SPC ED 303: Materials and Methods - Dual License
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      Syllabus


    Spring, 2003, Wednesdays, 4:00-6:30 p.m. (3 credit hours), Dane Smith Hall 326
    Instructor: Julia Scherba de Valenzuela, Ph.D.
    Office: Hokona Hall, room 254
    E-mail: devalenz@unm.edu
    Phone: 277-1406
    Web site: http://www.unm.edu/~devalenz/
    Office Hours: Tuesdays, 4-6:30 p.m. on a drop-in basis. No appointments needed.
    Appointments available: Mondays 7:15-8:30 p.m. and Thursdays 5-8:30 p.m.
    .
    The following information is included in this syllabus:
  • Course Overview
  • Readings
  • Course Design
  • Class Schedule
  • Mission Statements:
    • Instructor vision and mission
    • College of Education mission
    • COE conceptual framework
  • Assignments:
    • UNM e-mail
    • materials hunt
    • classroom-based assessment
    • intervention strategy description
    • lesson plan
    • web-based portfolio
  • Grading Criteria:
    • UNM e-mail
    • materials hunt
    • classroom-based assessment
    • intervention strategy description
    • lesson plan
    • web-based portfolio
  • Cover Pages:
    • materials hunt
    • classroom-based assessment
    • intervention strategy description
    • lesson plan
    • web-based portfolio
    Course Overview
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    Course Description:
    This course is designed “ to provide the undergraduate special education student with specific strategies and a knowledge of materials which are important in meeting the needs of students with mild disabilities in a variety of classroom settings” (UNM Catalog, 2001-2003, p. 332).
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    Rationale:
    The mission of the College of Education is to advance the quality of the educational experience for all learners and to educate professionals who can facilitate human growth in schools, homes, communities, and workplaces. In carrying out this mission, the College explicitly values diversity in people and perspectives. This course supports the College of Education framework by addressing student abilities within the context of a diverse society, recognizing the need to support all individuals in life-long learning, and validating all individuals, including those with disabilities, as valuable members of their communities, including their communities of learners.
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    Course Objectives:
    The objectives of this course are to facilitate student understanding of:
    • the backward planning process;
    • the relationship between assessment and instruction;
    • fundamentals of lesson planning;
    • specific instructional strategies, with a particular emphasis on generalization of skills and knowledge;
    • resources for materials development; and
    • the use of technology in the instruction of students with special needs.

     
    Readings
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    Required Books:
    Burke, K. (1999). How to assess authentic learning. Arlington Heights, Ill.: Merrill.
    Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D. J. & Pollock, J. E. (2001). Classroom instruction that works: Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
    Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (1998). Understanding by design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Note: Other readings (required and recommended) may be placed on electronic reserves over the course of the semester. If you have any articles that you think your colleagues would be interested in, please let me know and I will put a copy on reserve for the rest of the class.
     
     
    Course Design

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    Class Structure:
    This course is designed so that students will interact actively with the course material -- whole group discussion and small group activities, rather than instructor lecture, will make up the bulk of in-class sessions. Therefore, it is imperative that students arrive at each class having thoroughly read all of the assigned readings. Active construction of student knowledge is fundamental to this course, therefore, many instructional strategies will be presented in this course via modeling, rather than through lecture or direct instruction. These instructional strategies will include:
    · cooperative learning· activity-based instruction· scaffolding· use of multiple intelligences· Bloom’s taxonomy· quick writes· K-W-L· each-one-teach-one· graphic organizers· visual aids · guided notes· universal design· integration of technology· explicit behavioral expectations· consistent opportunities for student feedback· student-directed learning· opportunities for self-assessment· explicit grading criteria· performance-based assessment
    Students who require special accommodations or instructional modifications need to notify the instructor by the beginning of the semester, or as soon as difficulties become apparent, with appropriate documentation from the Student Support Services Center (277-3506), Mesa Vista Hall, Room 2021.
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    Specific Course Requirements:
       
      Assignments:  Points Possible:
      1. UNM e-mail address 4 points
      2. materials hunt 15 points
      3. classroom-based assessment instrument 15 points
      4. instructional strategy description 15 points
      5. lesson plan 25 points
      6. web-based portfolio 25 points
    Descriptions of and criteria for grading each assignment will be handed out in class. Extra copies can be obtained at the instructor's web site -- http://www.unm.edu/~devalenz/. All written assignments must be typed, in a 12 pt serif font (such as Times New Roman), with a 1” margin all around. They generally should be double-spaced.

