Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

Norwegian.

Learning outcomes

On successfull completion of the course the student should be able to
-describe special needs education's history and traditions as a profession and discipline
- show knowledge of basic theory and concepts in the subject special needs education, such as normalization, inclusion and adapted training, disability vs. functional impairment, and social /relational vs. medical/categorical perspectives
- Show familiarity with the following fields: retardation, social and emotional difficulties, sense impairments, language disorders, reading and writing, and math problems
- explain the relationship between learning basic skills and developing learning disabilities
- interpret the legal basis for special education and special educational assistance
- describe the special needs educational chains of initatives
- explain the role of special needs education in an inclusive school and kindergarten and its ethical dilemmas.

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

The course will give an introduction to the area special needs education in an overall perspective. Attention will be given to the tension between special needs education as a profession and dicipline and its relation to the area general education. Students will have to relate to school and kindergarten as a learning arena. Both individual and system related initatives are important aspects of work with special needs education.
Significant special needs educational dilemmas will be discussed, especially the relation between suitable teaching (e.g.special needs education) vs the risk for beeing stigmatized.
In connection with these dilemmas, various trends in the field are discussed, for example, over-representation of ethnic minorities, boys, and specific risk groups including children and youth who receive special needs education support. In addition, there will be an introduction to the most common disabilities during the educational pathway and the legal and administrative basis for special needs education and special needs educational assistance.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars, group works and individual work with counselling.
2 weeks practice in school/kindergarten, coherent with the practice period in PED153 - Special Needs Educational Work in School and Preschool.

 

 

Examinations

Semester assignment in groups. Graded assessment.

Student evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course Reduction of Credits
PED113 – Special Needs Education in a Holistic Perspective. 5
PED114 – Children, Young People and Adults with Special Educational Needs. 5
PED115 – Project Assignment in Special Needs Education. 5
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 6:49:27 AM