MON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Summer Semester 2002

EDUC 495 - 4 ?

Dr. Bernice Wong

Special Topics: ?

Office: EDB 9505

Social Dimensions of Learning Disabilities

Phone: 291-4115

E-mail: bwong@sfu.ca

Wednesday 17:30-21:20 in EDB 7500F

?

E01.00

PREREQUISITE

Co-requisite: EDUC 422

DESCRIPTION

This course focuses on current research and conceptual frameworks concerning social

dimensions of learning disabilities. Specifically, we will analyze social problems in children and

adolescents with learning disabilities from a social cognitive perspective and an emerging framework

of risk and resilience. Additionally, we will examine current research in self-understanding and

self-esteem among children and adults with learning disabilities; the patterns of friendship and

loneliness in children with learning disabilities; parents' understanding of children with learning

disabilities; and preventing drop-out in adolescents with learning disabilities.

The course will involve seminar discussions of instructor-prepared and student-generated

questions. Each session will begin with the instructor's introduction to or lecture on the course topic

for the following week's meeting. Readings will include chapters from the assigned text plus two

journal articles per class.

EVALUATION

• Two 6-page double-spaced papers each worth 15 marks (total 30 marks).

A selection of topics will be provided by the instructor.

• Two quizzes each worth 20 marks (total 40 marks).

Quizzes will focus on assessing students' understanding of important concepts and the

implications of research findings.

• Students' questions for class discussion (20 marks).

Each student will generate four questions for class discussions. Students will hand in the

questions they think best represent their preparation and thinking over the course of the

semester.

• ?

Participation in class discussions (10 marks).

REQUIRED TEXT

Wong, B.

Y.L. &

Donahue, M. (Eds.) (2002). Social Dimensions of Learning Disabilities.

Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.