Oakland University
Special Education 554: Collaboration and Consultation Fall 2015
General Course Information
Index of Topics Covered: 1) Name of Course, 2) Course Number, 3) Semester, 4) Type
of Course, 5) Course Dates, 6) Instructor, 7) Course
Description, 8) Prerequisites, 9) Required Texts, 10) About the
Course Content, 11) Course Goals, 12) Course Requirements,
13) Student/Instructor Online Learning Expectations, 14)
Technology Skills Required, 15) Required Technology, 16)
Online Learning Management System, 17) Disability Support
Services
Name of Course:
Collaboration and Consultation
Course Number:
SE 554
Semester:
Fall 2015
Type of Course:
Online
Course Dates:
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Class closes Monday, December 7, 2015
Instructor:
Sandi Laham (laham@oakland.edu)
Course Description:
This course is designed to develop communicative, interactive,
and collaborative problem-solving skills of teachers of students with ASD working with
families, school personnel, and community agencies in support of individuals with autism
spectrum disorders. The course blends theory, research, and best practices related to
family-professional relationship. The course focuses on 1) the family system, 2) unique
needs of families supporting a child with autism, 3) organizational perspective and models,
4) leadership perspectives, 5) interactive communication, 6) understanding diverse cultural
values/belief system, 7) evaluation of consultation effectiveness, and 8) empowering
families.
Prerequisites:
SE 550
Required Texts:
Parents and professionals partnering for children with disabilities: A
dance that matters (2012) by Janice M. Fialka, Arlene K. Feldman and
Karen C. Mikus. ISBN: 978-1-4129-6639-9. For information about
the
book
and
its
purchase,
go
to:
http://www.corwin.com/books/Book232337?siteId=corwinpress&subject=C00&qsupld=false&productType=&q=fialka&surfUrl=ht
tp%3A%2F%2Fwww.corwin.com&pageTitle=productsSearch. To order
the book from Amazon, go to http://www.amazon.com/ParentsProfessionals-Partnering-ChildrenDisabilities/dp/1412966396/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427
498521&sr=1-2&keywords=fialka
How to make meetings work (1993) by Michael Doyle and David
Straus ISBN: 0-515-09048-4. To order the book from Amazon, go to
http://www.amazon.com/Make-Meetings-Work-MichaelDoyle/dp/0425138704
About the Course Content
The course – Collaboration and Consultation - focuses on the development
communication skills to enhance collaboration and consultation, explores strategies
enhance adult to adult interaction, and the application of these skills and strategies
collaborating/consulting with other. In addition, the course considers the application
these same skills and strategies to parent-professional interactions.
of
to
to
of
There are seven modules in the course. The modules explore parent/professional interaction
while concurrently developing skills in more effective communication through the written
word. Application of these skills to working with other professionals and parents is
developed through assignments and activities linked to each module.
Course Goals
•
•
•
•
To assess, acquire and practice basic communication skills as they apply to
collaboration and consultation with other professionals and parents.
To understand the impact of disability on the family and family dynamics
To understand the development of collaborative relationships with families and the
professional role in supporting its development
To apply effective collaborative strategies for meeting with other professionals and
parents
Course Requirements:
Each module includes online content, text and article readings,
discussion forums, skill development forums, assignments, journal reflection and chats.
Specific details are provided in the full course syllabus.
•
Synchronous chats: Six synchronous (real time) one-hour chats will take place. You
are required to participate in the first and last chat plus one additional chat.
All
chats are recorded. To participate in chats, you must connect to the chat via a
computer and use headphones with a microphone. Dates of chats are:
• Tuesday, September 15, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
REQUIRED
• Tuesday, October 6, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 20, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 3, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 17, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, December 1, 2015
7:00 to 8:00 pm
REQUIRED
•
Online Content:
Online text, videos, Prezi presentations and PowerPoint to
accompany the course topics. Consider these as your instructor’s ‘lectures’ on the
topics.
