Psychology (PSYC) 400
Teaching and Managing the Child with Learning Difficulties (Revision 5)

Revision 5 closed October 2005, replaced by current version.

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Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study. Video component*.
Online-enhanced.
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.
Credits: 6 - Social Science
Prerequisite: Permission of the professor required. Previous course work in special education or experience teaching children with special needs is strongly recommended.
Precluded course: PSYC 348. (PSYC 400 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 348.)
Centre: Centre for Psychology
Challenge for Credit: PSYC 400 is unavailable for Challenge.
Learn more online: Course home page

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Course Fees | Course Availability


Overview

Psychology 400: Teaching and Managing the Child with Learning Difficulties is a six-credit course that provides a practical approach to teaching and managing children with learning problems. It emphasizes remedial strategies, specific teaching and management suggestions, the development of special materials, and various classroom and curriculum modifications to meet the needs of students with learning problems. This course examines many aspects of teaching and a variety of practical approaches from a number of theories that be suggested for use.

Outline

This course is divided into three major parts consisting of 12 units.

Part 1 - Foundations of Teaching Students With Learning and Behaviour Problems

  • Unit 1 Creating Responsive Learning Environments
  • Unit 2 Planning and Organizing Instruction
  • Unit 3 Assessing Students for Instruction
  • Unit 4 Teaching Students and Managing Instruction
  • Unit 5 Promoting Social, Emotional, and Behavioural Development

Part 2 - Teaching Academic Skills

  • Unit 6 Assessing and Teaching Language
  • Unit 7 Assessing and Teaching Reading
  • Unit 8 Assessing and Teaching Spelling
  • Unit 9 Assessing and Teaching Handwriting and Written Expression
  • Unit 10 Assessing and Teaching Math
  • Unit 11 Assessing and Teaching Learning Strategies, Content, and Study Skills

Part 3 - Application

  • Unit 12 The Individualized Program Plan

Evaluation

The final grade in PSYC 400 will be based upon the performance on five quizzes, the completion of the IPP, the daily teaching lesson plans and evaluations, and the summary essay. Students are required to work with a child with learning difficulties for a six- to eight-week period.

To receive credit for PSYC 400, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent) and at least 50 percent on the summary essay. The weighting of assignments is as follows:

Skills Survey 5 Quizzes CD Activity Individual Program Plan JournalSummary Essay Total
5% 20% 10% 25% 25% 15% 100%

Course Materials

Textbooks

Mercer, C., & Mercer, A. (2001). Teaching students with learning problems (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice-Hall.

Other Material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, an assignment manual, CD - Working with Leigha, and a book of readings.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

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View previous syllabus
Opened in Revision 5, June 12, 2003. To archived version.
This page was updated by G. Zahara