MEGA/MOCA exam flash cards mild/moderate
cross categorical special education
summarize some of the early contributions to special education made by
... [Show More] Édouard Séguin - Correct
Answer-French doctor Séguin had studied with Jean-Marc Itard, who insisted that children with disabilities
could learn via special instruction. In 1848 Séguin came to America, where he developed influential
principles for educating intellectually disabled and other special-needs children. In his programs, he
emphasized presenting combined physical and intellectual tasks to help disabled children develop selfreliance and independence. He developed the physiological method, consisting of sensory training
(particularly tactile) utilizing concrete materials, and also motor training, featuring movement from the
simple to the complex, age-appropriate and functional activities, and activities involving both work and play.
The major elements that made up the foundation of Séguin's educational philosophy and programs for
instructing children with disabilities were: frequently changing activities; task analysis; discrimination
between the senses and the intellect; sensory stimulation; physical education; and education with
employment as an outcome. One can see from these elements the importance of Séguin's contributions, as
these are all prominent aspects of special education today over 150 years later.
in the history of special education, summarize some general attitudes toward disabilities in the Middle
Ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. mention a few of the first developments in education for
the disabled - Correct Answer-In Medieval times (500-1500 CE), society had a rigid caste system with
royalty at the top, and no education for the masses. Some people with disabilities were exterminated;
others were exploited as clowns, "fools," or servants. Generally, the disabled experienced ridicule for their
differences.
During the Renaissance (1300-1700), when interest in knowledge was reborn, the Catholic Church made
the disabled wards of the state, caring for them in isolation. They received more human treatment, but
initially no education.
By the Enlightenment (1650-1800), philosophers like John Locke believed all knowledge was acquired
through the senses and all human beings were equal. Enlightenment philosophers believed humanity did
not exist without education, increasing potential opportunities.
During the Renaissance, in 1578, Spanish explorer Pedro Ponce de León first documented the education
of royal deaf children. In 1760 during the Enlightenment, the French Abbé de L'Épée established the first
institute for the deaf.
In 1829 (the Regency era), Louis Braille invented his tactile reading/writing system for the blind.
describe some of the advantages and disadvantages of the segregated settings used in the history of
special education for instructing students with special needs - Correct Answer-In some cases, special
schools and classes are used today; however, in America and many other countries, laws mandate
inclusive education for students with disabilities. Before this legislation, segregation was more the norm
than the exception, yielding both advantages and disadvantages.
Some advantages include: giving students with disabilities more chances of success; fostering cooperation
instead of competition; being able to learn physical and social skills in accepting, understanding settings;
staff with specialized training, specialized equipment, and specialized services; more opportunities to
improve skills needed for greater participation in more inclusive settings; easier student access to individual
attention; and more opportunities to meet other students with the same disability.
Disadvantages include: developed "disabled" values, attitudes, and behaviors; lowered expectations in
students, parents, and educators; resistance to transferring learned skills to regular settings; depriving
disabled and nondisabled children of the benefits of interacting; less preparation for future living; greater
lifelong expenses; more interactions with adults than with children; and performance standards separate
from "normal" standards.
discuss some tools whereby special educators can engage in self-assessments of their own work - Correct
Answer-Many school districts and systems have created self-assessment rubrics or instruments for special
educators. These instruments generally list specific standards for an array of required skills and knowledge,
including operational definitions that describe what knowledge, skills, and behaviors the special educator
should demonstrate. These descriptions are accompanied by incremental rating scales.
The educator reads each competency and checks a box corresponding to whether they think that, for
example, models it, adjusts upon reflecting, and is a resource for others (the highest score); or works
independently to apply the competency across settings and self-initiates planning (the second highest);
applies the competency with support and shows emerging self-initiation of planning (the middle score);
understands and tries to apply the competency, and uses resources for improving their teaching (the
second lowest); or is aware of the competency but has no experience in and/or does not demonstrate it
(the lowest score).
Another example states competence areas for self-rating as highly effective, effective, minimally effective,
or ineffective.
discuss some general aspects of professional development for special education professionals - Correct
Answer-Special education professionals cannot allow their training, knowledge, and expertise to remain at
the same level throughout their working lives as when they received their degrees and certification and
began working. They must continually update, improve, and expand their skills, both to remain current in
this dynamic, changing profession and to grow as educators.
Special education professionals acquire and apply knowledge about developmental levels and readiness
for various instructional interventions. They learn about research evidence-based instructional strategies,
and then apply these for teaching fundamental skills in literacy and numeracy to students with special
needs. They know how to individualize their instruction for each student and they continue to learn new
strategies and techniques to improve this individualization process.
