Introduction
Special Education is referred to as a service offered to children with disabilities in hopes to help them learn. Special education is a broad term that encompasses and assesses different disabilities that children may possess, including autism, ADHD, and other intellectual disabilities and behavioral disorders that would require them to need special educational attention. Many different laws that have been passed all with the purpose of promoting access to the curriculum, controlling the appropriate delivery of education, promoting positive behavior and facilitating social skills, have shaped our special education system today. using this information and further resources, complete the task located under the "task" button.
Task
For this WebQuest, you will complete a task with a partner. You and your partner will complete a venn diagram together comparing and contrasting special education before and after 1975 (when the IDEA was passed). Then you will each complete a summary (minimum of 10 sentences) explaining the four major education laws that will be given to you and the impact they made on our special education system today. You are to thoroughly explain the impact of each law. Complete these assignments on blank paper.
Process
Step 1: Pick a partner of your choice to complete this assignment.
Step 2: You and your partner will each choose which side of the diagram you would like to look further into. One partner will use the resources below to jot down bullet points on education for disabled children before special education laws, while the other student will use the resources below to jot down bullet points on special education after special education laws were implemented.
Resources:
1. https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/special-education-laws
3. https://www.alleducationschools.com/blog/history-of-special-education/
4. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/conditions-covered-under-idea
6. https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm
7. https://www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org/resources/fact-sheets/facts-about-special-education/
8. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-special-education
9. https://resilienteducator.com/news/past-present-and-future-of-special-education/
***Keep in mind that some of these resources are for your own enrichment, not all of them will be used to complete your diagram/summary.
Step 3: After each student has completed their research, the two students will come together and complete a venn diagram together. One side of the diagram will be titled "before special education laws" and the other side "after the implementation of special education laws". The portion in the middle will be titled "similarities". The students are required to use a venn diagram like the one attached below. There should be at least three bullet points in each circle in the venn diagram. The similarities space should be filled out regardless if any similarities were found or not. If no similarities are found, simply explain the importance of this, and how much our education system has changed.
Step 4. Once your venn diagram is completed, each student must complete a minimum 10 sentence essay that describes the four education laws EHA, IDEA, HCPA, and The Assistive Technology Act. Your essay must include a summary of each of these acts and their importance on special education. Your summary must also include our present special education system, and how each law reflects this system. Use the resources above to complete your summary.
Step 5: You and your partner must turn the venn diagram and each of your essays into me by the end of the class period. You will be graded by the rubric posted under the "Evaluation" tab.
Evaluation
|
Category |
Excellent (5 points) |
Good (4 points) |
Needs Improvement (3 points) |
Unsatisfactory (2 points) |
|
Venn Diagram |
Complete, at least three bullet points in each, middle section is complete/explained. |
Complete, three bullet points in each, the middle section is not complete/explained. |
Incomplete, lacking bullet points/key information |
Incomplete, missing pieces of information/bullet points, middle section not complete. |
|
Summary |
Summary is 10 sentences, covering the 4 important laws given. |
Summary is 10 sentences, lacks information, only covers a few of the laws. |
Summary is missing key information, does not include 10 sentences or 4 laws. |
Summary is incomplete and missing key information. |
|
Visual/Appeal |
Students followed venn diagram directions and it is neat and legible. |
Student followed venn diagram directions, somewhat neat and legible |
Student followed venn diagram directions, writing is not neat or legible. |
Student did not follow venn diagram directions and the writing is not neat or legible. |
|
Grammar |
Student made no grammatical errors. |
Student made one grammatical error. |
Students made more than one grammatical error. |
Students made more than 3 grammatical errors. |
Conclusion
By completing this WebQuest, students are able to understand the difference in the education of children with disabilities then versus now. The students are able to dive into life before special education laws and life now that special education laws have been implemented. By doing a venn diagram, students are able to see the jurassic difference in life before special education laws to now. Students are also able to use resources made available to them to learn more about different disabilities that the IDEA covers, as well as resources that teach them a little more about how special education is actually implemented in the classroom. The middle portion of the venn diagram is considered the similarities section. Students are able to assess if there were any similarities to education for disabled children before special education laws came into place. After doing so, it is evident that there aren't many, if any. The student must then reflect on why that is, and the impact that special education laws had on our education system. The summary that each student must complete is a reflection of the venn diagram, with some information added. The summary helps students understand the 4 major special education laws that have shaped our education system today, and reflect on how much of an impact they have made on public schools today.