PSY 255 01P Working with Exceptionality
12:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.
B114
Spring 2004
Instructor: Sheri Narin
Office: L130
Office Hours: Posted by office door or by appointment
Virtual Office Hour: To be announced weekly
Phone: (336) 599 – 1181 ext. 424
Website: http://www2.piedmont.cc.nc.us/faculty/narins
Textbook Website: http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_hardman_humanexcep_7
Textbook:
Hardman, M.L., Drew, C., Egan, M.W., Human Exceptionality: Society, School, and Family (7th Ed.), Allyn and Bacon. ISBN: 0-205-33750-3
Course Description:
This course introduces the psychology of the exceptional person. Topics include theoretical perspectives, terminology, and interventions pertaining to various handicapping conditions as well as the resulting psychosocial adjustments. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the potentials and limitations of the exceptional person.
Prerequisite/Corequisites:
PSY 150
Course Objectives:
Evaluation:
Evaluation will be based on in-class activities (100 points, 10% of your final grade), homework assignments (300 points, 30% of your final grade), exams (300 points, 30% of your grade), and the small group project (300 points, 30% of your grade).
In-class Activities
There will be frequent in-class activities. Grades for these activities will be based on the results of the activities and your level of participation.
Choose either the Caswell County Campus or the Person
County Campus.
1) Evaluate the level of preparedness of the campus to accommodate individuals
with disabilities. Remember that the term “disabilities” can include many
different challenges.
2) Decide what services/facilities/changes are needed to make the campus more
accessible (not just physically accessible) to individuals with special
challenges.
3) Develop a plan to implement these changes. Include the projected costs of
these changes and the difficulties that may be encountered in trying to bring
about these changes.
Your grade on this project will reflect both the final project, assignments that
you submit during the process, and your level of participation, as evaluated by
other group members.
GRADING SCALE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON FINAL POINT VALUE TOTAL):
1000 to 900 = A; 899 TO 800 = B; 799 TO 700 = C; 699 TO 600 = D; Below 600 = F.
ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance at all class meetings is necessary for students to learn important concepts. In this regard, the following class attendance policy is established:
1. A student is expected to be regular and punctual in meeting all classes. To receive credit for a course, the student must attend prior to the census point and a minimum of 80 percent of classes, labs and shop hours. Failure to attend class is an absence, regardless of the reason. Absences are counted from the first scheduled meeting of the class, not the first day the student attends. All work missed during absences must be made up to the satisfaction of the instructor. Failure to complete required assignments will negatively affect the student's final grade.
2. A student who exceeds the 20 percent limit of absences may be dropped by the instructor through the eighth week of the semester. If a student exceeds the 20 percent limit after the eighth week, the instructor is authorized to award the student the "I" or "F" grade as warranted by the student's performance.
3. Any exceptions to this policy must be authorized by the instructor.
Attendance Policy for this class
Attendance and participation are important components of learning. In addition to the Piedmont Community College attendance policy, the following policies will apply: Perfect attendance in class at the end of the semester will raise your overall grade by 1.5% points. Thus, if your average at the end of the class is an 88.5 % and you have perfect attendance, your grade will be increased to a 90%, or an A. Being on time for every class will result in another .5% grade increase. six absences, every subsequent absence will result in an overall grade reduction of 3%. Every fifteen minutes missed of class counts as 1/3 absence; thus, three incidences of being late or leaving early or not coming back from a break within the specified time will count as an absence. For example, if you have 5 absences, were late three times and left early three times, this would count as 7 absences and your final grade would be reduced by 3% points, such as an 82% being reduced to a 79%.
CLASS POLICIES:
1. You are expected to be on time and prepared for class. If you are unable to be in class, you are expected to let the instructor know by leaving a message by phone or email previous to the class period.
2. Assignments are to be turned in on the date due and at the beginning of the class period due. You are responsible for making up any missed in-class assignments; however, some assignments cannot be made up.
3. As noted in the attendance policy, excessive absences will reflect negatively on your grade.
4. You are expected to be on time for class.
5. The ability to write well is an important skill for your professional development. Assignments that are difficult to read due to handwriting will be returned with one opportunity to redo the assignment, within 2 days. Typing is strongly recommended. Some assignments require typing and will not be accepted if not typed. Assignments with excessive grammatical or spelling errors (excessive as subjectively defined by the instructor) will be returned with one opportunity to make corrections.
6. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary on the internet (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary), to cheat is:
(transitive senses)
1 : to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2 : to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3 : to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting <cheat death>
(intransitive senses)
1 a : to practice fraud or trickery b : to violate rules dishonestly (as at cards or on an examination)
Cheating includes copying someone else's work, taking credit for someone else's work, as well as what is traditionally thought of as cheating. An example would be: Copying someone else's homework, when it is an assignment that is supposed to reflect your work/thoughts. An example would be an assignment of finding words you do not understand and finding definitions for them; copying someone else's homework in this instance would be considered cheating. The consequences for cheating are the same as for plagiarism, listed below.
7. Copying directly from the textbook or any resource for assignments or tests, or taking someone else's thoughts or ideas without giving them credit is plagiarism and is illegal and unethical. This also includes printing information from the Internet without identifying and referencing the source. The consequences for plagiarism are as follows:
q For the first occurrence, rewrite of the assignment and loss of 50 % of the grade
q For the second occurrence, failing the assignment and reduction of overall class grade by one letter grade.
q For the third occurrence, a grade of 'F' in the class
Please note that this applies to all assignments in the class.
8. Respect other students' opinions, even if you do not agree with them
9. Respect confidentiality. Being actively involved in class may involve some level of sharing of personal information. You are expected to treat the classroom with the same level of ethical responsibility with which you would treat a job or internship. Do not share personal information about other students outside of the classroom. This includes discussing this information with your fellow classmates.
10. If you choose to drop the class, you are responsible for completing and turning in the withdrawal slip. If you have stopped coming to class but not turned in a withdrawal slip or contacted the instructor to discuss this, you will receive an 'F' for the class.
11. Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or on vibrate in class. If you do get a call, please leave the classroom before answering the call.
Location Schedule:
All classes will meet in B114, unless otherwise noted.
Student Success Center: Piedmont Community College now offers a comprehensive package of services to assist students with their academic success. The Student Success Center, located in Room G-204, provides a variety of free learning support services including computer access, tutoring, supplemental instruction, study groups, and other academic services. Visit or call Gloria Bennett, Coordinator of the Student Success Center, at 599-1181 ext. 276 to access this valuable student resource.
Students with Disabilities: If you have a learning or other disability, and you want to request special accommodations to ensure equal access to education at PCC, please see Shelia Williamson at the Office of Student Development. The information that you provide to Ms. Williamson will be kept confidential.
The last day to drop this class with a "W" is March 5, 2004.
Class Schedule and Due Dates (Subject to Change!)
1) Wednesday, January 7, 2004 Introduction, Chapter One
2) Monday, January 12, 2004
3) Wednesday, January 14, 2004 Chapter Two
4) Wednesday, January 21, 2004
5) Monday, January 26, 2004 Chapter Three
6) Wednesday, January 28, 2004 Group Progress Report One Due
7) Monday, February 2, 2004 Chapter Four
8) Wednesday, February 4, 2004
9) Monday, February 9, 2004 Exam One
10) Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Chapter Five; Group Progress Report Two
Due
11) Monday, February 16, 2004
12) Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Chapters Six and Seven;
13) Monday, February 23, 2004
14) Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Chapter Eight; Group Progress Report Three Due
15) Monday, March 1, 2004
16) Wednesday, March 3, 2004 Exam Two;
17) Monday, March 15, 2004 Chapter Nine
18) Wednesday, March 17, 2004 Group Progress Report Four Due
19) Monday, March 22, 2004 Chapter Ten
20) Wednesday, March 24, 2004
21) Monday, March 29, 2004 Chapter Eleven and Twelve
22) Wednesday, March 31, 2004 Group Progress Report Five Due
23) Monday, April 5, 2004 Exam Three
24) Wednesday, April 7, 2004 Chapter Thirteen
25) Monday, April 12, 2004
26) Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen; Group
Progress Report Six Due
27) Monday, April 19, 2004
28) Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Chapter Sixteen
29) Monday, April 26, 2004
30) Wednesday, April 28, 2004 Chapter Seventeen; Group Progress
Report Seven Due
31) Monday, May 3, 2004 Small Group Project Presentation and
Paper Due
32) Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Exam Four
33) Monday, May 10, 2004 Possible make-up day if classes are missed due to inclement weather