Learning in a Sociocultural Context

Catalog description

This is a required course for all teacher candidates preparing for the New York state certificate in Middle Childhood Specialist, Adolescence or Adolescence/Students with Disabilities, T.E.S.O.L., K-12, and Theatre Arts, K-12. The course will provide an overview of current knowledge on individuals with disabilities within the context of human growth and development across the lifespan. It will examine how children and youth develop and learn, and learn about the common delays in the normal mastery sequence of developmental skills as well as motivation and cognitive learning theories. The course will also cover a broad range of topics related to teaching students with disabilities including but not limited to: the various theoretical models and perspectives in the field of teaching special education; the kinds and nature of exceptionalities and special needs of children and youth; cultural and socioeconomic factors and their impact on eligibilities and programming for children and youth with disabilities; and the role of the family in the special education process. Students observe the application of these ideas in a required 20 hour field experience which will provide the setting to view and work with students from diverse backgrounds in either a local middle or high school.