Course Title: Advanced Behaviour Intervention Support

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Advanced Behaviour Intervention Support

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BESC1093	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009
BESC1094	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006

Course Coordinator: Dr Karen Nankervis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99257363

Course Coordinator Email: karen.nankervis@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students must have completed a 3 year undergraduate degree.

Course Description

This course focuses on advanced theoretical and practical issues related to the understanding and management of challenging behaviours in people with disabilities. The study of data-based conceptual frameworks that guide effective interventions is at the core of this course. The course commences with the examination of human behaviour in the context of contemporary learning theory, and as a prerequisite to the understanding of challenging behaviour. The critical elements of a non-aversive approach are examined, with an emphasis on the role of values and attitudes in achieving behaviour change.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

• Demonstrate an understanding of challenging behaviours
• Identify values and attitudes commonly associated with the occurrence of challenging behaviour
• Describe assessment procedures including environmental analysis and functional analysis of target behaviours.
• Identify positive strategies to deal effectively with challenging behaviour
• Develop positive behaviour plans for people with disabilities
• Demonstrate an understanding of evaluation procedures of behavioural outcomes

Overview of Learning Activities

Students will learn the material in this subject by;

Seminar/workshops: Student directed discussion and analysis will be conducted. Students working in a team will solve a problem or acquire a skill or both. Students will gain intimate knowledge through the exploration of the subject material and practical applications.

Independent Reading: As part of the learning process and after being provided with frameworks through lectures, students will acquire a deeper and broader understanding of the subject material through independent reading. Students will synthesise material from a variety of sources and engage in a critical analysis of this material in class discussions. Students will be given readings specific to each particular lecture which will be discussed and considered in group discussions.

Lectures: Students will acquire a framework for relevant knowledge and underlying theoretical and conceptual bases of the subject through attending lectures.

Case study material: Students will develop problem solving skills through the analysis of case studies which will require the application of theoretical and conceptual knowledge to hypothetical situations. Working in groups and individually, students will develop a behaviour support plan incorporating principles outlined in class and which relate specifically to the objectives for the subject.

Overview of Learning Resources

The students will be able to access course information and learning materials through the learning hub (also known as Online @ RMIT) and will be provided with reading lists or other sources of information. Students will also use the library resources and University computer facilities.

Overview of Assessment

Examination, case study and development of a plan for managing challenging behaviours