Distance Learning

The Distance Learning area of the department was established in 2006. Activities support Parent Involvement, Professional Development, Student Learning and sharing of information and resources with the community-at-large. Check the Events listings for activities occurring throughout the year in which you can participate from your home or work place.

Signing Interactive – Direct Service

The ASL Interactive program is an online course for individuals working directly with children who are deaf/hard of hearing either in a classroom or at home. The course is offered as basic or intermediate classes in a “natural” conversational mode to increase fluency in sign language. The course is offered over eight weeks and includes determining each participants needs through surveys and weekly correspondence. Each class has up to six members and the group meets through the use of a webcam in an online videoconference environment.

Learn more at Sign Language Interactive

Signing Interactive – Community Classes

This year, 2011-2012, we plan to expand the ASL Interactive class to provide classes for a fee to those who are interested in taking the courses who are not eligible through our program teaching those who have direct services to children who are Deaf. The demand for these classes has been overwhelming and we are pleased to be able to expand to meet the requests.

Live Broadcasts

The Distance Learning project allows parents, professionals, and community members to participate in campus performances, athletic events, and meetings remotely from their home or work through the broadcasting of school events. We hope to continually increase the kinds of and numbers of events we make available to FSDB stakeholders. Currently, the following events are broadcast live through web streaming:

  • Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings
  • Parent Luncheon Seminars
  • Open House
  • Graduation
  • Holiday Concerts
  • Dance Troupe Performances
  • Tournament Finals hosted here on campus (in Gym facilities)

Webinars and Teleconferences

The use of web meeting applications has expanded our ability to connect the school with families and our staff with special expertise with other professionals. We also use many web meeting applications for bringing far away people and places to our campus. Some of the projects which have used web meetings include:

  • School-to-School FSDB ESOL students and students in Cartegena, Colombia
  • Monthly Webinars on topics specific to teaching children who are Deaf/HH or Blind/VI
  • Florida Deaf/HH Statewide Leadership Team Collaboration
  • Virtual meetings to follow up with professionals in school districts
  • Virtual observations from teacher preparation programs and classrooms at FSDB

Remote Tutoring

We tested applications during the summer 2011, for providing remote tutoring for deaf students. Instructors and students interact through video on their computers using webcams.  We also used interactive whiteboard areas in the applications to present and interact with content. The pilot project focused on tutoring students on comprehending written passages.

Online Courses

FSDB has been using two different programs for providing online training to all staff campus-wide as well as professional development topics to participants around the state. We are using Adobe Connect and Moodle (online course management system). The statewide three-day training Language Reading Connection for the Deaf/HH will be offered online through Moodle beginning Fall 2011.

  • Content is online from our FSDB Deaf Elementary Reading Program Series of Workshops. Visit to review the PowerPoint presentations and watch the videos. Five sessions are available each focusing on a specific reading strategy.

Distance Learning Facilitators

Distance Learning (DL) Facilitators are teachers from each school program who support online collaboration, meetings, and innovative uses of online teaching and learning tools. This group meets monthly as a Professional Learning Community developing knowledge and skills and motivating each other to try new things. The DL Facilitators support the Assistant Principals in hosting online meetings and presentations to ensure our parents from around the state can participate in school events. This group also pilots online and collaborative technologies to determine best tools and uses and to check for accessibility for individuals who are blind/visually impaired and deaf/hard of hearing.

To learn more about our Distance Learning Projects contact Richard Flores, the Coordinator of Distance Learning at floresr@fsdb.k12.fl.us.

Tools we use include: