EDME653-26S2 (D) Semester Two 2026 (Distance)

Meeting the needs of students with literacy difficulties

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2026
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 27 September 2026

Description

This course provides advanced study into the variety of literacy learning difficulties that learners may present with from school entry through to adulthood. It examines the theory and research that informs how these difficulties are understood in the current educational context with a focus on identifying and supporting students with literacy learning difficulties.

This course is primarily self-directed with study guides and readings. It is asynchronous, meaning that as long as you submit the assignments at the time required you can work through the materials at the pace that suits you.

There are opportunities for online participation and engagement through weekly Zoom sessions and discussion forums that you are strongly encouraged to participate in.  However, assigned topics for presentation and discussion will be required for you to deliver in assigned Zoom sessions as a component to the CMRR requirement.

Learning Outcomes

On the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Differentiate between the different literacy learning difficulties that students might present with from early childhood to adulthood and recognise the cognitive, cultural and social influences on the identification of literacy difficulties.
2. Critically evaluate the type and use of assessment tools for identifying literacy learning difficulties and the appropriateness of those tools across social and cultural contexts.
3. Critically evaluate the type and use of interventions for meeting the needs of students with a range of literacy learning difficulties and the appropriateness of the interventions across cognitive and social contexts.
4. Apply the findings of theory and research on literacy learning difficulties to meet the needs of students through cognitively, socially, and culturally appropriate decision making and communication.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of School

Restrictions

EDEM653

Equivalent Courses

EDEM653

Course Coordinator

Alison Arrow

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Spear-Swerling, Louise; Structured literacy interventions : teaching students with reading difficulties, grades K-6 ; The Guilford Press, 2022.

All other readings will be available on the LEARN site.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $2,299.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment .

All EDME653 Occurrences

  • EDME653-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026
  • EDME653-26S2 (D) Semester Two 2026 (Distance)