Tred-208
 
 

Introduction

WebQuest

Assignment

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Introduction

Society sets standards for acceptable behavior and expectations for adults and children.Deviations from these standards are commonly viewed as aberrant behavior and are subject to negative consequences.School aged children whose behavior is strongly at odds with developmental and school system norms may be identified as having a behavior disorder or emotional disturbance, more recently referred to as an emotional disability.

During the first week of school, you learn from your department chair that you will have a student with emotional disabilities in your 2^nd period math class.An aide has been assigned to assist the student while in your classroom.Your first response to this news is “Why me?”You feel some mix of resentment, frustration and even fear.Will this student be violent?How will her presence and that of the aide change the dynamics of your classroom and what extra work will be required of you?

You definitely need more information.Since the student’s records are not immediately available, you pay a visit to the special education department chair.She isn’t able to share much information since the student is new to the school.She suggests that you spend time researching the web to gain some basic information about emotional disabilities generally.What can you expect to learn from online resources?

To complete this assignment you will assume the roles of a researcher and a teacher.As a researcher you will visit various websites to learn more about emotional disabilities.As a teacher you will first create a brief descriptive case study of a student with a specific emotional disability(s), then construct an action plan that outlines the ways in which you will accommodate the student’s learning needs through your instructional and assessment practices.

To begin, research the web using the online resources listed below to formulate thoughtful and knowledgeable responses to these questions:

1) What is an Emotional Disability (ED)?

2) What are the characteristics of ED?  Typically, what behaviors do students with ED exhibit?

3) What are some of the causes of ED?

4) How is ED identified?

5) How does 504 and IDEA legislation address the needs of students with ED?  What factors must be considered in determining to apply either or both forms of legislation in meeting a particular student’s learning needs?

6) What challenges do ED students pose for teachers?

7) What educational interventions are effective in working with students with ED?

8) What strategies and accommodations have been shown to be effective in helping students with ED learn?

9) What types of support can teachers working with ED students generally expect at the school level? 

10) What other supports or resources can teachers tap into to assist them in working effectively with students with ED?

Step 1.Using the questions listed above to guide your investigation each group member will visit these online resources.

Program for Students With Emotional Disabilities

P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education

Internet Resources for Teachers and Parents of Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

KidSource Online

KidSource Online: Behavioral Disorders

University of Michigan: General Emotional Disabilities

What You Need to Know About Special Education

Idea Practices and Regulations

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997

The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education

LD Online: 504 Plans

Assuming the role of teacher and working collaboratively:

Step 2.Apply the knowledge you have gained as researchers by creating a handout that summarizes the essential aspects of what you’ve learned.Include resources that you think will be beneficial to others.

Step 3.Relying on the knowledge you’ve acquired about emotional disabilities and your preparation to become teachers:

a. select a particular emotional disability, and

b. create a case study of a fictional student.In two or three paragraphs, briefly describe your class environment and curriculum.Also, describe the emotionally disabled student including observed behaviors and ways the student appears to be academically and/or socially challenged.

Step 4.Outline an action plan that states specifically how you will modify your instruction and assessment practices to better meet the learning needs of this student.Identify how you will monitor the effectiveness of your action plan.

Step 5.Lead a mini-workshop in class to inform students about learning disabilities.You should plan to share your summary handout, case study and action plan. 

The products you create as part of this WebQuest assignment will be assessed using the rubric below. 
 

	Exemplary 3	Satisfactory 2	Adequate 1	Revise Incomplete	Score
Apply knowledge of emotional disabilities by creating a summary handout	Reflects a thorough Summary of the information provided by the online resources.All questions are addressed fully.	The online material is summarized, but missing one or two pieces of key information All but one question have been addressed fully.	The information presented highlights some but not all of the key information.Not all of the questions are addressed fully.	Handout is not acceptable.See instructor for guidance.
Apply knowledge of emotional disability by creating a case study	Case study is well written, realistic and includes a highly accurate description of the characteristics associated with the selected disability.	Case study is well written, realistic and includes an acceptable description of the characteristics associated with the selected disability.	Case study may not be convincing or may not include an accurate description of the characteristics associated with the selected disability.	Case study is not acceptable.See instructor for guidance.
Apply knowledge of educational interventions by developing an action plan	The action plan Outlines highly appropriate interventions and addresses instructional, assessment and monitoring practices fully.	The action plan outlines most of the interventions considered appropriate and addresses instructional, assessment and monitoring practices fully.	The action plan outlines most of the interventions considered appropriate and addresses instructional, assessment and monitoring practices somewhat.	Action plan is not acceptable. See instructor for guidance.
Apply knowledge of disability and teaching through leading a mini-workshop	Workshop was highly informative, well organized and conducted collaboratively.	Workshop was informative with few gaps, well organized and conducted collaboratively.	Workshop was somewhat informative with some gaps, fairly wellorganized and conducted collaboratively.	No opportunity to revise.

Congratulations on completing this WebQuest!You should now understand that this disability, in part, reflects societal standards for the behavior and expectations about the development of children.Emotional disabilities may adversely affect a student’s educational performance.Early identification and interventions for home and community environments as well as school settings can significantly improve the outcomes for these individuals as they move into adulthood. When taught by teachers who are well prepared and knowledgeable about emotional disabilities and new research findings, many emotionally disabled individuals can learn to compensate for their disabilities.

Image #1 taken from www.google.com. (Images files, keyword learning disabilities.)