They assess student progress on an ongoing basis and refine their assessment techniques to increase
their accuracy and applications to adjustments and modifications in their instructional approaches. They
make use of data and continually inform themselves of newer data from emergent research to apply to their
problem-solving endeavors. They prepare students to become independent.
describe some of the CEC's standards applying to special education professionals in the areas of
credentials and employment - Correct Answer-In addition to nine others, the CEC (Council for Exceptional
Children) identifies standards for special education professionals that include: documenting and objectively
reporting any deficits in resources, and offering solutions for these to their supervisors/administrators;
evaluating employments applicants and grievances objectively, without discrimination; utilizing established
procedures to resolve professional workplace problems; expecting their responsibilities to be conveyed to
coworkers, and assuring their understanding and respect of those responsibilities; requesting clear written
statements of their employment conditions, duties, and responsibilities; participating actively in planning,
management, and evaluation of special education programs and general education programs, and in
associated policy development; expecting sufficient support and supervision for special education
professionals, and for programs delivered by qualified professionals in special education; and expecting
there to be clearly defined chains of accountability and responsibility regarding the supervision and
administration of professionals in special education.
as a reflection of the evolution of special education and its philosophy, contrast the medical model versus
the social model of disability in education - Correct Answer-Historically, early models of special education
were based on the medical model of illness. As special education developed, the medical model came to
be gradually replaced by the social model. Some key differences in these models are: The medical model
viewed the child as defective, whereas the social model values the child as a unique individual.
The medical model focused on diagnosing and labeling children by their disabilities; the social model
strives to identify children's strengths and needs. The medical model focuses on impairment; the social
model focuses on identify obstacles and developing solutions. The medical model dictated segregation and
alternative services for the disabled; the social model dictates making necessary resources available to the
disabled within inclusive settings.
The medical model resulted in being excluded permanently from normal schools and society, or inclusion
only if the individual eventually seemed sufficiently "normal" in appearance and behavior; the social model
welcomes diversity. The medical model effected no social change; the social model causes society to
evolve.
Explain Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard's significance to the history of special education and summarize his most
famous case study - Correct Answer-Itard was a French doctor and educator, among the first to propose
and prove special teaching methods could help educate children with disabilities. From 1801=1805, Itard
used systematic instructional techniques to teach communication and daily living skills to a boy named
Victor, discovered in the woods, seemingly without human rearing. Itard's work was made more famous by
director/actor François Truffaut in his 1970 film L'Enfant Sauvage (The Wild Child).
Itard's goals were to socialize Victor, improve his awareness of environmental stimuli, expose him to ideas,
teach him to communicate, and advance his thinking from concrete/simple to abstract/complex. Some
successes included increased regularity and control in Victor's eating, sleeping, and personal hygiene;
improved senses of taste and touch; and increased range of interests.
Victor learned to sequence objects and utter a few single-syllable words. However, he never developed
connected speech or emotional attachments, and longed for his previous life. Some speculate Victor had
an intellectual disability or autism, which would also explain why he was likely abandoned at an early age.
discuss the overrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education
programs, including some overrepresented groups, areas of special education where they're
overrepresented, and a formula for assessing overrepresentation - Correct Answer-For the past 30+ years,
court cases and other legal actions have been filed against the special education system over excessive
placement of culturally and linguistically diverse students in disability programs. ESL, low-income, AfricanAmerican, Latino, and Native American students are commonly overrepresented, particularly in programs
for LDs, mild intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders.
The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCREST) advises parents to
consult school administrators and/or parent advocates to investigate whether their school has this problem,
because researchers disagree about formulae for assessing overrepresentation.
However, they also offer one formula for calculating overrepresentation probability: using low-income
students as an example, divide their number placed in (for example) LD classes by their total number in the
school = percentage placed in LD; calculate the same percentage of average income students in LD
classes the same way; and divide the low-income percentage by the average income percentage. A result
of +1.0 indicates equal probabilities of special education placement; >1.0 indicates greater placement
probability for lower-income students.
summarize some of Maria Montessori's important contributions in the history of special education - Correct
Answer-Maria Montessori (1870-1952), an Italian doctor and educator, developed an entire philosophy of
education with procedures based on its principles. Today there are many Montessori schools worldwide.
While the Montessori method is intended for the general education of all children, it has many benefits for
children with disabilities and inclusive education.
It is based on the way children naturally learn through exploring and experiencing. Montessori aimed to
enable children's optimal exploration and independent learning. To this end, she proposed the concept of
the "prepared environment," a learning environment designed to facilitate this learning process. This
environment features an uninterrupted continuum of learning experiences.
Montessori schools divide classrooms into multiple-age groups: parent and infant for ages 0-3, preschool,
ages 3-6; lower elementary, ages 6-9; and upper elementary, ages 9-12; and middle school, ages 12-14.
However, this series of classrooms comprise a "flow" experience, wherein the child continuously constructs
and builds upon his/her learning throughout the program. Classroom materials each isolate various single
qualities/concepts like color, shape, or size.
discuss some factors to consider in the eligibility determination and placement in special education
programs/services of culturally and linguistically diverse students - Correct Answer-Parents of culturally
and linguistically diverse backgrounds should become involved in all stages of the special education
process if their children are referred. In addition to being included on referral and assessment teams,
parents as well as cultural diversity experts should be included in decision-making for eligibility
determination and placement.
This team should consider whether a student's difficulties are caused by a possible disability, cultural/social
differences, or both. Immigration, switching schools, and school absences should be considered. Evidence
of different sources of student difficulty should be provided.
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