Special Education 440

I. Course Title: Practicum in Early Intervention

II. Course Number: EDSP 440

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: IDEC major, acceptance into Teacher Education Program, minimum 2.5 GPA.

V. Course Description: 

This course provides candidates with a supervised experience in early intervention. The placement might be home-based, school-based, or community-based.

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course. 

Pass/Fail.  A fee of $110 will be charged to students taking EDSP 440.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

Students will engage in a supervised experience in early intervention. The placement might be home-based, school-based, or community-based.

Course content includes:

  • Evidence-based and recommended practices for infants and young children, including those from diverse backgrounds 
  • Development and matching of learning experiences and strategies to characteristics of infants and young children
  • Development, implementation, and evaluation of individualized plans, with family members and other professionals, as a member of a team 
  • Facilitation of child-initiated development and learning 
  • Implementation of developmentally and functionally appropriate activities, using a variety of formations, based on systematic instructions 
  • Integration of family systems theories and principles into professional practice 
  • Adaptation for the unique developmental and learning needs of children, including those from diverse backgrounds
  • Respect of family choices and goals 
  • Use of teacher-scaffolded and –initiated instruction to complement child-initiated learning 
  • Understanding of the methods for providing instructional programs for early intervention, including service delivery options
  • Service delivery to support success and functionality in all settings where same age, typically developing peers, would be located

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Students work closely with their cooperating professionals each week to gain experience and skills needed to be effective instructors of young children with disabilities and their families. 

Students are required to participate in the full range of duties of developmental service providers and service coordinators or public school teachers in classrooms with 2 year olds for the duration of the placement and are expected to demonstrate commitment to the professions’ code of ethical conduct. 

Weekly seminars are designed to facilitate the development of knowledgeable, skilled, thoughtful and committed professionals.  Seminars focus on: 

  • Experiences in the field
  • Effective teaching practices
  • Current issues and concerns of educators of young children.  

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Goals, objectives, and assignments address the Virginia Department of Education regulations for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skill Items. Specialty set included in this course cover competencies for Early Childhood Special Education.

In order to engage in a supervised experience in early intervention, this course will prepare each student to:

  1. Advocate on behalf of infants and young children and their families 
  2. Design intervention strategies incorporating information from multiple disciplines 
  3. Develop an individualized plan that supports the child’s independent functioning in the child’s natural environments 
  4. Develop individualized plans that support development and learning as well as caregiver responsiveness 
  5. Develop, implement, and evaluate learning experiences and strategies that respect the diversity of infants and young children, and their families 
  6. Implement family services consistent with due process safeguards 
  7. Implement family-oriented services based on the family’s identified resources, priorities, and concerns 
  8. Implement processes and strategies that support transitions among settings for infants and  young children 
  9. Participate in activities of professional organizations relevant to early childhood special education and early intervention and implement ethical practices 
  10. Provide consultation in settings service infants and young children 
  11. Support and facilitate family and child interactions as primary contexts for development and learning 
  12. Use informal and formal assessment to make decisions about infants and young children’s development and learning 
  13. Participate as a team member to integrate assessment results in the development and implementation of individualized plans 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

  1. Participating in feedback, observations and evaluations from cooperating professionals and university supervisors. 
  2. Engaging in self-analysis. 
  3. Completing a log of student teaching placement activities. 
  4. Writing assignments applying best practices to instruction with children and families.
  5. Attending placement and weekly seminar.
  6. Completing other assignments as deemed appropriate.

 

Other Course Information: This course is a required professional education course for the early childhood special education teaching licensure option.

 

Review and Approval

November 2019

August 2020

March 01, 2021