Prospectus

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Learning problems and impairments: research and practice

Course
2014-2015

NB Language of instruction is Dutch unless English-speaking students participate

Admission requirements

N.a.

Description

This course provides an interdisciplinary view plus unique balance between theory, diagnosis and teaching strategies, including case studies. Students study recent research published in main journals (e.g., Journal of Educational Psychology, Reading Research Quarterly, Developmental Psychology, Journal of Learning Disabilities). Attendance of all classroom sessions is obligatory.

The selection of research papers includes traditional themes related to learning problems (dyslexia, dyscalculia) but adds coverage on at risk preschool children, language delayed children, teacher as collaborative consultant, meaning based approaches to reading, attention deficit disorders, using computers to enhance learning, social interaction and learning, and other high-interest current topics in the field.

Students are expected to reflect critically on scientific literature and on their own scientific behavior, to determine one’s position based on transparent scientific reasoning.

Course objectives

  • State of the art

  • Development of scientific reasoning

  • Presenting a small scale study

Achievement levels: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Timetable

Timetable

Mode of instruction

Lectures.

Assessment method

  • Written exam with open and MC-questions (66.6%)

  • Written reviews (33.3%)

Blackboard

  • A detailed course description will be uploaded on Blackboard.

  • Students use the discussion board to upload questions in preparation for each lecture.

  • Under ‘assignments’ students can download a review form and information about the presentations and the case study assignment.

  • The discussion board facilitates the online tutorial (lecture 7) and subscription for certain assignments.

  • All course announcements will be placed on Blackboard.

  • Students hand in their reviews and a live blog on Blackboard.

Reading list

  • Hulme, C. & Snowling, M. J. (2009). Developmental Disorders of Language Learning and Cognition. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. – Scientific papers (to be announced, see course description on Blackboard)

Small changes are possible (also in the reading list), see Blackboard!

Registration

Please note that separate uSis registration is mandatory for lectures, seminars, exams and re-exams. Student who do not register, cannot attend courses or take exams.

Courses

  • Registration for the lectures of the course is possible as of two months through one week before the first lecture at the latest;

  • Registration for the seminars of the course is possible as of two months through one week before the first seminar at the latest.

Exams

Student must register for each exam through uSis. This is only possible until 10 calendar days before the exam. More information on exam registration

Contact information

Co-ordinator if this course is dr. T. M. de Jong. She will hold office hours (the hour following the lecture) and will be available by email or by appointment.