Aims

This module has four major aims:
1.       To study and conceptualize the diverse range of complex cohorts, special educational needs and notions of vulnerable students.
2.       To develop an understanding of becoming an empathising teacher
3.       To develop an interactive and practical perspective of special needs and attendant forms of support and intervention based on the study of cognitive, social, psychological and educational perspectives.
4.       To develop a critical and nurturing approach to educating, supporting and progressing students with diverse complex needs.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module considers that concepts of special educational needs are a microcosm of the complexity due to the vast diversity of student cohorts educational, social, emotional and physical needs. This module will encourage a view that special education refers to and requires specialized interventions or environmental modifications, differentiated pedagogies, adapted curricula and a nurturing approach provided to students who are considered ‘complex or special’. The aim is to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the most vulnerable of students and reflect upon the necessity of becoming an empathising practitioner. There is a critical need for a distinct pedagogic framework and consideration that all individuals have varying degrees of skills and hidden potential which are often ‘invisible’ as students may not learn in the same way as their neuro-typically developing peers.

Lectures and seminars will run parallel to facilitate how the field and concepts of Special Educational Needs are multi-faceted and vast. The syllabus will focus upon particular ‘special’ learners, and those with ‘different ways of being’ to reflect a variety of complexity and issues:

Conceptualisation of SEND, complex cohorts, SLD and PMLD
Becoming a reflective empathising practitioner: notions of empathy and best practice
Educating and nurturing students with ADHD
Educating and nurturing students with Autism
Educating and nurturing students with SLD
Educating and nurturing students with sensory needs and PMLD
Educating and nurturing looked after and vulnerable students
Presentation work
Tutorial sessions

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will be taught through interactive lectures, seminars, digital video material and tutorials. As the module progresses, students will be encouraged to develop their own particular areas of interest and focus upon particular ‘special’ learners, and thus enhance their ability to offer an individualised educational experience for those with ‘different ways of being’. Lectures and seminars will run parallel to facilitate how the field and concepts of Special Educational Needs are multi-faceted and vast. Each seminar will be centred upon two areas:

-       Practical tasks to trial methods of pedagogy which will allow preparation towards conducting and planning a presentation
-       The review of a piece of published research whose substantive focus will be a preparation for the final assessment.

The balance of lectures and seminars is critical in understanding that the whole area concerns four major conceptual domains that you are expected to engage with:
-       Being able to practically ‘do’ the subject in practice
-       Being able to understand your own beliefs, values and biases
-       Having a deep and critical understanding of the subject matter
-       Having a sensitivity, empathy and insight into behaviours and practices that are complex and that are often open to deep misunderstandings.

This series of lectures and seminars aim to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of:
-       The diverse range of complex cohorts, special educational needs and notions of vulnerable students
-       Perspectives of special needs based on the study of cognitive, social, psychological and educational perspectives
-       Nurturing and pedagogic approaches to educating, supporting and progressing students with diverse complex needs.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Formative assessment of students’ progress will occur throughout the seminars, the oral examination through group presentations allows students to be actively involved in the opportunity to develop their understanding of concepts around SEND. Essential preparation for the assessed essay will be expressed during the opportunity students have to work together developing their oral, written and communication skills. The essay builds on the lecture and seminar content and guided independent study
Reflective and critical assignment
•       Understand the diversity of SEND
•       Understand how and why students’ educational experiences are altered because of the complexity and behavioural stereotypes of SEND, SLD and PMLD
•       Have a critical understanding of current pedagogical strategies that are applied to special education
•       To have developed an area of key interest in educating and nurturing SEND students
Presentation
•       Be able to discursively critique discourses and representations of being ‘complex and vulnerable’.
•       Be able to plan and enact a pedagogic response to SEND.
•       Be able to design a presentation to explore a specific aspect of an individuals’ and teachers’ experiences of SEND.
•       Have an informed, reflective and reflexive approach to the field of special education as a teacher
•       Have developed an area of key interest and expertise in Educating and Nurturing SEND students that will inform their final, summative assessment