Distance Learning Cohort #5 is up and running
An expanded collaboration supports public school SLPs in Florida to attain their graduate degree
It’s Monday night at 7:50 pm and the students and faculty are getting ready for class. In class, they will listen to a lecture, join discussion groups, ask and answer questions, search for resources, and prepare for exams or assignments. And just like other students, they will pass notes, text message friends, and wonder about how they can get the assignment done and turned in on time. However, unlike most students in the Communication Disorders graduate program, these students are wearing their pjs, telling the kids good night, grabbing a cold drink, and instead of going to class in 228 Diffenbaugh, they are sitting at their kitchen tables or at a desk in their bedrooms signing in to their Black Board site and Eluminate.
Welcome to the 2007 Cohort of Distance Learning Students in Communication Disorders. To address the shortage of qualified speech-language pathologists in public schools, the FSU/FAMU State Personnel Development Grant through the Florida Department of Education in cooperation with the University of North Florida Personnel Development Partnership and the University of West Florida Personnel Development Partnership is providing Master’s level training to Florida State University students who are likely to be retained in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) positions in the schools.
The SLPs will have competency-based practicum experiences in which they gain proficiency in serving students in inclusive settings with a focus on integrated therapy in the classroom that is consistent with the Sunshine State Academic Standards. Participants will utilize enhanced communication and instruction using interactive technology including audio-video-text collaboration tools (Elluminate) course management software for discussion boards, communications, asynchronous electronic assignments, problem-based learning activities via web-based interactive projects, (BlackBoard), and other technological advances. Summer practicum placements will be arranged locally with a variety of health related, geriatric and rehabilitation facilities ensuring the students meet the competencies to become an ASHA certified professional at graduation. Participants may receive partial tuition payment for courses completed successfully (grade B or above), by participating in the Scholarship/Loan Agreement. For those choosing to participate in the Scholarship/ Loan Program, after graduation they must continue to work in the public schools of Florida for two years for every year they receive funding, thus encouraging retention of school based SLPs.
The 30 enrollees currently all have school based assignments in 16 districts in Florida, from the Panhandle as far south as St. Lucie and Hillsborough counties. Thus far, the distance program seems to be garnering positive support. According to one student,“I'm very pleased with the online program. I feel that the professors are teaching appropriate information to us to use in the real world. I feel I'm learning more with this type of format.”
Learning from home is also an appealing part of the program. As a student wryly noted, "Maybe it's the pajamas but it feels more relaxed and personal with the online experience!”
For more information about the Online Distance Program in Communication Disorders, visit the Slide Website.