Special Education - Theories and Research

Aim

On completion of the course, the student should: - demonstrate knowledge of central special educational concepts - be able to discuss special education in a historical and cultural perspective - be able to discuss special education as a phenomenon both in research and society - demonstrate knowledge of national and local steering documents concerning special educational activities and organisation - demonstrate knowledge of law and ethics with relevance to special education activities - demonstrate an understanding of different perspectives on special education and special tuition both in including and segregating organisation of teaching - demonstrate an understanding of the work of the special education teacher in preventive special educational activities - demonstrate knowledge of educational leadership - be able to reflect theoretically on special education practice and the special educational professional roles - demonstrate awareness of what a scholarly and research-ethical approach may imply.

Content

The course covers special education and approaches to special education from both historical and present-day perspectives. Central concepts that are problematised and discussed in the course are wholeness, participation, inclusion, integration, deviation, normality, differentiation and segregation. Knowledge of the community's and school's encounter with and responsibility for children and adolescents is central to the course, and the laws and statutes regulating this responsibility are studied. An important part of the course is the cooperation and collaboration between different actors and institutions with regard to pupils, which provide an overall view of what the special education work may involve. Further processed in the course are dilemma situations where ethical and legal considerations and positions are taken with the purpose of developing the students' judgement and approach