Department of Educational Specialties ESE 280 Introduction To Exceptional Children Summer 2021 Syllabus
Department of Educational Specialties ESE 280 Introduction To Exceptional Children Summer 2021 Syllabus
Our mission is to prepare competent and committed professionals who will make positive differences for children,
young adults, and others in schools.
Course Purpose: This course provides you with the philosophy and psychology of teaching children with exceptional learning
needs along with an overview of educational practices. You will develop skills for recognizing and effectively teaching all students.
This class is taught with the underlying belief that all students, with and without disabilities, deserve quality and differentiated
instruction.
This course meets one of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) requirements for special education certification. It is a basic
overview/introduction of all areas and categories of special education. The purpose is to provide a brief overview of students with
varied exceptionalities in K-12 educational settings. This course will help you in preparing for the special education component of
the Arizona Educators’ Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) and address the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation
Standards.
Due to the scope of this course, the depth into which each category of disability is covered is very limited. In addition, the pace of
the course is rigorous in order to discuss each of the disability categories covered under the Individual with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA-PL 108-446). Classroom interventions are discussed, but are covered in detail in ESE 450 (Methods in Special Education)
and ESE 426 (Foundations/Methods in Secondary Special Education). Thus, the focus of this class will not be methodologies.
Classroom Management is covered in-depth in ESE 425.
I welcome you to class and look forward to our shared learning experience.
ADE Standard 9: In collaboration with other professionals and parents, the special education
teacher participates in the design, implementation, and assessment of
individualized education programs
Each candidate will be able to explain the importance of understanding individual learning differences within an educational
context with at least 70% competency.
CEC Standard 7: Instructional Planning
Each candidate will be able to describe how instructional planning is developed and implemented for students with exceptional
learning needs with at least 70% competency.
Each candidate will be able to articulate (in a variety of formats) the collaboration process and delivery of inclusion models with at
least 70% competency.
Grading System: You will receive a grade based on accumulated points accrued on assignments as a percentage of
the total points possible for the class. Grading will be as follows:
90–100% of all possible points (A) 60–69% of all possible points (D)
80–89% of all possible points (B) Less than 60% of all possible points = (F)
70–79% of all possible points (C)
I strongly support you in keeping track of your grades. It is your responsibility to be aware of your grades and any
assignment changes at any point in the semester. I am available by phone/Skype appointment to discuss grades
and/or grading. Please contact me. Final grades will be assigned based on completed assignments and exams. ALL
course competencies must be addressed successfully to receive a passing grade.
Course Readings:
Textbook: Exceptional Lives (w/out Access Code) Edition: 8th Turnbull Pearson Education. We will be reading numerous chapters,
articles, and online content. It is expected that you complete these readings as part of the REQUIREMENTS for the course. There will
also be videos and slide show presentations that you are expected to review. If you have any questions about the course materials,
please contact me as soon as possible.
Class Outline or Tentative Schedule Includes such elements as expectations regarding the class schedule, when
assignments, readings, materials, etc., need to be completed, as well as any expectations about completing work or lab
or field trip requirements across the term within which the section is taught.
Class Policies:
1. Students are responsible for producing original work at all times. You may not use an assignment from
another course. Any student who submits plagiarized work (using someone else’s work or even your own,
copying from the internet, repeating an assignment) will receive 0 points for that particular assignment.
Assignments will be electronically examined for evidence of plagiarism (see the NAU Academic Integrity
policy below).
2. Students are expected to exhibit professional behavior in the online classroom at all times.
Respectful language, tone, and actions are required in the learning environment. Any student who is
deemed disruptive (arguing, yelling, disrespectful actions to an professor or fellow student) may be asked
to leave the class. At the professor’s discretion, a meeting will then be scheduled between student,
professor, and administration to create a corrective action plan prior to the student reentering the
classroom.
3. Online participation is required. Participation is defined as logging in at least twice (2) per week.
4. This is 4-week course, but you are still required to complete all the work in a 16-week class. You have 2-3
assignments due every week.
5. Course readings are assigned to supplement “in-class” activities. To ensure your success, complete text readings,
case studies and other assignments prior to the scheduled class meeting for which they are assigned.
6. Failure to submit all required assignments to Blackboard as required will result in failure of course. See
Calendar below for deadlines (pg. 7). Do not email assignments to the instructor.
7. All submitted work will be typed, professionally written, and use APA format for references and citations unless
otherwise instructed by Professor.
8. *** Make sure you can view your file in the submission window. I will NOT download any files to my
computer.
9. All assignments are submitted online to BbLearn. This is also the main form of communication used for this
class. Be sure you are checking your BbLearn page at least three times per week to stay abreast of news, class
changes, and other pertinent information.
10. Please ask for an online meeting if you are having difficulties in class. I am here to help and support you
11. Use REMIND to communicate with me. I will respond within 24 hours during weekdays. My responses during
over the weekend and NAU Holidays might be longer.
