Teach Effectively!

Special Connections is a Web resource, developed by Suzanne Robinson and Sean Smith of Kansas University, that provides recommendations about teaching procedures for students with disabilities. There are modules about instruction, collaboration, assessment, and behavior plans, each describing research-based methods.

     Special Connections is a Project of National Significance (CFDA #84.325N) funded through the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and coordinated through the University of Kansas. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide educators, both classroom teachers and university faculty, with tools and resources that support students with special needs in general education settings and in accessing the general education curriculum in meaningful ways.

 
     Four main areas of focus include Instruction, Assessment, Behavior Plans, and Collaboration. Best practices are identified within each of these four areas and nationally recognized experts create materials for a module about that topic. Teacher tools for implementing specific practices, case study materials, and references and resources related to each practice are provided in each module. Suggestions on how to develop online collaboration are included along with technical specifications and examples of how online collaboration can improve teacher practices and outcomes for students.

Link to the Special Connections Web site.