Course 3 Overview

Asian girl with Down Syndrome with her teacher in classroom

Introduction

This course will provide you with strategies to increase active participation for students with complex needs.

What’s in the Course?

Course 3 has five modules. Below is a brief description of the content of each module.

Module 1: Instructional Planning and Strategies

In Module 1, you will learn teaching and planning strategies to help students with complex needs:

  • Why having an active role and learning in context are important
  • How the classroom environment can be optimized for sensory input
  • To consider the medical background and body level readiness in your student
  • The variety of essential supports and teaching strategies that can be used

Module 2: Teaching in the Context of Meaningful Routines and Using the Inclusion Planning Matrix

In Module 2, you will learn how routines are opportunities for students to learn and engage:

  • The importance of a student’s learning in the context of meaningful routines
  • How to structure a student’s day as a series of meaningful routines
  • How to build and use an inclusion planning matrix

Module 3: Behaviour is Communication

Module 3 explores what is meant by “behaviour is communication” and offers strategies to support your students:

  • What “behaviour is communication” means
  • What causes students to use behaviours to communicate
  • Strategies for supporting increased use of communicative behaviours

Module 4: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Module 4 discusses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and provides strategies to support students using AAC:

  • Understand the different kinds of AAC
  • Explore general strategies for supporting students to communicate using their augmentative and alternative communication systems
  • Continue to expand your understanding of what communication means, and all the different ways in which students with complex needs communicate

Module 5: Inclusive Literacy

In Module 5, you will learn how to engage students with complex needs in literacy activities:

  • How to create an inclusive literacy environment
  • How to ensure students take an active role in literacy activities
  • A range of technology-based resources that support literacy learning