Core Concepts

Exemplars of Student Outcomes and Program Goals

The Special Education Programs prepare educators as exemplary teachers, change agents, advocates, and problem-solvers in their respective professional roles in schools

Student outcomes

• To demonstrate critical thinking
• To understand their roles as visionaries and
• agents of change - paradigm pioneers
• To demonstrate reflective practices and problem-solving
• Program Goals
• To prepare exemplary Special Education Teachers

The Special Education Programs provide an integrated set of experiences that enable faculty to impart and students to explore theoretical knowledge while linking that knowledge to best developmental practices

Student Outcomes

• To acquire a knowledge base and demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of theory
• To make the connections to theory and exemplary practices
• To critically reflect on best practices and differentiate best practices from other practices
• Program Goals
• To bridge theory with practical experiences
• To design and implement an integrated set of experiences within and across all programs
• To integrate and continually update technology/adaptive technology across programs and courses.

Special Education faculty authenticate and model best practices in the context of our instruction and curriculum design, and by acknowledging students individual differences

Student Outcomes

• To demonstrate and understanding of the fit between students needs, assessment, instruction, and discipline.
• To understand the challenges of students and how they learn/learning characteristics - typical and atypical
• To adapt curriculum to different needs of the students
• To integrate technology/adaptive technology in their teaching
• Program Goals
• To model what should be done in schools and classrooms to achieve student outcomes

Core Concepts

Exemplars of Student Outcomes and Commitments

The Special Education faculty support collaboration and a commitment to the profession as defined by reflective teaching, scholarship, and service

Student Outcomes

• To acquire knowledge about the role of the Special Education Teacher - as - researcher
• To acquire knowledge about the role of the Special Education Teacher - as - practitioner
• To demonstrate an understanding of professional collaboration including co-teaching, team-teaching, parallel teaching, reciprocal teaching, team curriculum planning, collaborative consultation
• To model and facilitate student collaboration including cooperative learning, peer tutoring, students as advocates
• Program Goals
• To model and provide collaborative experiences throughout the students course of study

Develop and maintain reciprocal and supportive partnerships among schools, universities, professional organizations, government agencies

Student Outcomes

• To demonstrate an understanding of the interconnectedness of schools, universities, and the community
• Program Goals
• To develop, support, and mainstain school/university partnerships, University/community partnerships, and business/school/university partnerships

The Special Education Programs support and promote reform, restructuring and reconceptualization of schools

Student Outcomes

• To demonstrate an understanding of the current structures of schools
• To demonstrate an understanding of ways of examining the structure of schools
• To demonstrate an understanding of the role of reform and its relationship to inclusion
• Program Goals
• To promote professional development of our students and faculty
• To examine collaborative reform across all programs

The Special Education programs strive to instill in students a sense of professionalism and understanding of special education

Student Outcomes

• To development of knowledge and the law and IEP development
• To acquire In depth knowledge about the origins and characteristics about specific disabilities
• To demonstrate an understanding of the linkages between assessment, identification, and curriculum planning
• To demonstrate an understanding of the role of the special educator as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• To acquire content knowledge across general education curriculum
• To acquire knowledge of and experience innspecial and general education teaching methods.
• To develop a sense of personal ethics and understanding the rights of students
• Program Goals
• To prepare exemplary special educators