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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Education

Pre-requisites

completed unit/s: EDU10712 - Supporting Learners with Diverse Abilities

Unit aim

This subject will engage students in a critical review of current empirical research in the area of 
reading difficulties, dyslexia, language and other communication disorders. Impact and likely causes 
of learning difficulties in the basic academic areas of reading, spelling, mathematics and 
comprehension will be explored. Effective instruction in the systematic, direct and explicit teaching of reading will be addressed. Specific communication difficulties associated with autism, cerebral palsy and intellectual disability will be examined. Assessment of communication difficulties and evaluation of a range of educational strategies will be considered. Interventions including alternate communication strategies and other technology based solutions will be reviewed and critically evaluated in light of evidence-based practice. 

Unit content

Getting off to good start – Early Learning 
Research and intervention in Reading 
Research and Intervention in Numeracy 
Language and Communication 
Communication for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy and intellectual disability
Assistive and augmentative technology to support and develop literacy and communication for students with disability
 

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 Understand how specific or persistent difficulties in reading impedes the development of age appropriate comprehension, writing and spelling skills and its impact on social inclusion.
2 Consider the research and identify effective teaching strategies to improve reading numeracy, and comprehension.
3 Describe the rationale of assessing speech, language and communication needs in the early childhood settings.
4 Implement a systematic, direct and explicit phonics instruction program for a student who is experiencing difficulties in learning to read.
5 Understand the wide range of characteristics of students on the Autism Spectrum, students with cerebral palsy and students with intellectual disability.
6 Design a range of strategies which address the needs of students on the Autism Spectrum in the areas of language,cognitive development and communication skills.
7 Identify appropriate adaptive technology that will provide enhanced access and participation to the curriculum for students with additional needs in literacy and communication.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Understand how specific or persistent difficulties in reading impedes the development of age appropriate comprehension, writing and spelling skills and its impact on social inclusion.
    • GA7:
  2. Consider the research and identify effective teaching strategies to improve reading numeracy, and comprehension.
    • GA4:
  3. Describe the rationale of assessing speech, language and communication needs in the early childhood settings.
    • GA4:
  4. Implement a systematic, direct and explicit phonics instruction program for a student who is experiencing difficulties in learning to read.
    • GA4:
  5. Understand the wide range of characteristics of students on the Autism Spectrum, students with cerebral palsy and students with intellectual disability.
    • GA7:
  6. Design a range of strategies which address the needs of students on the Autism Spectrum in the areas of language,cognitive development and communication skills.
    • GA7:
  7. Identify appropriate adaptive technology that will provide enhanced access and participation to the curriculum for students with additional needs in literacy and communication.
    • GA4: