New Courses for Spring 2008

ED 529 Critical Literacy Beyond the Classroom Walls
Designed for K-12 teachers and community leaders, this course explores socio-cultural and developmental models of how varied literacies are constructed, understood and used in and outside schools in the United States. Through the design of extra-curricular and in-school projects and activities for students, families and community members, candidates in this course will recognize, value and employ culturally sensitive understandings of literacies and their powerful role in our society. Prerequisites: teaching certification or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

MD 501 Media Literacy in Education
This is a survey course designed as a study of media, first as it has related to information through history, then to its own entity as an instrument of persuasion and learning. The emphasis throughout will be on the possibilities of how conventional and new media has enriched the teaching-to-learning environment. In this light the course will focus on various new media forces and theories in education through various models and online virtual environment experiences. Finally, we'll assess the faults of lurking within the general media and how its presentation can be used as a source of dis- or mis-information through its "spin" and certain restrictions used in government and politics as a tool of control. Three credits.

PY 537 Psycho-educational Assessment I: Academic Achievement
Designed for school psychology candidates, this course is the first in a four course sequence on the psycho-educational evaluation of school-aged children. Following an introduction to multi-source/multi-method evaluation, this course focuses on the collection, analysis, and interpretation student achievement data. Methods reviewed include, but are not limited to, (a) analysis of the student's educational history, (b) assessment of the instructional environment, (c) observation of academic-related behaviors in classroom settings, (d) curriculum-based assessment, (e) implementation of evidence-based instructional interventions, and (f) monitoring response to intervention. Beginning with this course, and continuing throughout subsequent courses in the sequence, school psychology candidates are taught to integrate data about student functioning across multiple domains (i.e., cognitive, academic, and social-emotional) in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the student which aids in educational planning and decision making. Three credits.

SE 500 Theories of and Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
This course provides an overview of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children and youth through readings, discussions, and activities. Students will examine 1) characteristics, 2) diagnostic criteria, and 3) behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders. Specific diagnostic assessment and screening tools for autism spectrum disorders such as ADOS, ADI-R, and M-CHAT will be reviewed to identify children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Current research on theories of etiology will be explored and analyzed. Various intervention techniques/strategies for facilitating social communication abilities and behavior management for children and youth with ASDs will also be discussed. Three credits.