SPLED 464 Assessment and Curriculum (3) Overview of screening, diagnosis, and identification of skills in developmental domains and curricula for individuals with autism.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Policies
Overview
This course provides an introduction to the design and implementation of assessment and curriculum for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This course details the modes of assessment related to the unique academic, social, and functional needs of students with ASD, and provides instruction on their implementation in the classroom. Further, this course aims to bridge the gap between assessment and curriculum, outlining the application of assessment in designing curricular objectives and the process of making data-based decisions to implement instructional changes. An emphasis is placed on the identification and implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD across instructional objectives.
This course is delivered through a system of text-based content and readings; online practice activities and assignments; asynchronous online communication between students and instructors (discussion forums); and online exams.
In this course we also offer a practicum for students seeking the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Autism (ASD) Endorsement. You will be integrating coursework with practicum experiences with students having ASD. This is available only to students who have obtained Level I or Level II certification.
Course Objectives
After completing this course you should be able to:
- Discuss the forms of assessment related to individuals with ASD.
- Conduct skills assessments for individuals with ASD.
- Write goals and objectives based upon assessment data.
- Objectively define and measure academic, behavioral, and functional skills.
- Identify and implement evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD.
- Analyze graphical displays in order to assess the effectiveness of instructional interventions/strategies.
Contact Information
If you have questions concerning your registration status, billing, tuition and fees, grades, exams, or credits, contact Outreach Student Services at 800-252-3592 or 814-865-5403 or by e-mail at pennstateonline@psu.edu.
If you have any technical difficulties using the tools within this course, please contact the IT Service Desk.
E-mail: ITservicedesk@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 865-HELP (4357)
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements
This course will include an orientation and nine lessons:
- Orientation Activities
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Diagnostic Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Lesson 2: Overview of Types of Assessment
- Lesson 3: Assessment to Inform Instruction
- Lesson 4: Assessment to Inform Instruction: IEP Goals
- Lesson 5: Planning Instruction
- Lesson 6: Identification of Evidence-Based Practices and Curricula
- Lesson 7: Measurement and Graphing of Behavior
- Lesson 8: Tactics to Increase Behavioral and Academic Outcomes
- Lesson 9: Final Application Project
If you have chosen to acquire the PDE Endorsement, in ADDITION to the SPLED 464 core content listed above, you will complete several practicum assignments and video lessons.
Discussions
Students will post a response to discussion questions regarding the assigned readings. In addition, each student will respond to the main posts of at least one peer. Main posts should be a minimum of three sentences in length while response posts do not have a minimum length requirement.
Graded Assignments
Graded assignments are designed to provide a venue for practical application. All assignments must be completed and submitted electronically through the course website. Detailed descriptions of each assignment will be posted on the course website. Each assignment has a specific due date that is posted in the Course Schedule below.
Final Exam
There is one exam in this course that will be taken online. The exam will be cumulative (covering ALL lessons) and will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. Each question will be worth one point for a total of 50 points. The exam will be open for a specific window of time and maybe completed at any time within that window.
Alternate exam dates may be assigned for students who have serious scheduling conflicts or medical/family emergencies. Please contact your instructor if you need to request an alternate exam date.
Grading
- There are several program orientation activities that need to be completed. These are worth 10 points.
- There are sixteen discussions worth 2 points each (32 total points).
- There are eleven graded assignments (135 total points).
- There is one exam. (50 total points)
- There is one final application project worth 50 points.
Grading
There will be three assignments worth 25 points each, 24 activities worth 1 point each, two exams worth 30 points each, and one final exam worth 50 points. There are 209 total points in the course.
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Activity
|
Core Points
| Points with PDE Endorsement Assignments |
|
Orientation Activities (2)
|
10
| 10 |
| Discussions (16) | 32 | 32 |
|
Assignments (12)
|
135
| 135 |
| PDE Endorsement Assignments (3) | 50 | |
| Final Exam (1) | 50 | 50 |
| Final Application Project (1) | 50 | 50 |
|
TOTAL POINTS
|
277
| 327 |
Grades will be assigned on the following scale:
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Letter Grade
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Percentage Range
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A
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94-100%
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A-
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90-93.99%
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B+
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87-89.99%
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B
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83-86.99%
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B-
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80-82.99%
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C+
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77-79.99%
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C
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70-76.99%
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D
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60-69.99%
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F
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59.99-0.00%
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Course Schedule
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Endorsement Assignment: Conducting Preference Assessments (Parts 1 & 2) |
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Endorsement Assignment: Evidence Based Practices and Curricula (Parts 1 & 2) |
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Endorsement Assignment: Measuring Behavior, Graphing, and Analyzing Data |
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Timeframe: | One week |
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NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.