Introduction to Special Populations Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

EDUC-2301-001 Introduction to Special Populations

Prerequisites

EDUC 1301

Course Description

Overview of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic and academic diversity and equity with an emphasis on factors that facilitate learning. Provides an opportunity to participate in P-12 special population classrooms. Course will align with the State Board of Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities and Technology Application standards.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hr; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Required Textbooks:

\ 1)  Pearson Learning Solutions (2010).  Education 2301 Special Populations, 1st edition, Pearson Custom Publishing Company,  ISBN:  0-558-86245-4

\ You can only purchase this textbook throughAC's Bookstore.  Bundled with this textbook, there will be an access code in order to view AC's Education/Child Development department portal.  Here's the link to the portal: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/tx/amarillo_edu/ You will click on this course's My Education Lab and then you need to set up a Pearson student account, and then you will enter the access code in order to view Pearson's online course resources.

\ 2) Bingham, T. and Thomas, C. (2006).  TExES Success:  A Comprehensive Guide to the Texas PPR Examination of Educator Competencies, 2nd edition, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company,  ISBN:  0-7575-3306-X   

Supplies

\ Pencils, pens, paper.  Other supplies will be discussed in class.

\ The student will be required to wear an AC ID and a blue/white lanyard at each classroom observation.  You can purchase the lanyard in the bookstore.

Student Performance

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ Things to Remember:

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• \ Your participation in class helps you learn more, and makes the class more interesting.
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• \ Ask questions.  Ask more questions. We will all learn together.
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• \ Check out Amarillo College’s Students Rights and Responsibilities.
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• \ Students are expected to follow the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct.
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• \ Respect and honesty are key to education.  We will be working with sensitive topics. We will learn how to handle confidential information in professional ways. Keep respectful and honest practices in the front of your mind.
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• \ Make up exams are up to the instructor's discretion.  Please make a strong effort to complete all exams by the deadline date and time. Make up exams may be in an essay format.  In order to be fair to students who take the exams during the given time frame, make up exams will lose 15% of their original value.
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• \ Any student, who because of a disabling condition may require some special arrangement in order to meet course requirements, should contact disAbility services at 371-5436 as soon as possible.
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• \ If for some reason you are unable to complete this course, be sure to notify the instructor and the Registrar’s office
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• \ Completion and verification of the 16 hour observation log sheet and journal is mandatory in order to receive credit for this course.  The start/end dates for observations will be discussed online in class. 
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Grading Criteria

\ Grading Criteria
\ Weekly Learning Activities -- 25% of Final Grade
\ 6 Exams --  25% of Final Grade
\ Special Education Presentation Project --  10% of Final Grade
\ Observation Journal, Observation Log Sheet and hand written thank you notes--   40% of Final Grade

\ *** If a student does not complete the observation and journal requirements as designated, a grade of “F” will be given for the course. 

\ ***If there is a complaint from a teacher about student’s behavior on a campus, a grade of “F” may be given for the course.     

\ Grading Scale
\ A = 100 -- 90
\ B =   89 -- 80
\ C =   79 -- 70
\ D =   69 -- 65
\ F =    64 -- 0

Attendance

\ The online portion of the class will run from Tuesday afternoon through Monday evening at 11pm. 

Calendar

Additional Information

Observation Guidelines
What a wonderful opportunity it is to step into a classroom to increase knowledge and begin to put ideas into your repertoire to become a fabulous teacher! Young students are excited for you to enter into their classroom to observe their learning environment. You will receive guidelines for the observations in class that will assist you in the most successful experience; not following these procedures can cause the student to have points deducted from the observation grade.  The value of the points may vary depending on the offense.  Professionalism cannot be stressed enough!  You are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing Amarillo College, and you are a role model to students you will be observing.  This is an awesome responsibility and we know you will take this experience seriously!

This course is a field-based course for all education majors to give students an overview of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic, and academicdiversity and equity with an emphasis on factors that facilitate learning. It provides an opportunity to participate in P-12 special population classrooms.  The course will alignwith the State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities and Technology Application standards.

• The EDUC courses consist of an additional “lab” component and public school observation piece that other 3 hours courses you may take at the community college may not have as a requirement.  This is not an instructor’s option.  It is a state mandate and students not completing these requirements will not receive credit for the course.   
• Students need to be aware of these requirements and plan accordingly when scheduling work, family responsibilities, and other course load to prevent frustration and disappointment in one of the areas.  
• COMPLETION AND VERIFICATION OF THE 16 HOUR OBSERVATION LOG SHEET AND JOURNAL IS MANDATORY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 

This course is written according to the Higher Education Coordinating Board guidelines and must include the following components in order for the course to transfer to a university.  

An enriched integrated pre-service course and content experience that:
1)  provides an overview of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic and academic diversity and equity with an emphasis on factors that facilitate learning;
2)  provides students with opportunities to participate in early field observations of P-12  populations;
3)  course content must be aligned as applicable with State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities standards;Domain III: Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment; with particular attention to Domain IV:  Fulfilling Professional Role and Responsibilities.
4)  includes a 16 contact hour lab component, the focus will be on special populations in P-12 schools;
5)  Pre-requisite for this course is EDUC 1301.

Purpose and Goals of Course:

1.     Understand diverse populations in the classroom.
2.     Understand how to make modifications for students with a disability in the classroom.
3.     Understand how testing and evaluating possible special needs students work in the public school setting.
4.     Understand the responsibilities of the public schools in meeting the needs of special education students.
5.     Understand the responsibilities of the public school teaching in meeting the needs of students of diverse backgrounds.
6.     Learn the different types of disabilities, what causes them, and best practices in assisting them.