    A cover page for each assignment is included in this assignment, which include a self-assessment in the form of a check list. All criteria must be met and the cover sheet must be completed for the assignment to be accepted.
     

      NOTE:  Any assignment which is not written in a manner that is comprehensible to the instructor, which does not meet the stated minimum criteria for the assignment, and/or which contains profanity or is presented in an otherwise unprofessional manner will not be accepted. A student may be allowed to revise their assignment, at the discretion of the instructor.


    The total points possible for all of the above assignments add up to 99 points. The final point will be added to the student's grade at the instructor's discretion for any assignment that goes significantly above and beyond the work of other students. This allows the instructor to assign a grade of 'A+' only in the case of the student fulfilling the stated requirements for all assignments, attending all class sessions (or making up those missed) AND performing clearly superior work on at least one assignment.

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    Evaluation Procedures and Grading System:
    Final grades will be determined by a point system (X out of 100 total possible points). Fractionated grading will be used, with the following breakdown:
     
       
      A+ = 100 B+ = 88-89 C+ = 78-79  D+ = 68-69 F = below 60
      A = 94-99 B = 84-87 C = 74-77 D = 64-67
      A- = 90-93  B- = 80-83 C- = 70-73 D- = 60-63
    Incompletes are strongly discouraged and are only given when the conditions of the university are met and after a conference with the instructor at the initiation of the student. Incompletes and withdraws from the course will be allowed only in accordance with UNM policies. Please see the UNM catalog for a description of these policies.
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    Policies:
    1.) Academic Dishonesty: It is the responsibility of students to avoid practices that may be considered acts of academic dishonesty. UNM’s policy, as found in the UNM Pathfinder  (2001-02), p. 58, is as follows:

    Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may
    receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question and/or the course.
    Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others . . .

    What does this mean for this course?
    In terms of written work, this means that you have the responsibility to make it very clear in all written work what portion of the work you wrote and what was written by other people. For example, it is perfectly acceptable, and even encouraged, that you use materials and ideas provided by others, such as lesson planning web sites, workshop leaders, mentor teachers, or curriculum guides. However, you need to indicate (such as in a footnote) where you got the information that you are adapting for the assignment. In the long-term, this will be VERY helpful to you, as you may not remember the source of your ideas and you might need or want to go back to that source for additional copies or more ideas.

    Additionally, the work that you turn in for this class must be specifically written for the assignments in this course, this semester -- you may not turn in work (either in whole or part) that you have used for a grade in another course.
    So, you must make the original source of your ideas explicit. Failure to do so falls under the category of academic dishonesty and will result in the following:
     

    • The first time a problem of this sort appears in an assignment, I will assume that it is unintentional and will ask you to re-write the assignment. Points may be deducted from your assignment at my discretion. You will be required to meet with me to learn how to avoid this problem in future assignments.
    • The second time this problem is noted in an assignment, you will be assigned 0 points for that assignment.
    • If the problem appears for the third time, you will be assigned a failing grade in the course.


    If you have any concerns or questions about how to appropriately indicate what is your own work and what is derived from the work of others, please see me during office hours, or if that time is not convenient, call or email me to set an appointment time.

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    2.) Late Papers: Late assignments will receive a one (1) point deduction for every day late, with a limit of seven days allowed. If assignments are not turned in within 1 week of the assigned date, they will not be accepted, except in the case of significant illness (doctor's note required) or family emergency. If you will be not be able to be in class, please arrange for a friend to turn in your assignment during class, have the assignment faxed to the special education office by the time/date due, or have it handed in in-person to Jo Sanchez in the Special Education office (Hokona Hall 273) prior to 5 p.m. on the date due. If your assignment will be turned in at the Special Education office, please make sure that the time and date it is received are documented by the staff. Do NOT put late assignments under my office door, unless you want them accepted as turned in on the day I find them, which may or may not be the same day as you turned them in. Since I am not at the university every day, this could cost you points.
     
