Programs and Services for Persons
with Visual Impairment (Foundations)
SPE 515
Fall 2008
College of Education Conceptual Framework
http://www.sfasu.edu/education/about/accreditations/ncate/conceptual/
Syllabus
Course days time:
09-06-08
10-04-08
10-25-08
11-15-08
12-06-08
All sessions will begin at 1:00 PM CST and end at 4:00 PM CST.
Classroom: ESC TETN Room or Human Services Building, Room 306, SFASU.
Contact information:
Instructor:
Office:
Michael Munro, M.Ed.
Department of Human Services #222
PO Box 13019-SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Telephone:
936-468-1036
Fax:
936-468-1342
Cell:
903-641-7917
E-mail:
munromicha@sfasu.edu
Office hours:
Monday
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST
Tuesday
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST
Wednesday By appointment
Thursday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM CST
Friday
NA
And by appointment by telephone or virtual office hours explained below
Web Site:
http://www.faculty.sfasu.edu/munromicha
A Word about Office Hours: One of the biggest challenges faced in the
process of learning how to structure a distance-learning program is
ensuring the availability of the instructor to his/her students. Because
practically none of you are able to come to campus and because most of
you work in schools, traditional office hours often aren’t helpful to you. I
have listed both a cell and an office number above. If you are unable to
reach me during the office hours I encourage you to call me on my cell
phone. If I am unavailable I will call you back as soon as I can. Please
leave a message including where, when, and how (phone number) I can
reach you.
Required text:
Koenig, Alan J. and Holbrook, M. Kay, Editors (2nd ED., Volume I and Volume II)
Foundations of Education. American Foundation for the Blind, New York, New
York.
Course description:
This course is designed to provide the student with knowledge and skills to teach
in an educational setting with students who have visual impairments. Topics will
include:
• History of the field—United States and world
• Characteristics of students with visual impairment
• Physical and motor development
• Psychological and social aspects including diversity
• Agencies serving students with visual impairments, professional resources, and
organizations
• Roles, responsibilities and service delivery options of persons working with
students with visual impairments
• Legal perspectives, law, Admission-Review and Dismissal (ARD’s),
Individualized Educational Plans/Individual Family Service Plans (IEP’s/IFSP’s),
and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) as related to students with visual
impairments
• Programs for Efficiently Managing Caseloads
• Working with families of students with visual impairments
• Transdisciplinary teaming
Course objectives:
• Identify significant events in the history of education for students with visual
impairments, including the development of Braille, and their affects on the current
educational system. [TExES Competencies 004,017] Evaluation method:
Midterm Exam
• List and explain characteristics and unique needs of students with visual
impairments. [] Evaluation method: Learning Activity 1 and Exams
• Compare the physical and motor development of students with visual
impairments and their non-disabled peers. [TExES Competencies 002, 003, 004,
011] Evaluation method: Web Instructional Activity-B and Test
• Explain the unique psychological and social aspects (including diversity) and
their affects for students with visual impairment. [TExES Competencies 002, 003,
004, 011,012, 015] Evaluation method: Learning Activity 2 and Test
• List and explain provisions of federal and state law and Commissioner’s Rules
as they relate to students with visual impairments including ARD’s, IEP’s/IFSP’s,
and MOU’s. [TExES Competencies 005, 006, 007, 010, 014, 017] Evaluation
method: Learning Activity and Test
• List, explain, and justify the roles and responsibilities of teachers for the visually
impaired and their array of service delivery options. [TExES Competencies 003,
008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 017] Evaluation method: Learning
Activity and Test
• List agencies, professional resources and organizations (with their contact
information) which provide services to families, students with visual impairments,
and professionals in the field of vision. [TExES Competencies 013, 014, 015]
Evaluation method: Learning Activity and Test
• Review a packet of information concerning “Quality Programming for Visually
Impaired “. [TExES Competencies 005, 006, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014]
Evaluation method: Learning Activities and Test
• Design an RSPI assessment package for a student with visual impairments.
