Janice DeFrances

Senior Lecturer - Teach Learn Art + Design
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RISD faculty member Janice DeFrances
BA, Rhode Island College
EDD, Boston University
M.ED, Rhode Island College
MA, University of Rhode Island

Janice DeFrances is an experienced school leader and mental health advocate with a proven history of innovation, effective program development and team building for meaningful change in learning environments. She has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors as a school principal, special education director and CEO/president. She holds two master’s degrees in special education and counseling, a doctorate in administration/special education and a post-doctorate in neuropsychology. 

In addition to her administrative duties, DeFrances continues her work as an educator and researcher, with a focus in the areas of child development, holistic education, trauma-informed practice, arts and healing and the promotion of positive mental health, applying theory to practice and developing effective programs to serve children, youth and families. She served for eight years on the North Kingstown School Committee and held the position of state director of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. Currently she is an instructional coach for Southside Elementary Charter School and a grant writer for St. Mary’s Home for Children.

Courses

Fall 2023 Courses

TLAD 606G-01 - LIFESPAN: EXCEPTIONALITY
Level Graduate
Unit Teaching + Learning in Art + Design
Subject Teaching+Learning in Art+Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

TLAD 606G-01

LIFESPAN: EXCEPTIONALITY

Level Graduate
Unit Teaching + Learning in Art + Design
Subject Teaching+Learning in Art+Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: M | 1:10 PM - 4:10 PM Instructor(s): Janice DeFrances Location(s): SoMain Barn (345 S. Main St.), Room 231 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course will provide a comprehensive study of specific disabilities and inclusive curriculum scenarios and strategies for learners in K-12 environments. The course will focus throughout the Wintersession on an extensive foundation in response to intervention (RTI), special education law and regulations as it relates to students with disabilities and at-risk students in the art classroom. Students will investigate classroom-tested instructional strategies that will address the characteristics and challenges faced by students with special needs. Through the session, assignments will allow students to investigate and learn through the process of reinforcing, motivating, scaffolding and planning for instruction that targets learners of all ability levels. Discussion-based teaching, group and individual presentations, assigned readings, field observations, and reflective journal entries will provide students with the knowledge of possible causes, the impact of poverty on learning, characteristics and strengths, classroom implications and specific inclusion strategies. These strategies will include behavior management techniques that will allow teachers to improve classroom behavior and social skills, engage students though motivating and relevant lessons, improve attention and memory, and provide essential modifications and accommodations of lessons appropriate to the developmental and learning level of each learner. Students will explore the various stages of building equity in their classroom by addressing issues of physical integration, social-emotional engagement, opportunities to learn, instructional excellence and engaged and inspired learners. A final demonstration of this knowledge and its implications to their teaching practice will be through a mixed-media project by each student.

Enrollment in this course is limited to Teaching + Learning in Art + Design Students.

Major Requirement | MA, MAT Teaching + Learning in Art + Design

HPSS S219-01 - UNDERSTANDING MODELS OF DIS/ABILITY
Level Undergraduate
Unit History, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences
Subject History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

HPSS S219-01

UNDERSTANDING MODELS OF DIS/ABILITY

Level Undergraduate
Unit History, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences
Subject History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Instructor(s): Janice DeFrances, Meada Daly-Cano Location(s): Washington Place, Room 302 Enrolled / Capacity: 25 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This class will provide an overview of models of dis/ability (e.g.: Moral/religious, Medical, Social, Critical theory and Bio-psychosocial). We will explore the schools of thought that these models developed from through theoretical and illustrative readings and movies. Throughout the class we will investigate how these models influenced thinking about dis/ability and the subsequent program and policies that developed from this thinking. A recurring theme of this class will be to understand the intersection of gender, dis/ability, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Prerequisite: HPSS-S101 for Undergraduate Students

Elective

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RISD faculty member Janice DeFrances
BA, Rhode Island College
EDD, Boston University
M.ED, Rhode Island College
MA, University of Rhode Island