Special Support in Early ChildhoodLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

The student is able to recognise and assess deviations in a child’s cognitive, linguistic and social development. The student understands the importance of early and special support as part of the basic tasks of early childhood education. The student is familiar with the methods of special education and services related to it. The student is able to support and guide a child who needs special support individually and comprehensively in day to day activities. The foundation of counselling work is a resource-based, ecocultural and communal approach. The student acts while recognising his/her own basic values and abiding by professionally ethical principles.

Content

• organisation of early and special support in early childhood education as well as a transition stage to school life.
• recognition and assessment of the child’s developmental deviations and the principles of providing support
• learning difficulties, linguistic difficulties and socioemotional deficiencies in children
• first information provided for parents when a child is diagnosed with a developmental deviation
• assessment and support methods for special pedagogy
• basic information on Augmentative and Alternative Communication as an aid in communication and counselling

Qualifications

The student has a command of the basics of early childhood education and recognises its key operational environments and the main features of treatment, growth and development with regard to young children. The student is familiar with the basic information regarding special needs education and its premises and client groups.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Excellent (5):
The student is able to recognise and assess deviations in a child’s cognitive, linguistic and social development. The student is able to give reasons for and apply the methods of special education. The student is able to support and guide a child who needs special support and his/her family individually and comprehensively. The student demonstrates a resource-based approach to work, an appreciation for clients upon meeting them, as well as professionally ethical principles. The student has actively participated in both contact teaching and discussion in the virtual learning environment and has completed the agreed upon assignments. The student’s assignments demonstrate innovativeness. In his/her written assignments the student has dealt with the subject matter according to the given instructions. The student’s views on the subject are comprehensive, diverse and critically justified. The student has used diverse and relevant sources that also include sources in foreign languages. The student has followed the JAMK reporting instructions.
Very good (4):
The student is able to recognise and name deviations in a child’s cognitive, linguistic and social development. The student is able to apply the methods of special education. The student is able to support and guide a child who needs special support and his/her family individually and comprehensively. The student demonstrates a resource-based approach to work, an appreciation for clients upon meeting them, as well as professionally ethical principles. The student has actively participated in both contact teaching and discussion in the virtual learning environment and has completed the agreed upon assignments. In his/her written assignments the student has dealt with the subject matter according to the given instructions and his/her views on the subject are comprehensive and diverse. The student links the subject to a larger entity and gives reasons for selecting the topic. The sources listed include the key sources for the subject area. The student has followed the JAMK reporting instructions.
Good (3)
The student is able to recognise and name deviations in a child’s linguistic and social development. The student knows how to use the methods of special education. The student is able to support a child who needs special support and his/her family individually and comprehensively. The student demonstrates an appreciation for clients upon meeting them, as well as professionally ethical principles. The student has participated in both contact teaching and discussion in the virtual learning environment and has completed the agreed upon assignments. In his/her written assignments the student has dealt with the subject matter according to the given instructions and his/her views on the subject are comprehensive. The student links the subject to a larger entity and gives reasons for selecting the topic. The student has followed the JAMK reporting instructions.
Satisfactory (2)
The student is able to name deviations in a child’s linguistic and social development. The student is familiar with the methods of special education and their use The student is able to support a child who needs special support and his/her family individually and comprehensively. The student demonstrates an appreciation for clients upon meeting them, as well as professionally ethical principles. The student has for the most part participated in contact teaching and discussion in the virtual learning environment. The student has completed the agreed upon assignments. The student’s written assignments demonstrate a narrow understanding of the subject. The student sometimes links the subject to a larger entity and gives few reasons for selecting the topic. The student has for the most part followed the JAMK reporting instructions.
Below average (1)
The student is able to define the most visible deviations in a child’s development. The student can name methods of special education and t