Project STEPP Transition Curriculum
A package of resources intended for use by teachers and families supporting transition to college for students with learning differences
Background
Curriculum Features
Project STEPP at East Carolina University is a comprehensive support
program that facilitates the success of college students with learning
disabilities by providing wrap-around services and resources with a strong
emphasis on helping students prepare for the transition to college.
• Fully developed lesson and activity
plans designed to help students
prepare for college
Over the past seven years, we have learned a great deal from our students’
successes, challenges, and experiences with transition, which has allowed
us to further develop and refine this component of the program.
• PowerPoint slides with detailed
teacher lecture notes to accompany
each lesson
With the support of grant funding from the Oak Foundation, we have
expanded Project STEPP’s transition materials into a curriculum designed
for use by teachers and transition specialists in the public schools.
• Student worksheets and handouts
with teacher answer keys
Development of the Curriculum
• Guided notes for students to
accompany each module
• Lessons and activities were originally designed for use in a
Curriculum Assistance class environment to support collegebound students with learning disabilities. However, teachers
are encouraged to adapt materials as needed for their setting
and student population.
• We will continue to refine and revise the curriculum based
on ongoing feedback from those who use it. Please consider
sending us suggestions for edits or new materials as you
work through each module. Updates to these resources will
be posted on the curriculum website.
Prior to • Three sample modules developed by Project STEPP staff
Summer • Sample modules vetted with small group of high school
teachers
2012
• Two faculty members hired to develop structure and initial
content materials and outlines for all modules
Summer • Adjustments made based on early feedback about sample
modules
2012
• Full-day focus group provided extensive feedback from
educators at high school and college level and parents
Fall
2012
• Former teacher hired to integrate feedback from focus
group, ensure common structure and wording choices across
all modules, and build in additional content and resources as
needed
• Editor hired to make formatting and writing changes based
on an objective read of all curriculum materials
• Program staff made final pass through the materials to
ensure information is accurate, thorough, clearly presented,
age-appropriate, and well-organized
Spring
2013
• High school teacher used modules and provided feedback
• Session attendees reviewed three modules and provided
feedback at NC Division on Career Development and
Transition conference in April 2013
• Complete curriculum posted online in May 2013
Summer • Ongoing feedback sought for future planned revisions
2013
• Curriculum to be presented and distributed at upcoming
conferences and other events
Onward
• Curriculum materials are available at no cost and
are licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
This means you are free to share, copy, distribute,
and transmit the materials as well as to adapt and
modify them, as long as you attribute the source of
the work using the citation provided and do not use
the materials for commercial purposes.
• Please cite: Johnson, E., James, M., King, L.,
Williams, S. & Grandy, L. (2013). Project STEPP
Transition Curriculum. East Carolina University.
Overview of Curriculum Content Modules
High School vs. College
Technology
Healthy Routines
• Comparison and contrast of general differences
between high school and college
• High school and college comparisons and contrasts
regarding:
• Classes and instructors
• Studying
• Grades and testing
• General academic information and vocabulary
• Note-taking skills
• Developing a college transition notebook
• Introduction to technology use in college
• Technology tools for postsecondary education,
including assistive and instructional technologies
• Online learning
• Basic computer skills in keyboarding and formatting
• Responsible use of technology and social media;
online safety
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Planning for Academic Success
• Goal-setting for college
• A “big picture” perspective of college life
• Finding and maintaining an appropriate balance
between academics and social life
• Developing a balanced daily schedule by using
long- and short-term planning tools
• Academic integrity
• Calculating grades in college courses
• Choosing a major
Campus safety
Personal wellness
Stress management
Basic cooking
Developing independence in following through on
commitments
Communication
• Campus resources, support services, and subcommunities
• Creating a campus resources directory
• Disability support services in college
• Discussing and disclosing disabilities
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Finances
Campus Living
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College Resources
Key financial topics for college students
College costs
Financial aid and the FAFSA process
Developing a budget for college living
Using credit responsibly
Money management tips from college students
Informal and formal communication styles
Sending appropriate emails in college
Receiving and learning from constructive criticism
Dressing for success in the college setting
Writing thank-you notes
Behavioral expectations in college classrooms
Introduction to living on campus
Types of housing options
Living with a roommate
Essential “packing list” items for college students
Diversity on college campuses
Conflict management
We are extremely grateful for the generous funding support from the Oak Foundation that enabled the development of these initial curriculum materials.