ERIC Number: EJ720662
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Nov
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-482X
EISSN: N/A
Transforming a Traditional Personnel Preparation Program in Orientation and Mobility into an Online Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Jacobson, William H.
Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, v99 n11 Nov 2005
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) has offered a personnel preparation program in orientation and mobility (O&M) since 1975. Since that time, nearly 400 individuals from the United States and numerous foreign countries have either received degrees or have become eligible for national U.S. certification in O&M. However, it became increasingly apparent over the years that fewer individuals were willing to move to Little Rock for up to 13 months to receive their education and training. For many, this relocation for educational experiences meant leaving their families and even terminating their employment. Most had to make career changes to become O&M specialists. To address this predicament, UALR's O&M program initiated one of the first summer mobility programs in 1987. Students came to Little Rock for five weeks in each of three consecutive summers to receive core mobility courses and to do their student teaching with children from the Arkansas School for the Blind (ASB). They completed their programs with a full- or part-time internship in their home areas. In spring 2002, the O&M coordinator decided to plan and execute a major revision in the delivery of the O&M program. As a result of a survey conducted of students, alumni, and colleagues, this author developed and implemented a plan to transform the traditional O&M program into an Internet-based O&M program. In this article, he describes the design and implementation of this new online program.
Descriptors: Travel Training, Visually Impaired Mobility, Visual Impairments, Online Courses, Distance Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Student Teaching, Internet, Program Development, Program Implementation
American Foundation for the Blind Press, P.O. Box 1020, Sewickley, PA 15143-1020. Tel: 800-232-3044 (Toll Free); Tel: 412-741-1398; Web site: http://www.afb.org/store.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A