Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Dr. Mary Barczak
Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Psychology
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Phone: 405-325-3574
Email: mary.barczak@ou.edu
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Course Details
This course will examine how particular types of low-incidence disabilities; including intellectual disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, deafness, blindness, multiple disabilities, and other health impairments that affect academic and job performance. You will learn and demonstrate current methods for teaching and training individuals with low-incidence disabilities.
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Materials
Required Textbooks:
Batshaw, M.L., Roisen, N.J. Pellegrino, L. (2019). Children with disabilities, (8th ed.). Brookes Publishing.
Other Required Materials:
1. Device capable of high-quality video recording and means to fix device to optimal position
(e.g., smartphone with tripod, laptop, camcorder with tripod, tablet with stand, etc.)
2. School supplies for conducting lessons (e.g., notecards, markers, highlighters)
Grades
Scale
A = 90-100%
B = 80 – 89%
C = 70 – 79%
D = 60 – 69%
F = <59%
Course Components
| Assignment | Points |
| Quizzes (20 pts each) | 260 |
| Practice Activities (20 pts each) | 100 |
| Disability Report | 60 |
| Disability Report Guided Notes | 25 |
|
Practitioner Paper Topic (10 pts) Citations (10 pts) Outline (20 pts) Draft 1 (50 pts) Draft 2 (50 pts) Final Paper (100 pts) |
240 |
Quizzes
There will be weekly quizzes taken through Canvas that cover content from that week’s reading and lectures. Quizzes are due Sunday night by 11:59 PM. Each quiz is worth 20 points each. Quizzes will be composed of a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, matching, and/or short answer questions. There is a 30 minute time limit on each quiz. Students may not work together on the quizzes.
Quiz Point Recovery Assignment: Students who turn in their quizzes by the assigned due date will be eligible to recover any missing points by completing a point recovery assignment. For the point recovery assignment, students will review their incorrect responses to the quiz, identify the correct answer to each question based on material from the course, and write a brief paragraph (2-3 sentences) explaining how they came to the correct response with included reference(s). A sample of a point recovery assignment response can be found on Canvas. Any student who wishes to pursue this option must contact the instructor. All point recovery assignments are due one week following the quiz due date and should be emailed directly to the instructor.
Scoring Disagreements: If you believe an answer is correct and it is marked as incorrect, provide the following via email:
-
- Full question, including what was marked incorrect
- What you believe the correct answer is
- Justification, including text reference/page number/slide where you found correct answer
- Submit within 48 hours of correct answers being available.
Practice Activities
Following the introduction of a new evidence-based practice, students will practice the evidence-based practice independently. Students will produce a permanent product that shows their mastery of the practice. Permanent products may include video recordings of students engaged in evidence-based practices. For practice assignments, students do not have to complete the assignment with an individual with an intensive support need. Each assignment will be accompanied by a brief reflection.
Low-Incidence Disability Video Report
You will be completing one low-incidence disability report this semester. This report consists of a video presentation on a disability of your choice (see list of disabilities on Canvas). You will also create guided notes to accompany the video report. The presentation must include (1) an overview illness/disability (causes, characteristics, prevalence rate, etc.); (2) implications for teachers (3) a list of resources/professional organizations that would be appropriate for other practitioners or parents and a brief description of these; and (4) the references that you used to gather information.
Practitioner Paper
Over the course of this semester, you will prepare a practitioner paper according to the TEACHING Exceptional Children guidelines.
You will write an 18-20 page research paper, using APA 7th edition format, on a topic of your choice for students with more significant support needs. A rubric will be provided on canvas.
Benchmark Points
- Agreed upon topic (10 points)
- 6 initial academic citations (10 points)
- Outline (20 points)
- Draft 1 (50 points)
- Draft 2 (50 points)
- Final Paper (100 points)
Course Policies
Attendance
This course is part of your professional training. As such, professional behavior is expected throughout the semester. You are expected to participate in class every session, as appropriate. A significant amount of learning takes place in the classroom through interactions between classmates; to not miss out on this opportunity, it is within your best interests to attend every class. If you need to be absent from class you should reach out to me (Dr. Barczak) as soon as possible to discuss missed content or assignments.
This class is offered entirely online via Zoom. When attending class via Zoom, you will need to keep your video on at all times (unless permission to turn of your video is given by the instructor). Please do not put a picture in your place or turn your video off for an extended period of time. A brief time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) turning off your video to move between rooms or to block visual distractions is fine.
You will be asked to mute yourself when you are not directly speaking, but your active engagement is expected. You need to treat your time online in class just as you would if you were in person on campus.
While expectations are high regarding academic work and your participation during class, I am quite willing to answer any and all questions you might have about an assignment and to work with you in developing your ideas. The primary goal is that you think about the issues presented in class and leave the course with knowledge and skills you can apply in your future roles as service providers. Never hesitate to ask a question.
Grading
Grades will be posted to Canvas each week. All written work will be graded and returned within two weeks after the due date, if not sooner.
Make-up Work & Late Assignments
If you must be absent for any reason, you are responsible for making your own arrangements to obtain information from any missed class period. In the case of a documented emergency, a missed assignment can be made up. Students should contact the instructor as soon as possible to reschedule missed assignments.
Assignments should be handed in via Canvas by the day/time they are due in the format requested. The assignments assigned in this class are intended to evaluate your ability to apply what you learn in class to an actual academic situation. Meeting deadlines helps me to be able to respond to assignments in a timely manner. However, there are times when students are not able to meet deadlines and will need an extension for an assignment in order to do their best work. It is recommended that students ask for extensions BEFORE assignments are due.
The following policy is applied to late work in this class:
- Late assignments will be penalized by a 5% reduction of the full point value for every day the assignment is late (i.e., 3 days late = 15% reduced grade).
- Students who need an extension on an assignment should email the instructor to arrange a new due date. Late assignment penalty will begin to accrue if the assignment is not turned in by the new due date.
Uploading assignments to Canvas does take time and technology can sometimes be difficult. Please allow yourself time to submit assignments. If you believe you will be late turning in an assignment due to technical difficulties, please email the instructor as soon as possible so that you do not begin accruing late penalties. Technology help information can be found here.
Incomplete Grades
Incompletes will be given at the instructor’s discretion only in serious circumstances, and not because a student could not finish the work required in this course. Students must meet the criteria for receiving an incomplete set by the university's grading policy. The guidelines for receiving incomplete grades can be found here.
Communicating with the Instructor about Assignments
Although I have designed rubrics to clarify expectations for all assignments, it is natural that students will have questions. Therefore, I have designated multiple opportunities for students to ask these kinds of questions.
- I will review the rubric(s) for any upcoming assignment(s) during class. Students are strongly encouraged to ask questions at this time.
- Students are invited to talk with me immediately before or after class. I will be present before class and after class for up to a half hour to communicate with students.
- Students are invited to come to office hours. To schedule an appointment for office hours, students should email the instructor.
- Finally, there are two discussion boards that students can use to ask questions about assignments. The first is the COURSE HELP BOARD. The course help board is reserved for questions about the administrative functioning of the course that may be relevant to the whole class. You can also share resources or post helpful tips or strategies. I will check the board daily to respond to your questions, but your classmates may get you an answer even faster. The second is the ASSIGNMENT FEEDBACK BOARD. The assignment feedback board is a place for you to receive feedback on assignments from me or your classmates. I will also check this board daily.
Questions about assignment due dates and class logistics will not be answered via email. I do this for two reasons. One, the discussion boards provide a permanent product for the entire class to refer to. Two, I often get the same emails from multiple students asking the same questions. Answering the same question multiple times via email is a waste of time both for me and the students writing the emails.
If you have specific questions about your grades, need to ask for an extension, or have a question about feedback that I provided on an assignment, you can contact me individually through OU email or Canvas messenger. Depending on the question, I may ask you to schedule a time to meet with me in person/over Zoom to discuss your question.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalogue.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy. To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (ph.) 405.325.3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking, the University offers a variety of resources. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405/325-2215 (8 to 5, M-F) or smo@ou.edu. Incidents can also be reported confidentially to OU Advocates at 405/615-0013 (phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies can be directed to University Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at 405/325-3546 or smo@ou.edu . For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/eoo.html.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2]
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment call (405) 325-2911. For more information please visit http://www.ou.edu/ucc.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|