UF distance learning scholar to speak Oct. 28 on effective online teaching practices

Posted Sept. 29, 2009

With distance education programs and online learning offerings growing exponentially across campus and across the nation, UF’s College of Education will offer a timely presentation on “Effective Online Teaching Practices” on Oct. 28, 3 to 4:30 p.m., in Reitz Union Rm. 282.

Catherine Cavanaugh, a UF associate professor in education technology and one of the nation’s leading scholars in the fields of distance learning and classroom technology integration, will make the presentation as part of the College of Education’s 2009-10 Distinguished Speaker Series: “21st Century Pathways in Education.” Her lecture is targeted to all interested faculty, students and staff on campus, and to educators in the community.

Cavanaugh teaches and conducts research in the areas of distance education, instructional design and classroom technology integration. She is acknowledged as a national expert in her field, most recently on the effective teaching practices in virtual schools and in distance education and teacher leadership with classroom technology.

Her latest research has yielded some of the first hard evidence that virtual schooling in kindergarten through 12th grade could save school districts money. In a 14-state study, Cavanaugh found that the average yearly cost of online learning per full-time pupil was about $4,300. This compared with a national average cost of more than $9,100 per pupil in traditional public schools.

Her presentation is sponsored by the College of Education and its School of Teaching and Learning. For more information, contact Cavanaugh at (352) 273-4176 or via email at cathycavanaugh@coe.ufl.edu.

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CONTACTS

Source: Catherine Cavanaugh, Associate Professor, UF College of Education; (352) 273-4173; cathycavanaugh@coe.ufl.edu

Writer: Larry Lansford, UFCOE News & Communications, (352) 273-4137; llansford@coe.ufl.edu