Advanced Diploma in Special Education

Course details

This 12-month part-time programme is designed specifically to train potential candidates to teach children with special needs. The candidates will acquire curriculum development and teaching pedagogy to enable children acquire literacy and numeracy competencies. These children may have a wide range of disabilities, including those with various degrees of intellectual, physical, behavioural, psychological, and sensory problems, or a combination of these.

Objectives

• Have a basic knowledge of the key areas of child development, educational theory, and the etiology of the major types of disabilities;
• Have the skills necessary for the identification of specific disabilities and the diagnosis and assessment of inpidual weaknesses;
• Be able to develop competency in a range of teaching skills to suit the needs of the children being taught; and
• Be able to plan and evaluate inpidualized intervention programmes for their own area of disability specialization.

Programme Structure

• The ADISE programme begins by introducing student teachers to the psychology of education and then moves on to the nature of special education, the areas of special educational needs, the identification, diagnosis and treatment of these needs and the basic principles and practices of effective teaching and learning. The programme is highly practice-oriented to ensure that what they learn in their classes can be applied to children with special needs under their charge.

Modules

• Introduction to Special Education & Psychology of Exceptional Children
• Diagnosis, Assessment and Referral of Exceptional Children
• Specific Learning Difficulties
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Attention Deficit Disorders
• Sensory Integration
• Communication Disorders
• Literacy, Numeracy & Adaptive Daily Living Skills
• Behaviour & Classroom Management
• Inpidual Education Plan & Intervention Strategies
• 30 hours of Supervised Practicum

Entry Requirements

For admission to the ADISE programme:

21 years of age and above, AND possess either :

• Diploma in Learning disorders Management & Child Psychology offered by Linguistic Council, OR
• At least 2 STPM Grade C or 2 passes in 'A' level, OR
• Diploma in any discipline OR
• Degree in any discipline.

Lesson Schedule

• Each module consists of 10 lessons. Each lesson is for 3 hours.
• Classes are held twice a week.

Assessment Method

• Each module will be formally assessed by written assignments (50%) and an examination (50%).

Modules Description

Introduction to special education and psychology of exceptional children.

• This module studies the different types of exceptional children, which include intellectual, emotional and physical disabilities. The module will provide students with an understanding of special needs education, the different programmes and specialties as well as the educational support framework.

Diagnosis, assessment and referral of exceptional children.

• This module will have information on the principles and guidance strategies as applied to the exceptional child. Students will gain knowledge in the perse range of education and psychological tests applicable to referral, assessment and placement of exceptional children. Students will also be exposed to the roles and responsibilities of the different supporting professionals such as the speech pathologists, psychologists and the occupational pathologists. Emphasis is placed on a unified team approach of differential diagnosis and treatment.

Specific Learning difficulties.

• This module will study the characteristics, identification, evaluation and development of learning procedures for inpiduals who are normal in intelligence but who are failing to learn because of characteristics consistent with central nervous system dysfunction such as perceptual motor disturbances, languages disorders, academic problems and behaviour control disorders. Students will develop an understanding of common specific learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia. Intervention approaches such as the Hanen approach, Orton-Gillingham and the THRASS approach will be taught.

Autism spectrum disorders.

• This module will provide the students with an understanding of the theories, diagnosis, characteristics, cognitive processes and issues relating to classical autism, Asperger's syndrome, Rett's disorders and PDD-NOS. Students will understand the medical aspects and theories and controversies essential to quality programming for students with autism and be able to apply intervention strategies to optimize opportunities for people with autism.

Attention deficit disorders.

• This module will provide the students with an introduction to the concept of attention deficit disorders and attention deficit with hyperactive disorder. Students will be familiar with the characteristics, causes, diagnosis, issues and management strategies of inpiduals with attention deficit disorders and attention deficit with hyperactive disorders.

Sensory Integration.

• This module will provide students with an understanding of the theories, diagnosis, characteristics, cognitive processes and issues relating to sensory integration disorder. Intervention strategies to manage sensory disorder will also be covered.

Communication disorders.

• The module will provide students with an overview of the various communication disorders likely to be encountered in the classroom; students will be exposed to the roles of a speech pathologist and will examine the principles and teaching methods in order to interact with children with communication disorders. Approaches such as PECS and Makaton will be introduced. 

Literacy, numeracy and adaptive daily living skills.

• This module will introduce the students to the different theories, research and concepts to educational methods and materials used to help a child develop his literacy, numeracy and daily living skills.

Behaviour and classroom management

• This module focuses on the development of principles and procedures of behavioral change within the conceptual framework of social learning. The course emphasizes practical application of behavioral modification techniques in classroom settings and everyday situations. Variations discussed include the training of parents and teachers to work with children, the introduction of token learning principles into the home and school, and modification of peer and supervisor behavior.

Inpidual Education Plan (IEP) & Intervention Strategies

• This module focuses on the theories, concepts application and implementation of intervention programmes such as mastery learning, peer tutoring, collaborative teaching, multi sensory learning and assistive technology. In addition, the module will also help student understand the purpose and importance of an IEP. The main focus will be to help students to competently design and implement an IEP for inpiduals in the following domains: Language and communication, cognitive, social and emotional, fine motor, gross motor and adaptive living skills.

Supervised practicum

• Students will be attached to special needs school to gain practical experience working with special needs children under supervision. At the end of the attachment, students are required to submit a written report for assessment.