 days late. After 7 days no late assignment will be accepted.

Cheating Cheating is NOT permitted. Any students caught cheating will receive NO points for the exam or quiz in which the cheating occurred, and/or will be subject to the disciplinary procedures of Kellogg Community College (at the discretion of the instructor).

Disclaimer
Information contained in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract between Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between any student and the instructor. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.

Make-up Policy Make up work is only allowed for extenuating circumstances and with prior approval from the Instructor.

Computer Access at KCC It is assumed that students enrolled in this course have at their disposal appropriate equipment and software to complete the course work and communicate with other students. If there are problems with your equipment and/or software, it is possible to come the KCC's Campus and use the open computer lab in the Learning Resource Center. See KCC's web site for campus maps and lab times.

Online Submitting Materials Students will be expected to use e-mail attachments and the blackboard site for this class to submit materials.

ADA Statement Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Academic Policies	Withdrawal date for refund and for Grade of W: It is the responsibility of the student to know the date by which he or she may obtain a refund of tuition and the date by which withdrawing from the course can result in a grade of "W". The general formula is: Refund of tuition - first one tenth of class days Grade of "W" - Prior to seven eights of the duration of the class Specific dates are available from the Customer Service Center.
"I" Grades:	Incomplete ("I") is only given for the most extenuating circumstances. All "I" grades are at the discretion of the Instructor.
Attendance	Attendance and Participation Requirements: Early Childhood professionals must develop professional and personal skills that enable them to be successful in the workplace. Developing a strong work ethic centers on one's having a good attitude about attendance. The College policy is that regular class attendance is considered an essential part of a student's educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress. As an online student you are expected to enter the Blackboard site to read Announcements, participate in the Discussion Board, take part in group discussion in the Chat Room and in Discussion Board groups at least three items a week. There is an automatic tracking system in Blackboard so that the Instructor can check your attendance. Absences will cause a loss of points as follows: When a student does not attend the first session, I will complete a No Show Report. When a student misses two weeks of assignments or when absences reach a level when the overall completion of the course is jeopardized, I will complete an excessive absence report. The Student Services department will follow up with individual students. Late Assignments will lose points as follows: Half a grade for 1 - 3 days late, one grade for 4 - 7 days late. After 7 days no late assignment will be accepted.
Cheating	Cheating is NOT permitted. Any students caught cheating will receive NO points for the exam or quiz in which the cheating occurred, and/or will be subject to the disciplinary procedures of Kellogg Community College (at the discretion of the instructor).
Disclaimer	Information contained in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract between Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between any student and the instructor. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
Make-up Policy	Make up work is only allowed for extenuating circumstances and with prior approval from the Instructor.
Computer Access at KCC	It is assumed that students enrolled in this course have at their disposal appropriate equipment and software to complete the course work and communicate with other students. If there are problems with your equipment and/or software, it is possible to come the KCC's Campus and use the open computer lab in the Learning Resource Center. See KCC's web site for campus maps and lab times.
Online Submitting Materials	Students will be expected to use e-mail attachments and the blackboard site for this class to submit materials.
ADA Statement	Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.