EDUO 9406: Neurodiversity in the Classroom

Course Overview

Welcome to EDUO 9406 Neurodiversity in the Classroom. This class was created by Dominican University of California in conjunction with Educational Development and Services as part of a six course series entitled Strength-Based Teaching and Learning. Just as we celebrate diversity in nature and cultures, so too do we need to honor the diversity of students who learn, think, and behave differently. This series is designed to help teachers and schools embrace the strengths of such neurodiverse students in order to help them thrive in school and beyond. The content learned in the class, Neurodiversity in the Classroom, will afford you the knowledge necessary to create strength-based classrooms and schools where students with disabilities flourish alongside their typically developing peers. By meeting the requirements of this class, participating teachers will earn one semester unit of graduate level extension credit from Dominican University of California, a fully accredited university.

The other five courses in the series are:

• EDUO 9407 The Talents of the Learning Disabled
• EDUO 9408 The Joys of ADHD
• EDUO 9409 The Gifts of Autism
• EDUO 9410 The Strengths of Intellectually Disabled Students
• EDUO 9411 The Bright sides of Emotional and Behavior Disorders

Although Neurodiversity in the classroom is NOT a prerequisite for the other five courses, it does provide  a foundation for them. All six classes in the Strength-Based Teaching and Learning series require one book entitled Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life by Thomas Armstrong. This book is available for purchase at www.Amazon.com.

Course Objectives:

After completing the course titled Neurodiversity in the Classroom, you will demonstrate or indicate:

• Knowledge of the concepts neurodiversity and positive niche construction
• Awareness of your current approach to neurodiverse students in your classroom
• Awareness of your school’s current approach to neurodiverse students in your school
• How to create Strength-Based classrooms and schools

Course Relation to CCS or other Professional Standards

This course aligns to the following professional teaching standards: http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ps/index.asp

• Engaging and Supporting all Students in Learning
• Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning
• Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
• Planning Instruction and Designing learning Experiences for all Students