EDUC421-13W (C) Whole Year 2013

Introduction to Interventions

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 February 2013
End Date: Sunday, 10 November 2013
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 3 March 2013
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 1 September 2013

Description

This course provides an overview of interventions for children and adolescents with commonly occurring childhood disorders, and behaviour / learning difficulties (anxiety, phobia, depression, antisocial behaviour, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia). We will cover how to recognise these disorders, what is known about their causes, and how to plan and evaluate interventions. We will examine what the current academic literature tells us about effective evidence-based interventions, and challenges and issues in intervention work. The course introduces students to multiple perspectives on disorders and interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and applied behaviour analysis (ABA). Introduction to Interventions is one of the compulsory first year courses in the Child and Family Psychology programme, and is also suitable for students who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications in special education.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:
1. Recognise common behavioural and learning difficulties
2. Describe what is known about the causes of behavioural and learning difficulties
3. Describe interventions commonly used for a given behavioural and learning difficulty, and their evidence   base.
4. Carry out simple assessments of behavioural and learning difficulties
5. Effectively search for intervention literature relevant to a disorder or difficulty
6. Read and evaluate published reports of intervention research
7. Formulate intervention plans for cases of behavioural and learning difficulties.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of School.

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator

Anna Wilson

Lecturer

Gaye Tyler-Merrick

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assignment 1 25 Apr 2013 25%
Assignment 2 11 Jul 2013 25%
Assignment 3 05 Sep 2013 25%
Assignment 4 17 Oct 2013 25%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Morris, Richard J. , Mather, Nancy; Evidence-based interventions for students with learning and behavioral challenges ; Routledge, 2008 (2013 Price $146.69).

Required Textbook for CFPY603/EDUC421/EDEM663

Further readings will be supplied as pdf files on LEARN each week.

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Academic dishonesty is viewed very seriously, and can result in punishments ranging from a mark of zero to expulsion from the university. It is your responsibility to read, understand and follow the relevant university regulations. If you are uncertain about this, please consult your lecturer.
Common forms of academic dishonesty include:
• Plagiarism (e.g. copying a quote from a book/article without using quotation marks and citing the source)
• Collusion (e.g. copying the work of others or allowing your work to be copied)
• Cheating in examinations/tests (e.g. using crib notes)
The library has an excellent guide to help you understand plagiarism at http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/services/ref/plagiarism.shtml . You are also referred to Regulation J of the General Course and Examination Regulations (UC Calendar 2013, p. 52).

Assessment and grading system

Assignments
There will be four written assignments (one for Anna and one for Gaye), each around 8-10 pages, focusing on both theoretical and practical aspects of interventions. Further assignment details will be distributed closer to the due dates. Assignments must be your own work, and will be submitted electronically via Turnitin.
Grading scale
All grades will be awarded using the University of Canterbury’s official 11-point scale:
Grade    GPA      Marks

A+       9       90 – 100
A         8       85 – 89
A-        7       80 – 84
B+       6       75 – 79
B         5       70 – 74
B-        4       65 – 69
C+       3       60 – 64
C         2       55 – 59
C-        1       50 – 54
D         0       40 – 49
E        -1       0 – 39

A Pass is 50 marks or over

University assessment regulations
Every student is responsible for familiarising themself with university regulations regarding courses and assessment as outlined in the College of Education Assessment Guidelines for Students and  the UC General Course and Examinations Regulations.

Attendance

Attendance at all classes is strongly recommended.

Evaluation

This course is periodically evaluated using the University of Canterbury Course Survey.

Grade moderation

Marks for all pieces of assessment will be given according to the University of Canterbury grading scale.

Late submission of work

Any assessment submitted late (without a previously arranged extension) will be subject to a penalty at the rate of 10% of the assessment weighting per day. Any assessment turned in after 5 days will not be marked.

Requests for extensions

In the event of exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness, accident, bereavement or critical personal circumstances) that prevent you from working, you may apply for an extension before the due date for an assignment.  You should contact the lecturer responsible for that piece of assessment in writing, and explain why you are requesting an extension. Evidence to support your application must be provided (e.g. medical certificate). Extensions cannot extend past the date on which the assignment is handed back to other students.

Resubmissions

Resubmissions are not accepted.

Aegrotat

In the event of exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness, accident, bereavement or critical personal circumstances) that prevent you from sitting a test or submitting an assignment, you may apply for an aegrotat. You must apply within 7 days of the due date of the assignment or test, in writing at the Registrar (Level 3, Registry building). Make sure to also inform your lecturer you are applying. Only one piece of assessed work, worth no more than 50% of the course, can be considered for an aegrotat. You must have completed at least 50% of all other assessment with an average of C+ or better. You are also referred to Regulation H of the General Course and Examination Regulations.

Where to submit and collect work

On campus students assignments are to be submitted with a cover sheet to the Assignments Room in Ōrakipaoa, accessed from the back doors closest to The Collective (the USCA Cafe), by 5.00pm, or time directed by course lecturer, on or before the due date. Please use the drop boxes placed at the back entrance to Ōrakipaoa.
Pick up Arrangements: It is your responsibility to pick each assignment up from the Academic Services Team. Lecturers will not follow up on resubmits and fails. This is your responsibility.
Hours of operation of the Assignments Room for pick-ups are 11am-2pm weekdays.
On Campus Assignments submitted via Learn - Semester 2 2013
Students will be expected to submit their assessment via the online assessment system in the Learn class site by 5.00pm on or before the due date.  The lecturer may also ask students to submit assessment work through the software Turnitin, to check for plagiarism. If this option is available students will submit work through Turnitin and obtain a report, after submitting assignments for marking via the Learn site.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,562.00

* 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 Health Sciences .

All EDUC421 Occurrences

  • EDUC421-13W (C) Whole Year 2013