ECE5000X - Advanced Special Education Practices

Course Description

This course is designed to enhance the skills of paraprofessionals, teacher aides, and certified teachers seeking continuing education units (CEUs) in special education. This asynchronous program will equip participants with practical strategies for supporting students with disabilities, focusing on inclusive teaching, behavior management, and collaboration with families and IEP teams. The curriculum will cover foundational topics such as the legal frameworks like IDEA and Section 504, differentiated instruction, and assistive technology. The program will align with the topics included in the Praxis II Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications.

Key Benefits

• 100% online self-paced course.
• No prior experience required.
• Stackable for academic credit towards a degree.
• No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.

Learning Modules Include

Course Learning Outcomes

• Describe the characteristics of various disabilities, including learning, physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
• Articulate the key principles of special education laws, such as IDEA, Section 504 and ADA, and their implications for classroom practices.
• Analyze how development, family systems, and societal factors influence students with disabilities.
• Design effective safe classroom environments to promote student achievement.
• Apply positive behavior strategies to foster a supportive learning environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the components of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
• Apply evidence-based strategies to support students with disabilities across educational settings through scenario-based analysis and case studies.
• Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies through scenario-based analysis and case studies.
• Analyze effective ethical and professional collaboration and communication strategies for engaging with teachers, families, IEP teams, students, and colleagues to support student goals.
• Evaluate the use of assistive technologies and adaptive tools to enhance accessibility and support student learning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of when to use different types of assessments to inform instruction and implement evidence-based intervention
• Identify basic elements of an effective lesson plan that aligns with student IEP goals.
• Analyze data from ongoing assessments and recommend instructional adjustments to support individualized learning goal.

Prior Learning Credit

This certificate serves as a valuable credential that complements your educational path, offering the potential to earn academic credits for prior learning that can be applied to a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs at National University. Below is a list of degrees that are eligible for academic credit transfer:

• Master Special Education - SED 601 Special Education Foundations 

Requirements to Enroll

No application is needed to enroll. All learners are eligible to enroll in the course. There are no admission requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED, and have basic computer and internet knowledge.

Estimated Time to Completion

This course can be completed in 3 months working approximately 25 hours per week, or in 6 months working 12.5 hours per week.

Access Time

Learners will have access to their course learning modules for up to 12 months from the date of enrollment.

CEUs and PDUs

• CEUs- 7.5 National University Continuing Education Units

Certificate of Completion

 After completion of all course units and earning a 100% class progress, learners will be awarded an official National University Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion.

Refund Policy

We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.

To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.

To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.

How to Access My Course

Allow up to 24 hours after enrollment for the course to appear in Brightspace. (An error will appear if accessed before 24 hours)

Follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your student portal at westraining.nu.edu
2. Click “Login”, then “Student Login”
3. Log in using User Name (email address) and Password
4. In your PACE student portal, click on “Brightspace LMS” on the left-hand navigation panel.
5. Under My Courses, click the course title to get started.