Contemporary Problems in School Psychology
Psych 901 – Second Summer 2009
Credit Hours: 3 Time: 8:00 – 10:50 a.m. Mon – Thurs 7/06/09 – 7/30/09
Instructor: Dr. Rick Lindskog Office Phone: 235-4532
Email clindsko@pittstate.edu
Office: 208D Whitesitt Hall
Office Hours: Mon – Thurs 10:30 – 12:00
I.
Course Description
This course is designed to cover current issues in the practice of
School Psychology in the public school setting.
II.
Prerequisites
This is a 900 level course limited to Ed.S. students.
Permission from your advisor and the course instructor are both
required.
III.
Purpose of the Course.
The purpose of the course is to familiarize students preparing for
internship with contemporary professional issues in School Psychology.
IV.
Instructional Resources
No textbook is required. The resources will be obtained from
handouts, professional journals, NASP Publications, internet sources,
the library, KSDE, etc.
V.
Persons completing this course will demonstrate competencies in:
A. Understanding state and national issues relevant to the practice of
professional School Psychology.
B. Using Library and internet resources to research those issues.
C. Presenting those data to peers
D. Participating in professional level seminar discussion relative to
those topics
VI.
Teaching Strategies
A. Lectures
B. Class Discussions
C. Presentations
D.
E.
F.
G.
VII.
Readings
Interviews
Guest Speakers
Activities
Requirements for the course
A. Daily preparation and participation in classroom discussion
B. Reading assigned materials
C. Preparation for presentations
D. Attendance
VIII. Evaluation
You will be evaluated on the basis of your production/participation
according to the following priorities:
A. Thoroughness of preparation for discussions and presentations
B. Quality of your presentations
C. Attendance and daily preparation
D. Quality of your participation in class discussions
IX.
Course Content
Discussions will be conducted from among the following topics or
related areas. Each student will be the lead discussant for several
topics, as time allows. Each discussant will be responsible to structure
an exploration of a topic that will fill one period for each
presentation.
The list below is not inclusive, and discussants may provide
professionally relevant topics of interest.
(1.) Discussants will be expected to provide topical materials to the
course members that may include refereed journal articles, web
pages, and other materials in advance to the class members in order
for all to prepare for the class. This “lead material” must reflect a
professional level of preparation for the specific topic accompanied by
reference materials that support competent evaluation of that
particular area. The materials (electronic or paper) must be provided
at least one day in advance.
(2.) The expectation is that every individual in the class will have
prepared every day by reading the materials provided and participate
in critical discussion of the ‘topic du jour’.
(3.) The discussant will present the class with a list of ‘major issues
relevant to the topic. That is, the discussant will identify the ‘strike
points’ surrounding the topic—this might for example cite the
controversies of social maladjustment, educational deficits and use of
DSM in identification of E/BD, or problems surrounding zero
tolerance and ‘duty to protect’ in framing disciplinary policy in the
schools.
(4.) All members of the class should assume they will be asked to
write a one paragraph summary on the ‘topic of the day’.
Family/School Relations
History of School Psychology
Role of the School Psychologist
Role of Other Professionals
Consultation Models
National Certification
KS Administration Regs.
LD Eligibility Issues
BD Eligibility
Medications
IDEA-R/ADA/504
Retention Issues
ADHD Diagnosis
CBM/CBA
Crisis Intervention
Working with Minorities
Building Teams
Fall/Spring Issues
Teacher Stress/Burnout
Anger Management Tng.
Conflict Resolution Tng.
Social Skills Training
Grades:
Each daily presentation will be rated by the instructor. The daily
presentations will be equally graded on (a) appropriateness of topical
materials, (b) quality and thoroughness of preparation, and (c) the
quality of managing group discussion—this includes the quality of the
‘strike points’ issues that will guide discussions in class. The course
grade will be determined by the summative data from each individual’s
daily presentations.