Interdisciplinary gerontology education online:a developmental process model

Abstract

Distance education online in gerontology in academic settings is designed to reflect content relevant to gerontology practices, academic standards, teaching strategies, and technology that embrace content delivery while enhancing learning. A balance with community services and needs for older adult populations, academic integrity, stakeholders, and resources, with an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary student-centered approach are important. Considering these factors and based on a needs assessment, this article describes a process model used to create an interdisciplinary gerontology education program for online delivery at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The realities, pearls of wisdom, and lessons learned from creating and implementing the FGCU online interdisciplinary undergraduate gerontology education in the academic setting are also presented.