School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2023 Units. All assessment changes will be published by 20th February 2023. All students are reminded to check the handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Foundation Studies and Current Issues in Special Education
  • Unit Code

    EDU6373
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr John Andrew O'ROURKE

Description

Current social, ethical and pedagogical issues and controversies in the field of special education will be examined. A range of policies in respect to the delivery of services to children with special needs in regular and special schools will be analysed in detail. Attention will be given to controversies about methodologies and instructional strategies in the field. The factors that make for successful inclusion of students with disabilities will also be discussed. Implications for the administration of special education services will be examined. Research design issues in the field will also be addressed.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded EDU4113, EDU5373

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse, describe and defend the major arguments used to evaluate complex ideas around special education or inclusion programs.
  2. Transfer complex knowledge and ideas to variety of audiences in a variety of settings, for diverse audiences, while valuing social and environmental sustainability.
  3. Critically analyse and synthesise thought around contemporary research papers, policies and current issues in the field to a variety of audiences.
  4. Make high level judgments to a variety of audiences, on policy, principles, and ethical and legislative requirements for educating students with additional and complex communication needs.
  5. Evaluate situations, formulate arguments, and then make ethical judgements on the academic and social support required to enhance inclusivity in a variety of educational settings.

Unit Content

  1. Critical analysis of research literature.
  2. Current issues in special education.
  3. Current policies regarding the education of students with special needs.
  4. Ethical issues in special education.
  5. Factors for successful inclusion of students with disabilities.
  6. The major arguments used to justify special education or inclusion programs.
  7. The social, ethical and political factors that affect policy decisions in special education.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not Offered13 x 3 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit will incorporate lectures, workshops and tutorials. Students will be involved in collaborative projects, discussion and debate together with independent study.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationIn class presentation50%
Literature ReviewLiterature review (2500 words)50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationOnline class presentation50%
Literature ReviewLiterature review (2500 words)50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

EDU6373|2|1

School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Foundation Studies and Current Issues in Special Education
  • Unit Code

    EDU6373
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr John Andrew O'ROURKE

Description

Current social, ethical and pedagogical issues and controversies in the field of special education will be examined. A range of policies in respect to the delivery of services to children with special needs in regular and special schools will be analysed in detail. Attention will be given to controversies about methodologies and instructional strategies in the field. The factors that make for successful inclusion of students with disabilities will also be discussed. Implications for the administration of special education services will be examined. Research design issues in the field will also be addressed.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded EDU4113, EDU5373

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse, describe and defend the major arguments used to evaluate complex ideas around special education or inclusion programs.
  2. Transfer complex knowledge and ideas to variety of audiences in a variety of settings, for diverse audiences, while valuing social and environmental sustainability.
  3. Critically analyse and synthesise thought around contemporary research papers, policies and current issues in the field to a variety of audiences.
  4. Make high level judgments to a variety of audiences, on policy, principles, and ethical and legislative requirements for educating students with additional and complex communication needs.
  5. Evaluate situations, formulate arguments, and then make ethical judgements on the academic and social support required to enhance inclusivity in a variety of educational settings.

Unit Content

  1. Critical analysis of research literature.
  2. Current issues in special education.
  3. Current policies regarding the education of students with special needs.
  4. Ethical issues in special education.
  5. Factors for successful inclusion of students with disabilities.
  6. The major arguments used to justify special education or inclusion programs.
  7. The social, ethical and political factors that affect policy decisions in special education.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not Offered13 x 3 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit will incorporate lectures, workshops and tutorials. Students will be involved in collaborative projects, discussion and debate together with independent study.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationIn class presentation50%
Literature ReviewLiterature review (2500 words)50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationOnline class presentation50%
Literature ReviewLiterature review (2500 words)50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

EDU6373|2|2