[TExES Competencies 005, 006, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014] Evaluation
method: Learning Activities and Test
• Develop a strategic plan for working with a transdisciplinary team in
programming for a student with visual impairment. [TExES Competencies 002,
003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015] Evaluation
Method: Learning Activity and Test
• Develop a strategic plan for working with a hypothetical family of a student with
visual impairment. [TExES Competencies 002, 003, 004, 007, 008, 009, 010,
011, 012, 013, 014, 016] Evaluation Method: Learning Activity and Test
• Construct a notebook of essential forms, materials, etc. that are necessary to
successfully managing a Visual Impaired caseload. [TExES Competencies 002,
003, 004, 005, 007, 009, 010, 014, 017] Evaluation Method: Learning Activity
• Maintain a log of field experience and activities (40 hours) related to serving
students with visual impairments. [TExES Competencies 002, 003, 004, 007,
009, 010, 014, 017] Evaluation Method: Learning Activity
A Word about TETN:
Over the course of the last few semesters, I have learned that the TETN system
is far from infallible. It may cease to work due to weather, power outages, or a
myriad of technology issues. If this happens, don’t panic. We will make
arrangements to get the information to you either through the web site, email, or
at the next class meeting.
A Word about the Web site: www.faculty.sfasu.edu/munromicha
This class is VERY dependent on the internet. You MUST be able to use the
internet to:
• obtain instructions on completing Learning Activities
• submit assignments
• do outside research on assigned topics
• participate in class activities
• take exams
• complete other activities as assigned.
It is, therefore, essential that you not only have ready access to the internet, but
also that you are comfortable in using it. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE WHICH ARE NOT A PRODUCT OF THE WEB SITE. If you have
questions about the web site (how assignments are posted, what you are
responsible for, etc.) or, if there is a problem with accessing the material on the
web site (ex: “I can’t access the instructional resources links in Learning Activity
2”) please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call me. I need to know about these
problems so that I can fix them and pass information along to your classmates.
For many reasons, it is the policy of the Department of Human Services that all
handout material is provided to the student via the web site. This means that you
will be responsible for printing out any and all materials related to this class.
Course requirements:
Class preparation:
Students are expected to come to class prepared for discussion and activities.
Please have assignments completed and materials (if applicable) read prior to
attending class. Chapters from the text will be covered on the mid-term and final
exam! Students are expected to take part in all class activities including
discussions, role-plays, small group assignments, blogs, etc. This is a rigorous
class that covers an enormous quantity of material that will be obtained from the
web. You cannot afford to get behind with your assignments.
Attendance:
Faculty are required to include the official policy of the university on attendance
in their syllabi,
Class Attendance and Excused Absence
A-10
Original Implementation: November 9, 1981
Last Revision: January 15, 2002
Class Attendance
Regular and punctual attendance is expected at all classes,
laboratories, and other activities for which a student is registered.
For those classes where attendance is a factor in the course grade,
the instructor shall make his/her class policy known in writing at the
beginning of each term and shall maintain an accurate record of
attendance.
Regardless of attendance, every student is responsible for course
content and assignments.
Excused Absences
It is University policy to excuse students from attendance for certain
reasons. Among these are absences related to health, family
emergencies, and student participation in certain Universitysponsored events.
Students are responsible for providing documentation satisfactory
to the instructor for each class missed. Students with acceptable
excuses will be permitted to make up work for absences to a
maximum of three weeks of a semester or one week of a six-week
summer term when the nature of the work missed permits.
FOR THIS CLASS: Students are expected to attend class. Attendance
will be taken each class day. Students may receive excused absences for
illness and family emergencies, but must present written
documentation for such absence (i.e. doctor's note, emergency room
admissions, funeral notices). Students will be allowed one unexcused
absence without penalty. After that, one letter grade will be subtracted
from the final grade for each unexcused absence.