      IMPORTANT! You may NOT e-mail your assignments to me as an attachment, as all assignments must include a signed cover sheet.
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    3.) Re-Writes: In order to be fair to all students, re-writes will not be allowed, except under extraordinary circumstances, beyond the student's control. However, students are STRONGLY encouraged to talk with, e-mail questions to, and/or submit drafts to the instructor at least 1-2 weeks ahead of time, so that revisions can be made, if necessary, by the assigned due date.
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    4.) Class Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory - Students who miss three class sessions will be dropped from the course, regardless of the reason.  No excuse or documentation is necessary for missed classes. Missed class sessions (up to two) can be made up with the following, turned in no later than three weeks after the missed class:
     
    • A photocopy of a colleague’s notes. If not available, you will need to indicate the names of at least three students you asked for notes.
    • A copy of the overheads (if not included in your colleague’s notes) and handouts (if available) from the course web site.
    • A typed summary of all the assigned readings for the class missed.
    • A typed response to the reading questions (available on the course web site).
      IMPORTANT! Five points will be deducted for every absence that is not made up.


    Late arrivals to class interrupt the learning of all students. Therefore, a point will be deducted for arriving more than 20 minutes late to class. Arriving more than an hour late or leaving more than an hour early will be considered a class absence and will need to be made up, as indicated above.

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    5.) Class Participation: Class participation that is conducive to the learning of all course participants is expected. Behaviors that are considered to be conducive to learning (of the student him/herself and others) include:
     
    • arriving to class on time and well-prepared,
    • paying attention to instructor and/or other students when they are speaking,
    • turning off the ringer of your cellular phone and not taking calls within the classroom (please step out in the hall to speak if you must answer an emergency call),
    • use of appropriate and non-offensive language during class and in written class assignments,
    • demonstrating cooperation with and respect for the instructor and peers during class discussions,
    • actively participating, on-topic, during small group activities, and
    • showing consideration for other students' need for alternative teaching strategies.


    I expect students to demonstrate consistently positive class participation. Frequent and/or significant failure to fulfill these expectations will result in the student being dropped from the course.
     
     
    Class Schedule

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    January 21, 2004 (#1)
    Topic: introduction
    Read: no reading due on the 1st class

    January 28, 2004 (#2)
    Topic: Backward Planning and the reflective teaching cycle
    Read:  Wiggins & McTighe, chapters 1 and 2

    February 4, 2004 (#3)
    Topic: Bloom’s taxonomy
    Read:  Wiggins & McTighe, chapters 3 & 4

    February 11, 2004 (#4)
    Topic:  assessment overview and portfolios
    Read:  Burke, chapters 4, 5, and 6 (Wiggins & McTighe, chapters 5 & 6 recommended)
    Due:   UNM e-mail address

    February 18, 2004 (#5)
    Topic:  web-based portfolios
    Meet at SSC B-69

    February 25, 2004 (#6)
    Topic: lesson planning
    Read:  Tomlinson , chapter 8, AND Goethals & Howard, chapter 2
    Due:  lesson plan subject and topic (i.e. science/toads and frogs)

    March 3, 2004 (#7)
    Topic:  web-based portfolios
    Due: materials hunt

    March 10, 2004 (#8)
    Topic:  writing objectives and aligning content with standards
    Read: Burke, chapter 1 AND Marzano, Pickering & Pollock, chapter 8
    **mid-semester class and instructor evaluation (how is it going so far?)
    Meet at SSC B-69

    March 17, 2004 (#9)
    No Class -- UNM Spring Break

    March 24, 2004 (#10)
    Topic:  multisensory teaching
    Read: Burke, chapter 3 AND Marzano, Pickering & Pollock, chapter 6

    March 31, 2004 (#11)
    Topic: web-based portfolios
    Meet at SSC B-69
    Due:  classroom-based assessment instrument

    April 7, 2004 (#12)
    Topic: direct instruction and prompting, cueing, fading, chaining
    Read: to be announced

    April 14, 2004 (#13)
    Topic: web-based portfolios
    Meet at SSC B-69

    April 21, 2004 (#14)
    Topic:  intervention strategies presentations
    Read: none assigned for this week
    Due: instructional strategy descriptions

    April 28, 2004 (#15)
    Topic: web-based portfolios
    Due: lesson plan
    Meet at SSC B-69

    May 5, 2004 (#16)
    Topic:  choosing strategies strategically
    Read:   Wiggins & McTighe, chapter 10

    May 12, 2004 -- Finals week
    Topic: Portfolio Celebration
    Due:  final portfolio
    location to be determined

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    Last updated: December 23, 2004