Reading and Writing Difficulties, 3 credits

For admission to semester 7, the grade pass in all courses from semester 1-5 is required. Student may lack 7.5 credits from courses on G2-level semester 6.

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Describe typical reading and writing acquisition
• Characterize reading and writing difficulties and dyslexia and problematize causal theories and scientific paradigms
• Describe and explain the relationship between various types of speech and language disorders and reading and writing difficulties
• Describe reading and writing difficulties in individuals with various types of developmental aberrations and discuss comorbidity and differential diagnosis
• Explain and argue for different assessment methods and interventions for reading and writing difficulties
• Explain the reading and writing process from a multilingualism perspective
• Reflect on the relationship and difference between reading and writing difficulties, mathematical difficulties and other additional needs
• Discuss the attitude of schools to reading and writing difficulties

The course includes basic theoretical knowledge about prevalence and reasons for reading and writing difficulties in children, adolescents and adults. The connections between various types of speech and language disorders and reading and writing difficulties and between reading and writing difficulties, mathematical difficulties and other additional needs are highlighted. The course also covers methods for assessing reading and writing difficulties and various types of interventions: preventive, compensatory and intervening. Further, the course includes aspects of the reading and writing process from a multilingual perspective and reading and writing difficulties in individuals with various types of developmental problems. The attitude of schools to reading and writing problems is also highlighted.

Lectures, group discussions, seminars and exercises.

Participation in group discussions/seminars is compulsory.

The course coordinator decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the course coordinator. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Participation in compulsory group discussions/seminars.
Written examination

In case of absence from a compulsory part, the student is responsible for contacting the course coordinator for a complementary assignment.

The written examination is graded anonymously (using an identification number for each student). Students who do not pass the written examination are entitled to five more examination sessions, the first within fourteen days of the notification of the exam result. The third re-examination is the next regular examination session of the course. Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination.

Examination may take place with the previous reading list during a period of one and a half years after the date of any renewal of the reading list. Examination will be provided during a period of three years after possible discontinuation of the course.

The course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education. The course evaluation for each module will be mainly web-based.