International minor Special Educational Needs The Teacher Training Institute Hogeschool Rotterdam (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands) will offer the international minor Special Educational Needs from September 1st 2013 till February 1st 2014. In the day-to-day business of professional practice on a secondary special education institute or special elementary education in a metropolitan environment, the teacher, educationist or social worker is bound to have to deal with children and adolescents with specific developmental needs and learning/behavioural problems. This is an intrinsic part of education and is not easy but poses a genuine challenge as it requires expertise, empathy and creativity. In addition to issues pertaining to the child’s needs, we will also take a more thorough look at your way of dealing with issues in a multifaceted educational/pedagogical environment. You will work on these topics at the Hogeschool but, moreover, will also get to be an intern at a school which specialises in special education.
We will focus on expanding our knowledge about special education, the international intricacies of such education and on developing our own vision. Students who follow this minor will get the opportunity to shed light on their vision of Special Educational Needs from an international perspective and research relevant topics from this very frame of reference. You will hone your knowledge and skills about this topic from an international perspective. Upon picking this minor you will explore the domain of Special Educational Needs from a European perspective with foreign and Dutch students. The activities which will be employed to explore this are manifold: Lectures, Student Presentations, Guest Lecturers, Role Playing Games, Experiential teaching, usage of own video snippets, Self-Tuition, Cooperative learning and visiting professionals at work in the special educational needs sector. Participants will have to complete a mandatory internship at a participating school for special education or supportive educational track. A portfolio will have to be submitted at the end of the course in which assignments pertaining to the following competencies need to be completed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Interpersonal competence Pedagogical competence Didactic competence Organizational competence Dealing with colleagues Dealing with social environment
The following professional skills will also be dealt with: 1. Communication: Verbal skills 2. Communication: Written skills The internship will take 10 weeks and will take 1,5 days per week during which you will be expected to prepare and teach 8-10 English lessons which didactic validity will be evaluated. The assignments are geared to the implementation of theoretical knowledge about special education. To this end, language should not be an impediment. Examples of possible assignments are : observing lessons (of which might be said that not knowing the language might be beneficial, as it allows the participant to focus fully on behavior). You will research a topic within the framework of Special Educational Needs. The research may be linked to something you want to consider more thoroughly at your internship but may also entail secondary research. To finish the minor you will have to write an essay based on research on a chosen topic dealing with the development of skills/talent in the special educational sector.
For whom? The minor is open to Erasmus exchange students from teacher training programmes (age group 4- 18) and students of The Teacher Training Institute Hogeschool Rotterdam who wish to broaden their knowledge of special education in addition to gaining some international experience. When? September 2013- February 2014. Schedule? Monda: Lectures, Instructional assignments, portfolio, tutorials, preparing for internship and finishing portfolio assignments Tuesday: Supervised Peer review, Discussion of progress Wednesday: Internship and self-study Thursday: Internship Friday: Working on research project, working on internship assignments and secondary research. Entry Requirements Students are familiar with Special Education in their own countries and know how to present that in English (orally and in writing). Language of Instruction The language of communication and instruction will be English. EC 30 EC Reading: Two weeks prior to the start of each theme the teacher in question will divulge the reading list. Accomodation The Student Housing Office of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences will inform students about housing facilities. You will be staying in the city of Rotterdam ; a vibrant city humming with activity all year round. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands with more than 590.000 residents from 173 nationalities. Expenses Renting a room will cost you between 445-525 euros a month. Public transport will be around 40 euros a month. More information? ivl-internationalisering@hr.nl Signing up? Enrol before May 1st 2013 by contacting Martine van Leeuwen ( ivl-internationalisering@hr.nl)
Rotterdam University School of Education Museumpark 40 3015 CX Rotterdam The Netherlands E-mail: IVL-Internationalisering@hr.nl Rotterdamuniversity.nl