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Unit outline_

CSCD3082: Phonology, Language and Literacy

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students will acquire in-depth knowledge in the study of language and literacy as they relate to children and adolescents with communication needs. This unit will cover the interactions between phonology, language and literacy in both acquisition and impairment. Students will study older school age children/adolescent language and collaborative partnerships relating to individual and service level responses to language and literacy development in the primary and high school settings.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Communication Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CSCD2057 and CSCD2068 and (CSCD2066 or CSCD2067)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kimberley Docking, kimberley.docking@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Anita MY Wong, anitamy.wong@sydney.edu.au
Nichola Shelton, nichola.shelton@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test Quiz
Canvas quiz held in class
15% Week 06
Due date: 05 Sep 2024 at 09:00

Closing date: 05 Sep 2024
45-60 minutes in class
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Assessment plan
high school adolescent assessment and goal plan
30% Week 08
Due date: 20 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 20 Sep 2024
6 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4
Assignment Part A Whole school assignment (assessment notification modification)
Part A Whole school assignment (assessment notification modification)
20% Week 11
Due date: 18 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 18 Oct 2024
2 pages and an appendix
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Part B Whole school proposal
Part B - whole school proposal
35% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 01 Nov 2024
10 slides, maximum of 2,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO7 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Students complete a 1 hour in-class quiz. Content covers literacy development and instruction, test interpretation and differential diagnosis of language and literacy disorders
  • The high school adolescent assignment is a small group, case-based assessment task. You will work in small groups and analyse and interpret the results of an adolescent with language, and literacy issues and a comorbid/co-occuring condition. You will also provide a provisional diagnosis and intervention goals
  • Part A of the whole school assignment is an individual assessment task. As part of a SLP-teacher collaboration, you are given an Assessment Notification provided to secondary school pupils and are asked to modify the notification, taking into consideration the language and literacy abilities of those pupils and Universal Design and Learning principles. 
  • Part B of the whole school assignment is a small group assessment task. You will work in groups to develop a whole of secondary school professional development proposal, on language and literacy, to the school leadership team.

Students must complete all the assessment tasks to pass the entire unit. Failure to complete any assessment item will result in you being awarded a Fail grade, regardless of your cumulative marks in the unit of study. Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Overview of unit and overview of oral and written language disorders Lecture (2 hr)  
Language Disorder classification processes Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 02 Literacy development: school-age and adolescent Lecture (2 hr)  
From oral to written language Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 Language and literacy disorders: nature and impact Lecture (2 hr)  
Linking language to literacy Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 Literacy across the years: assessment and intervention Lecture (2 hr)  
Literacy interventions: from reading accuracy to comprehension Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 School-age language assessments Lecture (2 hr)  
Identifying language difference and disorder in bilingual children Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 School-age language intervention: Direct approaches Lecture (2 hr)  
The How’s and Why’s of direct language interventions Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 Adolescent language assessments Lecture (2 hr)  
Critiquing adolescent language assessment resources Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 Adolescent direct intervention and measuring outcomes Lecture (2 hr)  
Help desk for assessment 2 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 School-age and adolescent service delivery: collaborative model Lecture (2 hr)  
Collaborative program implementation: issues and benefits Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 The collaborative approach: Teachers’ written language Lecture (2 hr)  
Practice in written language modifications Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 Collaborative approaches: Teachers’ oral language and student's online worlds Lecture (2 hr)  
Help desk assessment 3 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 Advocacy and Social Media in Language Intervention Lecture (2 hr)  
Using social media as an SLP to support EBP language intervention Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Supporting clients with concomitant Emotional/Behavioural Disorders (EBD) and Language Disorders Lecture (2 hr)  
Informal conversation approaches to EBD caseloads. Tutorial (1 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendace: Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials for the duration of the semester. Students are also expected to actively participate in and prepare for weekly lectures and tutorials, and to complete activities that are provided to increase your understanding and consolidate your learning.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • New 2024 edition: Paul, R., Norbury, C., & Gosse, C. (2024). Language disorders from infancy through adolescence: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and communicating (5th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/Mosby
  • Most recent edition: Paul, R., Norbury, C., & Gosse, C. (2018). Language disorders from infancy through adolescence: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and communicating (5th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/Mosby.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. describe the development, nature, and relationship of spoken and written language impairments in school-age children and young people with or at-risk of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) as well as associated neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, intellectual disabilities and Autism.
  • LO2. integrate knowledge from CSCD 2068 Speech Sound Disorders with CSCD 2057 Child Language to develop written assessment and intervention of complex cases of concomitant phonological processing, language and literacy difficulties in primary school-age children and young people.
  • LO3. describe health information regarding DLD in terms understood by individuals, families and interprofessional staff.
  • LO4. exercise critical judgement in the interpretation of assessment results and select and justify evidence-based approaches related to a child’s language/communication needs, cultural and social practices, school curricular stages, health, and family centred practice.
  • LO5. consolidate knowledge of best practices for the provision of culturally responsive and safe services and modify or and create innovative, engaging and culturally safe and responsive resources to multilingual children with or at risk of with DLD, and their teachers.
  • LO6. identify factors for planning speech pathology services to optimise activity and participation for children and young people with DLD or language disorder associated with comorbid conditions such as ADHD and autism.
  • LO7. explain the importance of interprofessional team models, the speech pathologist’s role within those teams, and develop collaborative service delivery partnership plans for school settings and with families in relation to response to intervention models for children and young people at-risk or diagnosed with DLD.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         
LO7         

