CONSORTIUM

THE VIRGINIA CONSORTIUM FOR TEACHER PREPARATION IN VISION IMPAIRMENT (VI)

(VISION IMPAIRMENT CONSORTIUM) PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Vision Impairment (VI) Consortium includes six universities: Norfolk State University (NSU); George Mason University (GM); James Madison University (JMU); Old Dominion University (ODU); Radford University (RU); and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Its primary goal is to prepare teachers to be highly skilled in working with students with visual impairments and blindness. The program consists of a thirty-six (36) credit hour licensure curriculum to include coursework and practica.

Classes will be offered through video conferencing equipment to establish real-time, interactive, multipoint instruction among the six universities. Through video conferencing, students are able to see and communicate with the instructor and other university students in real time. Through video conferencing, students at the six participating universities see and communicate with the professor as well as the other university students in real time.

Furthermore, students at all classroom sites view multimedia presentations, including video and Power Point slides, through the video conferencing equipment also in real-time. A Blackboard online course delivery system also provides 24/7 asynchronous access to students, professors, and course materials. Use of a video-streaming server allows for individual access of the curriculum for students more than two hours away from any of the participating universities while also serving as a course archive system.

The program is funded and approved by the Virginia Department of Education.

PROGRAMS:

Add-On Endorsement in Visual Impairment (VI)

This program is for teachers who already possesses a license and would like to become certified to teacher students with visual impairments and blindness. Initial Licensure in Visual Impairment (VI) This program is for individuals who to not have a teaching license. It includes coursework to become a teacher with an endorsement to teach students with visual impairments and blindness.

Master's in Special Education with a focus in Visual Impairment and Blindness

This program is for individuals interested in a Master's degree in Special Education with a focus on Visual Impairments (VI). The focus on VI is accomplished by using electives to take courses included in the VI Licensure program. The Master's degree does not include a license or endorsement to teach students with visual impairments.