Post Graduate Diploma In Learning Disability (PGDLD)

Helping children with learning disabilities (LD) to overcome their problems is an effort, which must be carried out outside a typical medical setting. There is strong support that they are not to be segregated from normal schools and normal social interactions, and the help must flow in the forms of remedial supports and confidence-building measures. Part of the specialized help must come from teachers in the school, whereas help in the form of assessments and decision making require support from psychologists trained in learning disability.

Learning disability in children consists of a functional inability to receive and process specific types of information in the brain. The disability makes it difficult for the affected children to learn as fast as other normal children, despite the fact that they are intellectually average or above average. Diagnosing LD in children and helping them to overcome the disadvantages have become exceptionally important in schools. It is known to be important for the parents and teachers, who have to learn to manage them, must possess good enough knowledge of the specific disadvantages and they must know the rationale of efforts applied for overcoming them.

Chairman

Board of Studies in Psychology (cd)

 

Name of the Course                       :               Post Graduate Diploma in Learning Disability (PGDLD)

Course Code                                      :               PGDLD

Eligibility                                               :               A degree in any subject.

Intake                                                   :               30

Duration                                              :               1 Year (2 semesters of six months each.)

Faculty                                                  :               Faculty of Science

 

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of the Post Graduate Diploma are:

1. To help students understand learning disabilities in children, their causes, manifestations and methods of screening and assess children with learning disabilities.
2. To enable students to have an understanding of the basics of learning and the role of the human brain in learning and comprehension.
3. To help students understand the psychological processes involved in learning and their educational implications.
4. To impart knowledge regarding the nature and types of exceptionalities and associated learning disorders.
5.  The make the students understand the need, types and methods of assessment of learning disabilities
6. To impart knowledge regarding child development and child psychology
7.  To impart knowledge of the concepts involved in remedial training.
8. To train Students in remedial education strategies and in methods of organizing and working in a special education program

 

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO THE COURSE

A degree in any subject from a recognized University

 

Selection Procedure

Admission will be based on the rank list prepared by adding

1. Aggregate percentage in basic degree (total percentage of part I, II and III).
2. Total marks in the entrance test
3. And weightage as per the following criteria
   1. Weightage of 40 marks for those who have a degree in Psychology
   2. Weigthage of 20 marks for teachers with five years of teaching experience.
   3. Weightage of 20 marks for those who are having MBBS, BHMS, and BAMS.
   4. Weighatge of 20 marks for parents having children with learning disability (subject to the submission of a certificate from the medical board)
   5. Weightage of 10 marks for those who have studied psychology papers as complementary/subsidiary papers

 

Entrance Test

Candidates are to undergo a written test of two-hour duration consisting of 80 objective types of questions for 80 marks (30 questions on general mental ability/intelligence, 20 questions on general social awareness, and 30 questions on general psychology carrying 1 marks for each item). In addition, an interview to assess the temperamental qualities and aptitude will be conducted which carries 20 marks. Total marks for the entrance test including interview will be 100 marks.

 

The medium of Instruction and Examination

Classroom sessions: English

Practical & Field Work: English or any of the Indian Language used by the institution where fieldwork is conducted

Examination: English or Malayalam

 

DURATION OF THE COURSE

Two consecutive semesters (One year)

 

ATTENDANCE

A student admitted to the P.G Diploma shall be required to attend at least 80% per cent of the total number of classes (Theory/Practical) held during each semester. The student having less than the prescribed percentage of attendance shall not be allowed to appear for the University Examination.

It is expected that students

1. Participate in all scheduled activities  
2. Take all examination and undertake all practical work  
3. Will attend at least 80% of the total working days in each term.  
4. Will attend 100% of the practical work and practical teaching

 

COURSE OF STUDY

The course of study for the Post Graduate Diploma in Learning Disabilities shall consist of five theory papers and three practical and a viva voce.

Course	Course Content	MARKS			Hours
		Internal	External	Total
SEMESTER I		20	80	100	75
Course 1	Basics of psychology
Course 2	Introduction to learning disabilities	20	80	100	75
Course 3	Child Psychology	20	80	100	75
Course 4	Case study – Practical 1	15	60	75	75
Total for Semester I		75	300	375	300
SEMESTER II		20	80	100	75
Course 5	LD – Assessment & management
Course 6	Behaviour Management for the Learning Disabled	20	80	100	75
Course 7	Case study 2 – Practical 2	15	60	75	75
Course 8	Practicum – Practical 3	15	60	75	125
Course 9	Viva voce	--	75	75	--
Total For Semester II		70	355	425	350
Course Total		145	655	800	650

 

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

There shall be one comprehensive examination conducted by the University at the end of each semester. The candidate who has failed in one or more papers in a semester may appear in the subsequent semester examination(s) along with the junior batch to complete those papers. A student with sufficient attendance in the first semester can continue to the second semester.

 

Internal Evaluation

1. Theory papers The internal evaluation of the theory paper is based on the class test, presentation/assignment and attendance and the marks distribution is as follows

Sl No	Criteria	Marks
1	Class Test	8
2	Presentation / Assignments	8
3	Attendance ( 80 to 85% - 1Mark, 86 to 90 % - 2 Marks 91 to 95 % - 3 Marks, 96 % above – 4 Marks)	4
Total		20

 

MINIMUM MARKS FOR PASSING THE EXAMINATION

A candidate shall be declared to have passed in each Paper / Subject if he/she secures NOT LESS THAN 50% of the marks prescribed for the examinations.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

Successful candidates passing the whole examinations and securing the marks (i) An aggregate of 60 per cent and above (ii) 50 per cent and above in each paper but below 60 per cent in the aggregate of the marks prescribed for the course shall be declared to have passed the examination in the FIRST and SECOND Class respectively.