Assignments submitted late (after 11:59 PM) on the due date listed on the syllabus will be lowered a letter grade. Assignments
submitted within 2 calendar days from the due date will be lowered two (2 two) letter grades. Assignments submitted 3 or more
days after the due date will not be graded and students will receive a zero (0) on that assignment. Assignment may be resubmitted
at the instructor’s discretion. Late assignments cannot be resubmitted for a better grade.
Exams
Northern Arizona University and the College of Education believe that teacher candidates should be prepared for this experience
through their coursework in the teacher preparation program. The exams in this course require class members to apply what they
have learned through readings and discussion on items that may have more than one good answer, but only one “best” ANSWER.
There will be four exams covering the text, discussion, and class assignments. Each exam will be worth 25 points. Each exam
allows two attempts and you keep your highest score. Exams open one (1) week before the due date. Exams close on the date
listed on the schedule at 11:59 PM. Module exams are not comprehensive and only cover one module at a time.
Assignments/ Assessments of Course Student Learning Outcomes:
The following is a tentative schedule for the session. Any changes to due dates and/or assignments will be posted as announcements and via the
message board
Summer 2021 ESE 280 Course Outline
Module/Topic Due Dates--Everything found in each Topic Topics –Use Module checklists to stay organized and
is due on the date listed here. complete assignment on time
The following table summarizes the assignments due throughout the semester and their point values.
Assignment Points
University Policies:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
NAU expects every student to firmly adhere to a strong ethical code of academic integrity in all their scholarly pursuits. The primary
attributes of academic integrity are honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, and responsibility. As a student, you are expected to submit
original work while giving proper credit to other people’s ideas or contributions. Acting with academic integrity means completing
your assignments independently while truthfully acknowledging all sources of information, or collaboration with others when
appropriate. When you submit your work, you are implicitly declaring that the work is your own. Academic integrity is expected not
only during formal coursework, but in all your relationships or interactions that are connected to the educational enterprise. All forms
of academic deceit such as plagiarism, cheating, collusion, falsification or fabrication of results or records, permitting your work to be
submitted by another, or inappropriately recycling your own work from one class to another, constitute academic misconduct that may
result in serious disciplinary consequences. All students and faculty members are responsible for reporting suspected instances of
academic misconduct. All students are encouraged to complete NAU’s online academic integrity workshop available in the E-
Learning Center and should review the full academic integrity policy available at
https://policy.nau.edu/policy/policy.aspx?num=100601.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Membership in NAU’s academic community entails a special obligation to maintain class environments that are conductive to
learning, whether instruction is taking place in the classroom, a laboratory or clinical setting, during course-related fieldwork, or
online. Students have the obligation to engage in the educational process in a manner that does not breach the peace, interfere with
normal class activities, or violate the rights of others. Instructors have the authority and responsibility to address disruptive behavior
that interferes with student learning, which can include the involuntary withdrawal of a student from a course with a grade of “W”. For
additional information, see NAU’s disruptive behavior policy at https://nau.edu/university-policy-library/disruptive-behavior.
TITLE IX
Title IX is the primary federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex or gender in educational programs or activities. Sex
discrimination for this purpose includes sexual harassment, sexual assault or relationship violence, and stalking (including cyber-
stalking). Title IX requires that universities appoint a “Title IX Coordinator” to monitor the institution’s compliance with this
important civil rights law. NAU’s Title IX Coordinator is Pamela Heinonen, Director of the Equity and Access Office located in Old
Main (building 10), Room 113, PO Box 4083, Flagstaff, AZ 86011. The Title IX Coordinator is available to meet with any student to
discuss any Title IX issue or concern. You may contact the Title IX Coordinator by phone at 928-523-3312 (TTY: 928-523-1006), by
fax at 928-523-9977, or by email at [email protected]. In furtherance of its Title IX obligations, NAU will promptly
investigate and equitably resolve all reports of sex or gender-based discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct and will
eliminate any hostile environment as defined by law. Additional important information about Title IX and related student resources,
including how to request immediate help or confidential support following an act of sexual violence, is available at
http://nau.edu/equity-and-access/title-ix.
ACCESSIBILITY
Professional disability specialists are available at Disability Resources to facilitate a range of academic support services and
accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability, you can request assistance by contacting
Disability Resources at 928-523-8773 (voice), 928-523-6906 (TTY), 928-523-8747 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail). Once eligibility has
been determined, students register with Disability Resources every semester to activate their approved accommodations. Although a
student may request an accommodation at any time, it is best to initiate the application process at least four weeks before a student
wishes to receive an accommodation. Students may begin the accommodation process by submitting a self-identification form online
at https://nau.edu/disability-resources/student-eligibility-process or by contacting Disability Resources. The Director of Disability
Resources, Jamie Axelrod, serves as NAU’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator and Section 504 Compliance Officer. He
can be reached at [email protected].
Updated 8/20/2018
Updated 3/29/17
Approved UGC – 2/12/14
Approved UCC – 1/28/14