Psychology 2043A 650 FW24
Exceptional Children: Developmental Disorders
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall 2024
Psychology 2043a Section 650
Exceptional Children: Developmental Disorders
1 Calendar Description
This half course will cover theory and treatment related to major childhood disorders affecting learning and development, including autism, learning disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and physical handicaps.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html
Antirequisites: Antirequisite(s): Psychology 2041, Psychology 2320A/B, Psychology 3320F/G, Psychology 3434E.
Prerequisites: N/A
Lecture Hours : 3 Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 Course Information
Instructor: Caroline Fabbruzzo
Office & Phone: N/A
Office Hours: Virtual, by appointment.
Email: psych2043-650@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistants: Michelle Luzsawski
Gabriella Murphy
Office: N/A
Office Hours: N/A
Email: psych2043-650@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous
Delivery Method: Virtual (recorded video lectures on Coursesite)
This is a fully online course that will use Western University’s learning platform, Brightspace and other educational resources based on the needs of the course. This class is designed to be asynchronous, meaning we will not have a regular, mandatory time when the entire class must be online. All exams, however, will take place synchronously on-line, and will be proctored remotely with Proctortrack.
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca or 519-661-2147.
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3 Course Materials
Can be purchased at
https://bookstore.uwo.ca/textbook-search?campus=UWO&term=W2024A&courses%5B0%5D=650_UW/PSY2043A
Gallagher, J. J., Coleman, M. R., Kirk, S. A. (2022). Educating Exceptional Children (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Hard Cover ISBN: 9780357625231, EBook ISBN: 9780357625279
E-book or textbook are both fine.
“MINDTAP” E-learning supplements are not required and will not be used in the course.
This edition of the textbook (15th) is critical for success in the class. You will need it to follow along with the online lectures and complete the assignments and class discussions. This text was chosen because it is a comprehensive overview of the causes, prevalence, symptoms/characteristics and evidence-based interventions for children with exceptionalities. It also presents critical information about cultural sensitivity for assessment and intervention methods.
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
1. Gain an understanding of how exceptional children are defined today, current controversies, and current educational strategies. Learn about how this differs historically and globally, and what forces shape this 2. Identify high and low incident exceptionalities, describe their causes, characteristics, and considerations for interventions (e.g., Autism, ADHD, vision impairment, etc.) |
Complete readings Recorded Lectures Independent research for application assignment
|
Chapter Quizzes Final Exam Application Assignment
|
|
Knowledge of Methodologies
1. Identify the tools/techniques used to identify and assess potential exceptionalities. Critique their cross-cultural appropriateness. 2. Develop a sense of methods used in basic research (i.e., twin studies, fMRI, etc.)
|
Complete readings Recorded Lectures Independent research for application assignment
|
Chapter Quizzes
Final Exam Application Assignment
|
|
Application of Knowledge 1. Apply knowledge by writing a research paper. |
Complete readings Participate in forum discussion Recorded Lectures Independent research for application assignment
|
Chapter Quizzes
Application Assignment
|
|
Communication Skills 1. Communicate current knowledge and ongoing open questions through an oral or written format |
Independent research for application assignment
|
Application Assignment
|
5 Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation
|
Overview of Course Assignments
|
|||
|
Assignment
|
Type |
Due Date(s) |
Weighting |
|
Chapter Quizzes |
Quiz |
See class schedule for details |
7 x 5% = 35%
|
|
Case Study |
Application assignment |
November 15th |
30%
|
|
Final Exam |
Final Exam |
TBA |
35%
|
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
*Details on each assessment are provided on the course site.
** For the Case Study assignment, students are assigned to a due date group.
Group A: Surname beginning with A to F
Group B: Surname beginning with G to L
Group C: Surname beginning with M to R
Group D: Surname beginning with S to Z
Policy on Missing Coursework and late assignments
Chapter Quizzes: Late or incomplete submissions will earn a zero (0). Quiz availability is indicated in the course outline and the Quizzes tool.
Exams: Missed midterm or final exams will be given zero unless documentation is provided to your academic counsellor (See section 11 below). Make up exams will be scheduled for students with approval from Academic Counseling.
Case Study: A late penalty of 2% will be applied per day to late assignments. Late submissions will not be accepted after 5 days (weekends included).
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Methods of Evaluation
|
Overview of Course Assignments
|
|||
|
Assignment
|
Type |
Due Date(s) |
Weighting |
|
Chapter Quiz |
Quiz |
See Class Schedule for Details |
7 x 5% = 35%
|
|
Case Study Assignment |
Application assignment |
See Class Schedule for Details |
30%
|
|
Final Exam |
Final Exam |
TBA |
35%
|
7 Class Schedule
|
Week |
Topic and Reading |
Due |
|
Sept 3-6 |
Introduction. Review of course and syllabus |
Sept 6 |
|
Sept 9-13 |
Children and Youth with Exceptionalities and their Families |
Chapter 1 Quiz Due Sept 13 (11:59 pm) |
|
Sept 16-20 |
Policies and Practices for Inclusion in Canada |
|
|
Sept 23-27 |
Chapter 3: Early Intervention Supports and Services |
Chapter 3 Quiz Due Sept 27 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Sept 30-Oct 4 |
Chapter 4: Children and Youth with Intellectual Disabilities |
Chapter 4 Quiz Due Oct 4 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Oct 7-11 |
Chapter 5: Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders |
Chapter 5 Quiz Due Oct 11 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Oct 14-18 |
Thanksgiving and Fall Break |
|
|
Oct 21-25 |
Chapter 6: Children and Youth with Learning Disabilities |
Chapter 6 Quiz Due Oct 15 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Oct 28-Nov 1 |
Chapter 7: Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder |
Chapter 7 Quiz Due Nov 1 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Nov 4-8 |
Chapter 8: Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioural Disorders |
Group A Case Study Due Nov 8 (11:59 pm) |
|
Nov 11-15 |
Chapter 9: Communication, Language and Speech Disorders |
Group B Case Study Due Nov 15 (11:59 pm) |
|
Nov 18-22 |
Chapter 10: Children and Youth who have Gifts and Talents |
Group C Case Study Due Nov 22 (11:59 pm)
Chapter 10 Quiz Due Nov 22 (11:59 pm)
|
|
Nov 25-29 |
Chapter 11: Students who are deaf or Hard of Hearing |
Group D Case Study Due Nov 29 (11:59 pm) |
|
Dec 2-6 |
Chapter 12: Children with Visual Impairments Chapter 13: Children with Physical Disabilities, health Impairments |
|
|
Final Exam |
TBA |
|
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Exam Proctoring Software
Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote
Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.
Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”)
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions
Some or all the learning sessions for this course may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers. The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
