This course focuses upon knowledge and understanding of existing diversities within the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities, and ways in which teaching can most effectively meet the needs and interests of these students for effective learning. Readings and discussions will explore the educational needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students with variations of experience related to culture, race/ethnicity, language, educational and socio-economic backgrounds and settings, communication skills, and learning styles. These concepts will be applied to effective teaching and curriculum development.

This course addresses assessment as educational decision-making, involving the selection and interpretation of assessment tools as applied to classroom-based student learning. The course focuses on students who are deaf and hard of hearing; including students with diverse learning needs. Assessment and educational planning for students are discussed as part of a cooperative model, including the relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process. This course also addresses the development and interpretation of both formative and summative assessment strategies in light of acceptable criteria of validity and reliability, and the absence of assessment bias. Criteria for evaluating the appropriateness of standardized tests, with emphasis on deaf and hard-of-hearing students, are discussed and practiced. Collection and interpretation of assessment information are applied to the development and revision of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

This course is an introduction to research and inquiry in education. The course includes the evaluation of selected Deaf education research studies, including methodologies, data collection and analyses, and implications of the studies to teaching and learning. Action research in the classroom is examined in depth. Students will prepare a review of literature and an action research plan related to a specific curriculum topic or problem in the learning/teaching of their content areas. The focus of the course is upon the student as a consumer rather than a practitioner of research, however the student will exit the course with basic practitioner knowledge, especially in the area of teacher research.