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1.1. Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
1.5. Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
LO2
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1.1. Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
1.5. Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
1.6. Consider the needs of individuals and communities in clinical decision-making and practice
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
3.1. Develop shared understanding of speech pathology
3.2. Assess communication and swallowing needs
3.4. Plan speech pathology intervention or service response
LO3
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1. Professional Conduct
1.5. Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
1.7. Advocate for optimal communication and swallowing
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
LO4
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1. Professional Conduct
1.2. Comply with legislation, standards, policies and protocols
1.4. Collaborate with individuals, their supports, our colleagues and the community
1.5. Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
1.6. Consider the needs of individuals and communities in clinical decision-making and practice
1.7. Advocate for optimal communication and swallowing
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
3.3. Interpret, diagnose and report on assessments
3.4. Plan speech pathology intervention or service response
LO5
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1.1. Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
1.4. Collaborate with individuals, their supports, our colleagues and the community
1.5. Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
1.7. Advocate for optimal communication and swallowing
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
3.1. Develop shared understanding of speech pathology
3.4. Plan speech pathology intervention or service response
LO6
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1.1. Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
3.4. Plan speech pathology intervention or service response
LO7
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) - SPA
1.1. Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
1.4. Collaborate with individuals, their supports, our colleagues and the community
1.6. Consider the needs of individuals and communities in clinical decision-making and practice
1.7. Advocate for optimal communication and swallowing
2.5. Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
3.1. Develop shared understanding of speech pathology
Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2021) -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1 A Provide ethical and evidence-based practice
1.2 A Comply with legislation, standards, policies and protocols
1.3 A Provide safe and quality services
1.4 A Collaborate with individuals, their supports, our colleagues and the community
1.5 A Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
1.6 A Consider the needs of individuals and communities in clinical decision-making and practice
1.7 A Advocate for optimal communication and swallowing
2.2 A Use critical reflection to inform professional development and practice
2.5 A Acquire, critique and integrate knowledge from a range of sources
2.6 A Engage in learning with colleagues, students and the community
3.2 A Assess communication and swallowing needs
3.3 A Interpret, diagnose and report on assessments
3.4 A Plan speech pathology intervention or service response
3.5 A Implement and evaluate intervention or service response
3.6 A Support development of the profession

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In response to feedback, the assignment was previously segmented into Part A (now due in week 11 and is an individual assessment) and Part B (now due in week 13 and is a small group task); and continue based on feedback from 2023.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.