February 21, 2005

MEMORANDUM

To:AllFDLRSAssociateCenter Directors

From:Lee Sherry, Director

Florida CSPD Project

Kati Fowler, Coordinator

Virtual ESE Program

Re:Virtual Exceptional Student EducationDistance Learning Program

Summer 2005, Course Offerings

The statewide Virtual ESE Distance Learning Program continues to fill its classes each semester. The summer 2005 schedule of online courses offered via the Program has been released:

  • Consultation and Collaboration Skills for Educators
  • Foundations/Introduction to Special Education
  • Introduction to Autism: Understanding the Enigma
  • Interpersonal Interaction and Skills Development

These courses are sponsored by the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services through the Florida CSPD Project to assist teachers seeking initial ESE K-12 certification or renewal of professional certificates. Please include announcements of these course offerings your FDLRS newsletteror other local or regional notices. You may download a copy of the Virtual ESE Distance Learning Program flyer from our website at:

All four courses will be delivered asynchronously and include weekly assignments. Attached, for your convenience, is a flyer for the summer courses. Since the Virtual ESE Program is the vehicle that connects special education courses from around the state, students register for the courses through the participating university nearest them. Each participating university and the contact persons are listed below:

Florida A & M UniversityDr. Gwen Williams850-599-3152

Florida Atlantic UniversityDr. Cynthia Wilson561-297-3280

Florida Gulf Coast UniversityDr. Marci Greene239-590-7795

FloridaStateUniversityMs. Melanie Presnell850-644-4880

University of Central FloridaDr. Bill Wienke407-823-2402

University of FloridaDr. Penny Cox352-392-0701

University of North FloridaDr. Len Roberson904-620-2930

University of South FloridaMs. Kati Fowler813-974-7107

Dr. Daphne Thomas813-974-1383

University of West FloridaDr. Bill Evans850-474-2893

Students must have email and Internet capabilities.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kati Fowler, Coordinator, Virtual ESE Program, by telephone at 813-974-7107 or via email at

***Please Note - Online courses are equivalent to traditional graduate courses; they are as rigorous and demanding as face-to-face courses. Course syllabi will be posted on the Virtual ESE website () or keyword Virtual ESE USF) prior to the summer semester. Please review the 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.

For more information, contact 813-974-7107 or