EDUC 2080 - Foundations of Learning and Human Development of Diverse Learners

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 4
Course Description: This course presents theories of learning and human development, specifically as they relate to diverse learners.  Topics include assessment and accommodations, universal design for learning, motivating SPED students, and strategies to enhance learning. This class is a requirement in the Minnesota State Special Education Transfer Pathway AS degree and meets Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice and Special Education Core Skills standards.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
1. Assessment, Learning, and Accommodations in the classroom

2. Diverse Learners

1. Individual differences
   1. Intelligence
   2. Cognitive and learning styles
   3. Family
   4. Culture

3. SPED students’ experiences and the impact on development and learning

1. Socioeconomic
2. Family background
3. Racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity
4. Community and cultural norms
5. Influence of use and misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
6. Influence of Technology

4. SPED Learning Approaches/Environments

1. Universal Design for Learning
   1. Assistive Technology
2. Communication
   1. Communication Theory
   2. Language Development
   3. Role of language in learning
3. Cooperative Teaching
   1. One Teach, One Observe
   2. One Teach, One Support
   3. Station Teaching
   4. Parallel Teaching
   5. Alternate Teaching
   6. Team Teaching

5. Motivating SPED students

1. Connecting learning experiences to
   1. Family
   2. Culture
   3. Community
   4. Values

1. explain student’s strengths as a basis for growth, and a student’s errors as opportunities for learning.
2. identify differences in approaches to learning and performance, and demonstrate how to design instruction that uses a student’s strengths as the basis for continued learning.
3. explain the importance of utilizing information about students’ families, cultures, and communities as the basis for connecting instruction to students’ experiences.
4.  identify multiple perspectives that need to be considered when developing instructional opportunities for diverse learners (i.e., student’s personal, family, and community experiences and cultural norms).
5. explain how to create learning environments that contribute to the self-esteem of all persons and to positive interpersonal relations.
6. identity the relationship of intrinsic motivation to student lifelong growth and learning.
7. explain communication theory, language development, and the role of language in learning.
8. analyze impact of gender, familial background, socioeconomic status, racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity on disabilities and involvement in all aspects of special education.
9. explain how disabilities can impact families as well as the student’s ability to learn, interact socially, and contribute to the community throughout the life span.
10. explain the influence of use and misuse of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and other chemicals on student life and learning.

Courses and Registration