EDUC 520 - Inclusion for Educators

(3 credits)

This course will study inclusive practices and programs that impact the student with special educational needs who is served in the regular education setting. The candidate will gain knowledge and understanding of inclusive settings in order to modify curriculum to accommodate for students with various disabilities. Students who have a myriad of special needs including cognitive, behavior, social, physical, emotional and linguistic needs will be the focal point of this course. The impact of aligning a standards-based curriculum with effective evidenced-based instruction that incorporates supplemental aids and services will be emphasized. Furthermore, the candidate will design and implement instructional programs that reflect knowledge, awareness, and responsiveness to diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. Research of universally designed instruction, differentiation of instruction, scaffolding of lesson content, and appropriate use of technology are only some of the strategies to be investigated. In addition, the candidate will become aware of the need to provide academic rigor that utilizes these evidence-based practices. This course will review historical antecedents of educational inclusive practices, and review and analyze present day trends and laws that affect student placement in an inclusive setting. The writing of standards-based individualized educational plans and accommodating and modifying curriculum and assessments will be extensively studied to ensure student success in an inclusive regular education setting. As needed.