Collaborative Problem Solving and Strategies for Students with Behavioral

Challenges
Professional Development Course (20 hours)
Instructor Information
Maureen Tront
tront1ma@cmich.edu
Work Phone; 248-426-5171
Instructor Online Office Hours: There is not a set meeting time for this class.
Students are expected to follow the course outline and submit their work by midnight at
the end of each week. The new week starts on Monday and ends Sunday. It is very
important that we keep connected and interact with one another while you complete
your online work. If you have questions, please feel free to use email, discussion board,
or phone to contact me. I will respond to emails within 24 hours.
Course Description
The primary goal of this course is to help teachers, or others interested in working with
children who exhibit challenging behaviors, gain a more in-depth understanding of why
the behaviors are occurring and how to stop them.
This course will cover principles of identifying challenging behaviors, when they occur,
where they occur and how to collaborate with colleagues and parents to improve the
behavior. After completing this course students will be able to complete behavior
assessments and develop and implement problem solving plans.
Resource requirements
Access to a computer that is connected to the internet
Ability to access email and communicate using email
Word processing Software such as Microsoft Office or Google Docs
Computer must be able to support Blackboard-you can run a system requirement check
by clicking o the following link: http://ddlcampus.cmich.edu/browsercheck/cgibin/systemcheck2.asp?bhcp=1

Book:
All students will need Lost At School by Dr. Ross Greene
This book will guide our learning and discussions. It is organized into chapters.
Student Learner Responsibilities
It takes great effort to be a successful online student. You have to be self-motivated and
self-disciplined to keep yourself on schedule with reading, assignments, projects, etc.
You do have to devote time from your busy family and work schedule to work on the
course so you will not fall behind.
Communication channel is always open between me, you, and among us. It is very
important that we keep connected and interact with one another. If you have questions,
please feel free to use email, discussion board, or phone to contact me, or your
classmates. Learning takes place in a community.
It is extremely important that students take ownership of their learning for this online
course, and to demonstrate their ownership, students are expected to be full
participants throughout the duration of 10 week course. Active participation is
paramount to the success of this course.

Students are expected to check their e-mail and read the Announcements on
Blackboard daily.
Students are expected to submit their assignments online through Blackboard.
Students are expected to participate in the weekly discussions.
Students are expected to post a brief introduction for week 1 and indicate your
expectations of this course.
Students are expected to be thoughtful, caring and professional in their
responses to one another.

Grading Policy and Scale

Weekly Participation in Discussion Board 10@ 10 points each= 100 points
Final Project-Case Study
Part 1 Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems=50 points
Part 2 Problem Solving Plan=50 points
Total Point Total = 200 points

With a scale of:

A= 90% or above (180-200 points)
B= 80% - 89% (160-179 points)
C= 70% - 79% (140-159 points)
D= 60% - 69% (120-193 points)
Failing - 59% or below (119 points or less)
Course outline
Week

Topic

Readings

Assignment

Introduction

Discussion Board
Introduction

Kids Do Well if
Chapter 1&2
They Can/School of
Hard Knocks

Discussion Board
Post

Lesson Plans

Chapter 3

Discussion Board
Post

Lets Get It Started

Chapter 4

Discussion Board
Post

Bumps in the Road

Chapter 5

Discussion Board
Post

The Icing on the

Cake

Chapter 6

Discussion Board
Post

Meeting of the
Minds

Chapter 7

Discussion Board
Post

School of Thought

Chapter 8

Discussion Board
Post

Lives in the
Balance

Chapter 9

Discussion Board
Post
Part 1 of Final
Project

10

Applying What We
Learned

Discussion Board
Post
Part 2 of Final
Project

Assignments and Due Dates

Weekly Discussion Board Posts-(10 points each , 100 points total Week 1-10)
Each week you will be required to participate in a discussion with your classmates. The
purpose of these discussions is to promote learning through collaboration. Each week
there will be a question that you must answer. For the most part these questions will be
related to the readings your were assigned that week. After you have responded to the
question you must also post a response to at least two other classmates. Post your
response to each discussion question no later than Wednesday of each week, and
respond to at least two other class members postings by the Saturday of the week.
Your first post must be 200-250 words in length and the two responses to classmates
must be 100-150 words in length. (Please include a word count)
First Post-5 points
Second and Third Post-2.5 points each (total of 5)
Total 10 points
Final Project -Case Study-(Part 1 50 points, Part 2 50 points, 100 points total)
At the end of this course you will have the opportunity to complete a case study on a
challenging student that you have in your class.
Part 1Choose a student and give them a pseudonym. You will use the Assessment of
Lagging Skills & Unsolved Problems chart of pg.288. Complete the chart and provide a
2 page narrative regarding your findings. Due the end of Week 9. 50 points.
Part 2After completing the assessment and the narrative you will need to create a problem
solving plan for your student. You will use the Problem Solving Plan Flowchart on
pg.289 of your text. Complete the chart and provide a 2 page narrative telling us what
steps you will take to carry out the problem solving process. Due the end of Week 10.
50 points
Attendance requirements
Students are required to check their email and the Blackboard page once every 2-3
days to read announcements. Attendance will be measured by your participation in the
discussion board posts. You are required to make your first post by the Wednesday of
that week and the two response posts must be submitted by the Saturday of that week.