SPED 540 - Assessment in Special Education

3 Credit(s)

This course is an introduction to assessments and measurements in an educational setting. Students will develop skills for the systematic process of gathering, interpreting, and organizing educationally relevant information based on laws, policies and legal provisions. Emphasis is placed on effective assessment principles and procedures developing both theoretical and practical knowledge for assessment-based, instructional decision making about the provision of special services to exceptional students and students from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A focus will be on collaboration with stakeholders to interpret and apply assessment results for the determination of eligibility for special education services. Valid assessment methods/types will be utilized in order to limit the misidentification of CLD and CLDE students. The use of technology, including assistive technology, with all students, including those students with special learning and communication needs will also be explored. A range of technologies will be examined, from low-tech devices such as simple switches to computers, adaptive devices, and software appropriate for students with disabilities. Basic standard setting, grading, testing ethics, locating and evaluating measures, program evaluation, development of foundational skills for assessing literacy development for students with disabilities served in general education setting and classroom research will also be presented.