EDSP 473 Transition Planning

This course prepares special educators to work with families to provide successful student transitions throughout the educational experience, focusing on educational issues, independent living preparation, community living skills and vocational preparation. Current methods and tools are covered.

The field of special education constantly evolves in the context of legal mandates, best practices, understandings of causation and planned instruction, and in services available for support. With IDEA 2004, a renewed focus was placed on transitional practices for moving students from secondary environments to the worlds of work, independent living and community living. This course examines evidence-based methods for developing successful transition plans (strategies and coordination) to meet individual student needs.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist Assignment

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 400 words, include at least one reference to course embedded materials, the textbook or additional referenced resources, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words. (CLO: A)

Case Study Project Assignments (4)

The candidate will use a provided case study of a student displaying significant academic delays as compared to the student’s peer group. Utilizing this case study, the candidate will create an Individualized Education Program (IEP), complete edTPA Task 1, create a Task Analysis Video, and develop an Individualized Transition Plan (ITP).

Assessment Analysis Assignment

The candidate will analyze provided assessment data for a focused learner with exceptional learning needs. The candidate will then synthesize understandings of those identified needs and patterns of learning challenges in a psycho-educational report, providing analysis and recommendations. (CLO: F)

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Assignment

The candidate will develop an IEP after analyzing the provided case study. The candidate will utilize the provided template and complete all portions of the template focusing on present level of academic achievement and functional performance, measurable annual goal(s), short term objectives, specific accommodations, determination of participation in state and division-wide assessments, least restrictive environment, placement, and prior notice. In addition, the candidate will demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of professional learning and ethical practices necessary throughout the IEP creation process. This assignment will be submitted in both CORE and Canvas. (CLO: B)

Task Analysis Video Assignment

The candidate will plan a task analysis for a case student. Task analyses are used to assess and teach students with exceptional learning needs specific often practical tasks and the required skills to accomplish these tasks. This identified task analysis will be recorded in a video format.  The candidate, as part of this assignment, will be required to analyze a task, identify the process and articulate small steps (a task analysis) for students to perform the task. (CLO: E)

Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) Assignment

The candidate will be required to use the case of Carla (provided) to conceptualize and design an ITP. The provided form will be used for the planning of transition, in the areas of individualized transition plan that connects IEPs over a multiple year span to plan for and implement skill development in the areas of courses to be studied to support goals, community living goals, daily living skills goals and employment goals. The candidate will use knowledge of case interests, skills, needs and content and pedagogical knowledge in order to outline specific articulated outcomes, action plans to achieve these outcomes, connections and coordination with developed IEPs and agencies involved in the execution of the plan. (CLO: C)

edTPA Analysis Assignment

The candidate will review and evaluate a completed Special Education edTPA portfolio. This portfolio will expose the candidate to a completed sample of edTPA Tasks 1-3. The candidate will use the completed portfolio and provided rubric to evaluate the quality of the sample provided.  The candidate will be required to provide rich commentary to support each evaluation level selected for the criterion. (CLO: D)

edTPA Task 1 Assignment

The candidate will develop a lesson segment (and conceptualized related lesson segments) as part of a practice administration of edTPA Task 1. These lesson segments, the context for learning and the reflection commentary will all focus on the IEP and ITP case employed as a focused learner. The candidate will be required to develop a contextual understanding, design a specific lesson connected to the IEP and the case and then reflect on the lesson planning process. This assignment will be submitted in both CORE and Canvas. (CLO: D)

Quizzes (4)

There will be four quizzes throughout the term. Each quiz will be comprised of multiple-choice and true-false questions that will cover the current week’s and in some cases the previous week’s textbook readings. The quizzes will be open-book and open-note. Each quiz may only be taken once and has a 1-hour time limit for completion. (CLO: C)