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.

Pre-K Graduate Courses offered in the Fall 2007 semester:

Early Intervention Services (EEX 6707):

This course focuses on providing knowledge and skills to facilitate family-centered early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities or at risk of developing disabilities. Services that promote collaboration with families and intervention in natural environments are described. The course instructor is Dr. Sharon Darling.
**Contact person for all Virtual ESE courses at Florida Atlantic University is Dr. Cynthia Wilson at clwilson@fau.edu.

Program Development for Young Children with Disabilities (EEX 6455):
This course focuses on program development for handicapped and at-risk infants, toddlers and preschoolers; includes administration, supervision, curriculum development parent involvement, staff development, funding and evaluation. The course instructor is Dr. Craig Jones
**Contact person for all Virtual ESE courses at the University of West Florida is Dr. Robert Markowitz at rmarkowitz@uwf.edu.

Typical and Atypical Early Childhood Development (EEX 6205, Section 2706):
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. Discuss crucial times for deficiencies. The course instructor is Dr. Anita Solarski.
**Contact person for all Virtual ESE courses at University of West Florida is Dr. Robert Markowitz at rmarkowitz@uwf.edu.


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.)