•
Readings: Readings from the two texts plus online articles.
•
Weekly Discussion Forums: Participation
content.
discussion
forums
aligned
with
course
•
Skill Development Forums:
Participation in skill development forum.
Forum
provides opportunity for demonstration, practice and refinement of specific skills
related to collaboration and a coaching style to consultation.
•
Weekly Journal Reflections: Individual journal reflection on learning for the topic of
the week.
•
Weekly Assignments: Each week has an aligned individual assignment.
assignments include the following:
Those
o
Learner Profile: Description of your experience and application of the course
content, learning style and experiences with online learning. Due Monday,
September 14, 2015
o
Inventory of Skills for Change: Analysis of your incoming skills for change.
o
Constructing a Working Definition of Collaboration & Consultation:
collaborative assignment with assigned classmates.
o
Analysis of Written Passages from ‘Dance of Partnership: Analysis and critique of
assigned written passage for skills for facilitation.
o
Analysis of Personal Written Passages: Analysis & critique of personal written
passage for skills for facilitation.
o
Audiotape of collaborative exchange using communication skills for change
o
Revisiting my five key words on consultation and collaboration: Compare and
contrast of initial five key words on consultation and five words on collaboration
in light of content covered in the course.
o
Re-Inventory of Skills for Change: Post-course inventory your skills for change
including compare and contrast of skill/knowledge development and plan for
moving forward to continue development.
o
Summative Project: Putting what you have learned into a personally meaningful
format.
Virtual
NOTE: Given the format for this course, students should anticipate accessing the course
three to four times per week and engaging in online course activities (readings, forums,
activities) a minimum of four to six hours per week.
Student and Instructor Online Learning Expectations
Students are expected to:
• Complete all reading assignments
• Ensure that their computer is compatible with Moodle.
• Login to Moodle a minimum of 3 - 4 times a week
• Follow the calendar of events and complete all assignments by their deadline
• Respond to emails within 3 days
• Participate in a thoughtful manner
• Respect rules of netiquette
The instructor is expected to:
• Login to the course every day
• Moderate conversations in forums
• Respond to forum questions and email within 72 hours
• Grade assignments within 7-10 days of the assignment deadline
Technical Skills Required: A moderate level of computer proficiency is expected. You
should be comfortable doing all of the following:
• Using your chosen computer operating system and a web browser
• Following online directions
• Typing at least 20 words a minute
• Troubleshooting basic computer problems
• Working through problems you can’t resolve on your own with remote support technicians
Required Technology: To fully participate in this course you will need:
• An internet connected computer with up-to-date web browser installed. Use of
smart phones and tablets is not recommended. See information at Oakland
University’s e- learning technical support
http://www2.oakland.edu/elis/WSO_techreq.cfm
• In the event that your computer crashes or internet goes down, a backup plan to be
able to log in from another computer or location as needed.
• High speed internet connection is recommended.
Online
learning
management
system:
Oakland
University
uses
Moodle
(http://www2.oakland.edu/elis/teachingtools.cfm) as it’s online Learning Management
System
(LMS).
For
e-learning
student
online
orientation,
go
to
http://www2.oakland.edu/elis/SO_index.cfm .
Unsure about online learning?: Oakland University provides students with an online
orientation to e-learning. There you’ll find information about online courses, the technical
requirements for online learning and how to log into the system (called Moodle). The site
also has a demonstration class and a self assessment to determine if e-learning is for you.
For more information about online learning at Oakland University, go to
http://www2.oakland.edu/elis/SO_index.cfm.
Technical Assistance: For technical issues that you cannot resolve on your own, please
contact the E-Learning and Instructional Support office via a help ticket at
http://www2.oakland.edu/elis/help.cfm?lms=2
Disability Support Services: Disability Support Services are available to ensure that
students with disabilities participate fully in university life. To learn about their services, go
to http://www.oakland.edu/dss/. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss
academic accommodations, please contact the instructor as soon as possible at
laham@oakland.edu.