Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/322788
ISEA Communiqué • isea.org June 2014 5 TEACHING & LEARNING CINDY'S CORNER by Cindy Swanson, ISEA Teaching & Learning Specialist cindy.swanson@ isea.org New ISEA Academy course - Special Education in Iowa: Professional and Ethical Practices Special education is a broad term that describes the education of students who have intellectual, physical, behavioral or emotional disabilities. Special education involves specially designed instruction tailored to the unique needs of each child. As special education services have evolved, so have the legal issues that iowa teachers and para-educators face around iep writing, iep implementation, progress monitoring, assessment, discipline, and co-teaching, etc. today if you talk to any iowa special education professional or para-educator, you will find dedicated, compassionate, educators overwhelmed with the legal and monitoring aspects inherent to this specialized field. the iSeA Academy created a specially designed one-credit online course to answer questions about the professional and ethical practices related to special education; how educators assure that students receive appropriate education; how to involve parents in a meaningful manner; and the legal foundations for practice as well as discussion of behavioral interventions and discipline of students with disabilities. the course is designed for those that have never taken an online course before and provides time for discussion with other iowa educators across the state, a place to ask questions, and to receive needed resources. dr. david Quinn, the subject-matter expert/instructor for the course, was a special education teacher, consultant, director of Special education at Mississippi bend Area education Agency, special education mediator for the iowa department of education, and is now on faculty in the college of education at Ashford university. dr. Quinn has worked his entire professional career in Special education and has a deep understanding of the legal and practice aspects in the field. the course run from June 6 - July 8, 2014. please find registration information at isea.org under the teaching & learning tab. contact Rhonda plimmer at rhonda.plimmer@isea.org or 515-471-8052 with any questions. As always, please check out our other summer course offerings isea.org under the teaching & learning tab. click on the iSeA Academy calendar pull down menu to choose from a range of courses including examining: teaching with the brain in Mind; examining: Grading for the benefit of the Student; helping traumatized children learn; and helping Students overcome depression and Anxiety, just to name a few. All are offered for credit over the summer months beginning early June through the first week in August. The ISEA Academy the iSeA is among the nation's leader when it comes to helping educators improve their skills and knowledge. face-to-face courses are team taught by a lead teacher with either a master's degree or who are nationally board certified and with at least one additional licensed iowa educator. courses are typically developed by teams of practitioners with the experiences and knowledge to meet the everyday challenges of the classroom and meet both licensure requirements and higher education institutions' requirements for graduate credit. the iSeA helps members take charge of their professional learning by offering a variety of programs and services at an exclusive member discount rate. in addition, the iSeA pd Academy instructors are available to conduct building or district level professional learning at special group rates. details or questions about district or building-wide professional development should be directed to the iSeA teaching and learning Specialist, cindy Swanson (515-471- 8054) or cindy.swanson@isea.org