COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the course on Developing Effective Individual Education Plans (IEPs). This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to create and implement effective IEPs that cater to the unique needs of students. By the end of this course, you will be able to develop tailored educational strategies that promote student success and engagement.
We begin with an introduction to Individual Education Plans (IEPs), where we define what an IEP is and discuss its primary purpose. Understanding the fundamental concepts of IEPs will set the foundation for the more detailed aspects of their development and implementation.
The course then addresses which students require an IEP. We will cover mandatory IEPs for students in out-of-home care, Koorie students, and those supported under disability programs. Additionally, we will discuss recommended IEPs for students with additional needs, high-ability students not achieving their potential, and students at risk of disengagement.
The importance of IEPs cannot be overstated. This section highlights how IEPs support individual learning, facilitate collaboration among educators and families, address legal considerations, and enhance student engagement.
Developing an IEP involves a collaborative effort from a Student Support Group (SSG). You will learn about the composition of the SSG, the roles and responsibilities of its members, and how to conduct effective SSG meetings, including remote meetings.
Personalised learning and support planning are key components of an effective IEP. This section provides an overview of the planning framework, focusing on identifying student strengths and needs, and designing effective teaching strategies.
To ensure clarity and understanding, we will define key terms and concepts that frequently appear in IEPs, providing you with a common language and understanding.
The course follows a structured approach to IEP development, starting with Stage 1: Assess, where you will learn to gather information, conduct assessments, and understand the student’s background and learning style.
In Stage 2: Plan, we emphasise collaborative and student-centred planning approaches. You will learn to set long-term goals, develop short-term SMART goals, and engage in a collaborative planning process that includes the student and their support network.
Stage 3: Teach focuses on making adjustments to meet the student’s strengths and needs. You will explore implementing teaching strategies, applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and providing varied learning opportunities to cater to diverse learners.
Stage 4: Monitor and Evaluate is critical for assessing the effectiveness of the IEP. You will learn to review goals and strategies, collect and analyse data, and make informed educational decisions based on the student’s progress.
Writing SMART goals is a vital skill in IEP development. This section will guide you in writing both long-term and short-term SMART goals, complete with criteria and examples to ensure goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
To ensure the quality of your IEPs, we provide an IEP Quality Checklist. You will receive instructions on how to use this checklist to review and refine IEPs, ensuring they meet high standards of quality and effectiveness.
Finally, we offer an Individual Education Plan Template, which you can use as a practical tool to develop comprehensive and effective IEPs for your students.
By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of how to create, implement, and evaluate Individual Education Plans that support the diverse needs of students, fostering an inclusive and effective learning environment.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Individual Education Plans
- Definition of IEP
- Purpose
2. Which Students Require an IEP?
- Mandatory IEPs
- Students in Out-of-home Care
- Koorie Students
- Students Supported Under Disability Programs
- Recommended IEPs
- Students with Additional Needs
- High-Ability Students Not Achieving Potential
- Students at Risk of Disengagement
- Supporting Individual Learning
- Facilitating Collaboration
- Legal Considerations
- Enhancing Student Engagement
4. Developing an IEP: Student Support Group
- Composition of the Student Support Group (SSG)
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Conducting SSG Meetings (Including Remote Meetings)
5. Personalised Learning and Support Planning
- Framework Overview
- Identifying Strengths and Needs
- Designing Effective Teaching Strategies
6. Key Terms and Definitions within the Individual Education Plan (IEP)
7. Stage 1 – Assess
- Gathering Information
- Conducting Assessments
- Understanding Student Background
8. Stage 2 – Plan
- Setting Long-Term Goals
- Developing Short-Term SMART Goals
- Collaborative Planning Process
9. Stage 3 – Teach
- Implementing Teaching Strategies
- Applying Universal Design for Learning
- Providing Multi and Varied Opportunities
10. Stage 4 – Monitor and Evaluate
- Reviewing Goals and Strategies
- Collecting and Analysing Data
- Making Educational Decisions
11. Writing SMART Long-Term Goals
- SMART Criteria
- Examples of SMART Long-Term Goals
12. Writing SMART Short-Term Goals
- SMART Criteria
- Examples of SMART Short-Term Goals
13. Individual Education Plan (IEP) Quality Checklist
- Instructions for Using the Quality Checklist
14. An Individual Education Plan Template
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.