Interactive Television (ITV) Sessions: Students are expected to attend class.
Attendance will be taken at each interactive television session. Students may
receive excused absences for illness and family emergencies, but must present
written documentation for such absence (i.e. doctor's note, emergency room
admissions, funeral notices). Students will be allowed one unexcused absence
without penalty. After that, one letter grade will be subtracted from the final grade
for each unexcused absence.
Class participation:
This class is designed to be highly interactive between the students and the
instructor. I will be asking questions and calling on every student at some point
during the semester (whether on Distance Ed or during a chat). A total of 100
points will be awarded based on your level of class participation. Please note that
these points are not assigned on the basis of correct responses, but on the
willingness of the student to respond and work through the problem.
At the end of the semester, students will be evaluated by the instructor on the
following criteria:
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Appropriateness of participation in class discussions and computer chats.
Willingness to answer questions.
Evidence of critical thinking during class activities.
Demonstration of good “consulting skills” (e.g. politeness, manners, diplomacy,
etc.)
Display of a positive attitude toward the subject material, class activities, etc.
Attendance (physical and mental) to class activities and discussions.
Preparation
Up to 100 points will be added to the final point total based on the criteria listed
above. At the end of each session, I will give students a grade on their class
participation score.
Web Instructional Activities:
Due to the limited amount of Distance Ed time that we have available for this
class, MOST of the instructional material will be provided through Web
Instructional Activities (WIAs). These WIAs are designed to be instruction
provided over the web. Therefore, they DO NOT have assignments that will be
turned in attached. Almost every topic that is covered in this class will have an
accompanying Web Instructional Activity. WIAs are a very important part of the
class, and students are responsible for completing them (reading the materials,
doing the exercises, etc.) as part of their course work. The material covered in
the WIAs will be included on exams and in Learning Activities.
Examinations:
Two examinations (a Midterm and a Final worth 200 points each) will be
administered in this class. A proctor system will be used to take both of these
exams. Remember that students will be responsible for all material covered in
class, in readings, and in any outside assignments or exercises.
Academic Honesty

Academic Honesty—It is the policy of Stephen F. Austin State University that
academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not
be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be
disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline
may include suspension or expulsion from the University. (see Academic
Integrity A-9.1)
Course evaluation:
Students will be given an opportunity to participate in an anonymous formal
evaluation at the end of the semester. This is required as your tuition is paid
by a grant. Your evaluations will be submitted to SFASU. We will receive a list of
students who have not submitted their evaluation. You will not receive a grade for
the course until you have submitted your evaluation. These evaluations are
online and must be submitted before finals are given. The instructor encourages
students to visit with her during her office hours or to schedule an appointment
with her in order to discuss opinions on the quality of the course or ways to
improve it. The instructor is dedicated to providing students with a high quality
learning experience which is supportive as well as instructive.
Field Based Experiences:
This class will require the documentation of a minimum of 40 Field Based
Experience hours (100 Points) to be selected according to the guidelines
presented in the chart accompanying this syllabus. Forms for documenting these
activities will be provided by the instructor and should be maintained in a special
Practicum Notebook, which will ultimately, serve as verification of the 350 hours
of field-based experience and as a portfolio of learning experiences undertaken
by the student.
Grading Scale:
Midterm
Final
LA 1-7
(30 pts each except LA 2 which is 20 pts)
BFD (LA 8)
Class Participation
Field Hours
200 Points
200 Points
200 Points
TOTAL
1000 Points
200 Points
100 Points
100 Points
The following grading scale will be used to determine letter grades awarded for
this class:
A = 900-1000 Points
B = 800-899 Points
C = 700-799 Points
D = 600-699 Points
F = Anything below 600 Points
Adaptations/accommodations:
To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with
disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services
Building, Room 325, 936-468-3004/936-468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in
the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the
accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided.