VIRTUAL ESE COURSES AVAILABLE:
Florida’s Virtual ESE
Distance Learning Program
http://virtualese.nefec.org/index.aspx

Virtual ESE Announcement Letter
(Adobe pdf file, click to view and print)

The Virtual Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Distance Learning Program is a collaborative effort among the universities in Florida to provide graduate courses in special education through an online delivery system. Faculty from across the state of Florida offer graduate courses through the internet.

For a current listing of Virtual ESE courses, please visit:
http://virtualese.nefec.org/currentCourses.aspx

Technology Expectations
The online courses are structured through a software package at the university. Participants are given a web site, login id and password to access the courses online by the course instructor. Each participant will need to have email capabilities and an Internet browser such as Netscape and Microsoft Explorer. Since these courses will be provided via distance education, students who enroll should be comfortable with using the Internet, listservs, and email, and should recognize that almost all course activities will be handled electronically. There will be no class meetings and students will not attend any group or class sessions. Participation in online chat sessions, which will be offered at various times via the Internet, may be required. Participants will be required to make weekly postings to a bulletin board and turn in required assignments. Students with varying degrees of computer proficiency (from novice to expert) have all been successful in mastering the minimal technical needs of taking an online course.

Certification Information
If you would like additional information about the certification process in Florida please link to the Bureau of Educator Certification at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/ This website provides comprehensive information about all aspects of certification. Contact information for correspondence, telephone service, e-mail, and face-to-face personal service with the Florida Educator Certification Department may be found on this site at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/contact.asp

Universities offering Pre-K or ITDS graduate coursework:

University of Central Florida
http://education.ucf.edu/
Pre-K Handicapped Endorsement Certificate

Florida State University
http://www.coe.fsu.edu/
Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS)
Pre-K Disability Endorsement

The spring 2008 schedule of Pre-K online courses offered via the statewide Virtual Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Online Distance Learning Program is:
• Assessment and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education
• Typical and Atypical Development for Young Children

These courses are sponsored by the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services to assist teachers seeking an endorsement in Pre-K Disabilities.
• Website: http://virtualese.nefec.org/
• Contact: Lori Massey at lmassey@ircc.edu

Pre-K Disabilities Endorsement Course(s):
Assessment and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education
Course Description: This course investigates assessment tools used in early intervention and early childhood special education. It also explores
the strategies and procedures used for screening, diagnoses and program planning.
Course Instructor: Dr. Anita Solarski, University of West Florida

Typical and Atypical Development for Young Children
Course Description: This course focuses on the stages and sequence of development and the impact of disabilities and biomedical risk factors on learning and development. Covers normal child growth and development from conception to age five and what can go wrong at the different developmental stages; from genetic contributions through conception and pregnancy to birth and to five years of age. Crucial times for deficiencies will be discussed.
Course Instructor: Dr. Lee Cross, University of Central Florida

(Please Note: Online courses are equivalent to traditional courses; they are as rigorous and demanding as face-to-face courses. Please review the class syllabus prior to beginning a Virtual ESE course. Since these courses will be provided via distance education, students who enroll should be comfortable with using the Internet, listservs, and email, and should recognize that almost all course activities will be handled electronically. There will be no class meetings and students will not attend any group or class sessions. Participation in online chat sessions, which will be offered at various times via the Internet, may be required. Classroom observations may also be required.)
 

Florida’s Virtual ESE: Distance Learning Program
http://virtualese.nefec.org/index.aspx

Beginning in the summer of 2008, the Virtual ESE Program in collaboration with the Florida Department of Heath, Children’s Medical Services, Bureau of Early Steps will offer courses that will allow participants to be eligible for the Florida Department of Health Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS) certificate as well as the Florida Department of Education Pre-K Disabilities endorsement. The state of Florida currently requires that individuals working as Infant Toddler Development Specialists meet a prescribed set of competencies in order to serve children under Part C of IDEA.

Teachers wishing to pursue courses leading towards an endorsement in Pre-K Disabilities and/or the Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist Certificate through the Virtual ESE Online Program will have the opportunity to not only interact with a broad array of university faculty, but also with classroom teachers from around the state. This unique opportunity is coupled with the convenience of remaining close to home and school site.

To register, please contact one of the Universities below:

Carolynne Gischel
Florida Gulf Coast University
239-590-7795
cgischel@fgcu.edu

Dr. Bill Wienke
University of Central Florida
407-823-2402
wwienke@mail.ucf.edu

Project CYCLE: a federal and state grant funded project housed in the University of Florida Department of Special Education. Project CYCLE provides to participants:
· A one-year online program leading to the Florida Department of Education PreK Disabilities Endorsement and/or the Florida Department of Health ITDS certificate
· Tuition and books
From more information, please contact:
Tracy Torode
ttorode@coe.ufl.edu
 

*** Limited Seating *** Call Mary Forbes to RSVP at (813) 375-3980, ext. 27
CEUs available, and Reimbursements available for Families

REMINDERS:
• See attached workshop schedule for the Strengthening Community Partnerships: Families & Providers Training Families & Providers Fall Series for Infants & Toddlers with Special Needs, Janet Atkinson, Project Director
• Florida’s Virtual ESE Online Distance Learning Program (ITDS)Virtual School and Course Contact: Dr. Lori Massey, Director, Florida’s State Personnel Development Grant by telephone at 772-462-7190 or via email at lmassey@ircc.edu.
• State University Contacts for ITDS Coursework at Florida Universities:
• Florida Atlantic University – Contact Peggy Goldstein, Ed.D. (954) 236-1025 or via pgoldste@fau.edu
• Florida Gulf Coast University – Contact Peg Sullivan, Ph.D. (239) 590-7747 or via msulliva@fgcu.edu
• Florida State University – Contact Mary Frances Hanline, Ph.D. (850) 644-4880 or via http://www.chs.fsu.edu/fcs/earlyintervention
• University of Central Florida – Contact Linda Brandt, Ph.D. (407) 823-0041 or via http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~eiucf
• University of Florida - Contact Alice Kaye Emery, Ph.D.(352) 392-0701 or via aemery@coe.ufl.edu
• University of South Florida – Contact Cari Barber (813) 974-5783 or via Barber@tempest.coedu.usf.edu
• University of West Florida – Contact Dr. Kenneth Jones (850) 474-2863 or via http://uwf.edu/pdp/EarlySteps/PreKITDS.htm