Course description for 2021/22
Language Disorder, Dyslexia and Mathematics Difficulties
SPD5018
Course description for 2021/22

Language Disorder, Dyslexia and Mathematics Difficulties

SPD5018
The course provides in-depth knowledge about special educational challenges in kindergarten, primary, lower and upper secondary education with an emphasis on opportunities to create growth in children’s and young people’s development and learning in relation to the principle of inclusion. It provides insight into different perspectives on development and difficulties, as well as relevant mapping materials and measures in connection with; language, reading, writing and interaction in different phases of education - both at individual and system levels. The course provides better skills and increased independence, and professionalism in the planning, implementation and evaluation of special educational measures.
Admission to the programme Master in Adapted Education with Specialisation in Special Needs Education, or the programme Special Needs Education and Inclusion.
Cf. admission requirements

Knowledge

Students have

  • In-depth knowledge about traditions, theories and methods within the fields of inclusion and special needs education
  • An in-depth overview of key theories related to language (e.g. Bloom and Lahey’s, as well as Law’s models), language difficulties and interaction.
  • Advanced knowledge about relevant mapping tools used within the fields of language and interaction (e.g. Language 6-16, TROG, Reynell etc.)
  • Advanced knowledge about theories related to reading and reading and writing difficulties/dyslexia

Skills

Students can

  • reflect critically on existing theories within the subject area
  • reflect on and assess the relevance of current diagnostic and mapping tools
  • plan and assess various relevant forms of special educational measures at individual and system levels within different parts of professional activities in the field of practice

General competence

Students can

  • analyse relevant academic and research ethics issues
  • apply academic understanding and professional skills that are in the best interests of children’s and young people’s growth and development
  • disseminate independent work and master the subject area’s forms of expression
  • contribute to innovation and quality in development and change processes in different parts of the course of education
  • reflect critically in relation to their own role as an agent of change in the special educational field of practice
No fees other than semester fees and course literature
Compulsory

The teaching methods are varied and include lectures, case/problem-based teaching, exercises and discussions in groups and plenary sessions.

Not all the topics included in the course plan will be taught in lectures. A high degree of self-study and independent study group work is required between the sessions.

The course is online and session-based with a total of four sessions, each lasting 2 and a half days. The teaching is conducted face-to-face via lectures and group work/seminars.

Active participation and collaboration between students are prerequisites for achieving the course’s learning outcomes. It provides expertise that students cannot acquire in any other way.

The course is evaluated annually by the students in course surveys. These evaluations are part of the university’s quality assurance system.
 

The course has a composite assessment (SV) which means that both the teaching activities and examination activities described below must be passed/approved in order to complete the course as a whole.

  • Compulsory participation (OD): 80% attendance requirement in order to take the written examination. Grading: Approved/ not approved. Represents 0/100 of the grade.
  • Written examination (SK): Individual six hour written examination. Grading: A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Represents 100 % of the course grade.

NOTE: Spring 2022: The written school examination has been changed to an oral examination in zoom. The duration of the exam has changed to 1 hour.

Changes are done due to the Covid-19 epidemic, in accordance with the “Provisional Regulation on a Supplement to Regulations of 28/10/2020 no. 2474 Relating to Studies and Examinations at Nord University - Extraordinary Measures as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic” - according to Section 2 Forms of assessment 1-4.

Ingen

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

SPD5008 - Special Needs Education and Inclusion - 15 credits

SPD5005 - Special Needs Education - 15 credits

SPD5026 - Language, Reading, Writing and Mathematics Impairments - 15 credits