This presentation uses a 2011 Florida law as a context for examining course modality as a contact zone. The law requires all high-school students to take at least one online course before graduation. The politically minded law ignores complex issues of access and ethics that become reified in our FYC courses. I will examine the “cultural and ideological characteristics” of this technological requirement to identify how writing instruction in various modalities can accommodate (or defend against) student expectations for online learning.

1. Modality as
Contact Zone
The Convolution of Access,
Politics, and Ethics in Florida’s
Online Courses
CC BY-NC-SA by Larissa
Chris Friend (@chris_friend)
University of Central Florida

2. Screenshot of flvs.net on 08 Jun 2014

3. F.S. 2012 1003.438:
“General Requirements for High
School Graduation; Revised”
• at least one course within the 24 credits
required…must be completed through
online learning
• a school district may not require a
student to take the online course
outside the school day or in addition to
a student’s courses for a given semester.

4. F.S. 2012 1002.45:
“Virtual instruction programs”
• “Approved provider” means
‣ a provider that is approved by the
Department of Education under
subsection (2),
‣ the Florida Virtual School,
‣ a franchise of the FloridaVirtual School,
‣ or a Florida College System institution.

5. F.S. 2012 1002.45:
“Virtual instruction programs”
• MARKETING.—Each school district shall
provide information to parents and students
about the parent’s and student’s right to
participate in a virtual instruction program
under this section and in courses offered
by the Florida Virtual School under s.
1002.37.

6. “Technological Underclass”
CC BY-NC-SA by Leon Rice-Whetton

7. The FLVS
Contact Zones
CC BY-NC-ND by sharyn morrow

8. Student Expectations
CC BY-NC-SA by Tc Morgan

9. Post-Secondary Online/
Blended: A (R)Evolution
CC BY-NC-SA by allison

10. The FYC Contact Zones
CC BY-NC-SA by Dave Bledsoe

11. Questioning the Statute
CC BY-NC-ND by Steven Martin

12. Thank you.
CC BY-NC-SA by Larissa
Chris Friend (@chris_friend)
University of Central Florida