EDP 656 Psychology of Exceptional Learners
Children with disabilities are often stereotyped as not able to participate in school or social functions. Therefore expectations of academic achievement are often low. If the child is successful, s/he is portrayed as a superhero, amazing to have achieved any success given the pitiable condition of disability. Refer to the reading in Why I Burned My Book for discussion of this conundrum of no expectations versus ‘supercrip’.
GOAL:
Identify the ways a person with a disability is portrayed in popular media;
PROCESS:
Part One: Choose a book from the list and READ it.
Describe the topic of the book. (1 pt)
Before reading the book, write about your beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and knowledge of the disability discussed in the book. Perhaps even about disabilities in general. (5 pts.)
Summarize the main theme and action of the book. (2pts.)
Describe the perspective of the main character(s) with regard to disability. (3pts.)
Now, after reading the book, describe your beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and knowledge about the disability discussed in the book.
Did anything surprise you? If so, what and do you know why? (5pts.)
How can this insight help you in your profession as a teacher of students with disabilities? (2pts.)
What will you DO with this information? (2pts.)
Part Two: Select a movie from the list.
Title of the movie: Year made:
Date viewed: Fiction/nonfiction:
- Summarize the film. Include a description of the disability. (1pt.)
- Explain how the person with the disability was portrayed (was it realistic, stereotypical, superhuman, etc.). (1pt.)
- Discuss whether and how the following values were achieved in the life of the individual with a disability:
a) Expectations of the person
b) What positive contributions did the person make
c) What inherent strengths did the person have
d) What choices did the person have in her/his life
e) What relationships did the person have and how were they characterized
f) Was the person given full citizen? Explain how you decide.
(6pts.)
- Would people have a more positive or negative attitude about persons with this disability (or disabilities in general) after viewing this film? Why? (1pt.)
- What did you learn about individuals with disabilities from watching this film? (1pt.)
Why is it important to examine popular representations of persons with disabilities? How do stereotypes affect behavior and attitudes? How do you know?
How might identifying cultural representations be important to your teaching and collaboration with general education teachers?
Grading criteria:
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Outstanding |
Good |
Average |
Poor |
Comments |
| 1. Description of prior knowledge beliefs |
Describes attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and knowledge of disabilities. Identifies from where these emanate. Recognizes stereotype influences. |
Names attitudes, beliefs and knowledge. Mentions stereotypes. |
Acknowledges stereotypical knowing of disability at a superficial level. |
Has no prior thought about disability nor recognize stereotypes in culture. |
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| 2. Description of text/movie |
Summarizes the main events, where the conflict of story occurs and resolution. describes the positioning of character(s) with disability |
Summarizes events of story and identifies the disability and its role in story. |
Summarizes the story and names the disability. |
Partial description of story. |
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| 3. Explain portrayal of person with disability |
Describes portrayal of person with examples. Demonstrates expectations related to stereotypes. Expectation of others for the person, expectations for self. Defines positice contributions and strengths of person. Identifies choices person made in life. Characterizes relationships of person. |
Majority of information present with minimal explanation |
Superficial descriptions of expectations with ineffective examples. |
Mentioned but not described or elaborated upon. |
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| 4. Citizenship |
Explanation of citizenship and examples of how this is determined. Description of how it is present or not for the character. |
Describes citizenship and provides examples of this in character's life. |
Provides examples of citizenship granted or denied for character. |
Minimal or no description of citizenship and/or character traits. |
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| 5.Attitude toward disabilities |
Describes what attitude others might take away about disabilities in general and this one specifically. Gives examples of how attitudes are formed from the text. |
Describes attitudes of others in the text. States your attitude now with an example. |
Describes the stereotypes present and how others think of them. |
Mentions attitudes but no demonstrated understanding of how they are formed or maintained. |
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Mechanics/
Clarity |
Well organized & clearly written. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct |
Main ideas flow. Few errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation. |
Some important concepts present but choppy writing. Some errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation. |
Difficult to read and follow. Many errors in grammar, spelling and/or punctuation |
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| Overall |
Convincing piece of work |
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Little effort put into ideas. |
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