Special Educational Needs: Learning, Teaching and Assessment

^EFPM011Z 

Special Educational Needs: Learning, Teaching and Assessment will allow you to critically explore the teaching, learning and assessment of students with special educational needs and disabilities, from all around the world. During the course, you will consider some different types of special educational need/disability, e.g. autism; dyslexia; learning difficulties/disabilities; and social, emotional, mental health and wellbeing needs; in relation to learning theories, pedagogies, assessment issues and interventions, to develop a critical understanding of these issues.

This course is suited to:

The course is invaluable to educational professionals from a range of contexts and will provide a wider understanding of teaching and learning of students with special needs and disabilities, considering approaches such as assessment, interventions and pedagogies. It will also help develop knowledge of approaches to teaching for diversity (e.g. adaptive teaching, inclusive pedagogies).   

What will I learn?

This course provides an opportunity to critically examine theoretical conceptions of, and practical approaches to, diagnosis, assessment and intervention, and teaching approaches for a range of special educational needs. This will include thinking about applications to some specific types of special educational needs/disabilities (e.g. autism, dyslexia, learning difficulties, mental health and wellbeing needs).  

It will allow you to critically consider and engage with ideas concerning the relationship between the theory, research, policy and practice in inclusive and special education in a global context.    

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of theoretical models of learning and teaching pedagogies applied to the needs of learners with special educational needs and disabilities 
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of approaches to diagnosis, assessment and intervention and teaching approaches for specific types of special educational needs/disabilities 
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of current global issues regarding the needs of learners with special educational needs and disabilities 
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of approaches to teaching for diversity
• Critically evaluate research evidence related to special educational needs and disability
• Consider and critically engage with ideas concerning the relationship between the theory, research, policy and practice in inclusive and special education 
• Synthesise and organise ideas to present an argument 
• Engage in critical, reflective debate 
• Consider the application of theoretical ideas, policy positions and research implications to educational practice 
• Undertake both directed and independent study to recognise, justify and analyse key ideas in the literature and relate these to research, theory, policy and practice. 

How is the module assessed?

For this course, you should expect to engage in structured learning activities for 10-15 hours per week on average, plus additional time spent on self-directed learning (such as further reading or preparing for assessments).

The taught course can be completed in 12 weeks, with the final submission in week 11. Marking and feedback are provided after this, in line with University policy.

Module staff

Entry Requirements

For postgraduate programmes we usually require students to have a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent.

While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criteria, if you have a high 2:2 (or equivalent) or are coming from a different academic background (that is equivalent to degree level) but you also have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.

The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.