EDUC 678 - Instructional Strategies/Students With Diverse Needs

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This course is designed to introduce students to strategies for differentiating instruction within general education classrooms. The course examines the legal, philosophical and programmatic underpinning of inclusion, broadly defined. Addressed in the course are approaches for adapting the curriculum, especially in the content areas, to meet the needs of socio-culturally, linguistically, cognitively (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia) and behaviorally diverse student populations, including students identified traditionally as having special needs (e.g., gifted and talented, physically challenged). The course of study includes a) legal aspects for schools and teachers; b) characteristics of handicapping conditions; c) social-psychological-cultural perspectives; d) teaching strategies for including diverse populations; and e) differentiating instruction to meet the various learning needs of students. The course includes small/large groups, case studies/scenarios, lecture, video presentations, reflections, inquiries and group presentations. The class will focus on student-centered learning.