I. Course Title: Practicum in Early Intervention
II. Course Number: EDSP 440
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: IDEC major, acceptance into Teacher Education Program, minimum
2.5 GPA.
V. Course Description:
This course provides candidates with a supervised experience in early intervention.
The placement might be home-based, school-based, or community-based.
Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.
Pass/Fail. A fee of $110 will be charged to students taking EDSP 440.
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
Students will engage in a supervised experience in early intervention. The placement
might be home-based, school-based, or community-based.
Course content includes:
- Evidence-based and recommended practices for infants and young children, including
those from diverse backgrounds
- Development and matching of learning experiences and strategies to characteristics
of infants and young children
- Development, implementation, and evaluation of individualized plans, with family members
and other professionals, as a member of a team
- Facilitation of child-initiated development and learning
- Implementation of developmentally and functionally appropriate activities, using a
variety of formations, based on systematic instructions
- Integration of family systems theories and principles into professional practice
- Adaptation for the unique developmental and learning needs of children, including
those from diverse backgrounds
- Respect of family choices and goals
- Use of teacher-scaffolded and 鈥搃nitiated instruction to complement child-initiated
learning
- Understanding of the methods for providing instructional programs for early intervention,
including service delivery options
- Service delivery to support success and functionality in all settings where same age,
typically developing peers, would be located
VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:
Students work closely with their cooperating professionals each week to gain experience
and skills needed to be effective instructors of young children with disabilities
and their families.
Students are required to participate in the full range of duties of developmental
service providers and service coordinators or public school teachers in classrooms
with 2 year olds for the duration of the placement and are expected to demonstrate
commitment to the professions鈥� code of ethical conduct.
Weekly seminars are designed to facilitate the development of knowledgeable, skilled,
thoughtful and committed professionals. Seminars focus on:
- Experiences in the field
- Effective teaching practices
- Current issues and concerns of educators of young children.
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
Goals, objectives, and assignments address the Virginia Department of Education regulations
for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation
Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skill Items. Specialty set included in this
course cover competencies for Early Childhood Special Education.
In order to engage in a supervised experience in early intervention, this course will
prepare each student to:
- Advocate on behalf of infants and young children and their families
- Design intervention strategies incorporating information from multiple disciplines
- Develop an individualized plan that supports the child鈥檚 independent functioning in
the child鈥檚 natural environments
- Develop individualized plans that support development and learning as well as caregiver
responsiveness
- Develop, implement, and evaluate learning experiences and strategies that respect
the diversity of infants and young children, and their families
- Implement family services consistent with due process safeguards
- Implement family-oriented services based on the family鈥檚 identified resources, priorities,
and concerns
- Implement processes and strategies that support transitions among settings for infants
and young children
- Participate in activities of professional organizations relevant to early childhood
special education and early intervention and implement ethical practices
- Provide consultation in settings service infants and young children
- Support and facilitate family and child interactions as primary contexts for development
and learning
- Use informal and formal assessment to make decisions about infants and young children鈥檚
development and learning
- Participate as a team member to integrate assessment results in the development and
implementation of individualized plans
VIII. Assessment Measures:
- Participating in feedback, observations and evaluations from cooperating professionals
and university supervisors.
- Engaging in self-analysis.
- Completing a log of student teaching placement activities.
- Writing assignments applying best practices to instruction with children and families.
- Attending placement and weekly seminar.
- Completing other assignments as deemed appropriate.
Other Course Information: This course is a required professional education course
for the early childhood special education teaching licensure option.
Review and Approval
November 2019
August 2020
March 01, 2021