Florida is home to one of the larger education systems in the United States, supporting 2.5 million students, over 4,000 schools and over 175,000 teachers. As a national cornerstone in the spheres of public and private education, one that has emerged as a leader in the South, the Sunshine State has become a popular destination for teachers who want to be on the frontlines of educational innovation, and especially those who want to teach second-language learners, who comprise a rising percentage of the state’s K-12 student population.
With no less than sixteen schools offering at least one online degree in early childhood education across the state, Florida houses some of the greatest online learning opportunities for early childhood education in the United States. And due to the ever-increasing size of the education infrastructure in almost every state, earning a degree from a top-tier Florida university goes a long way toward establishing one’s credentials as a leader in the industry, and specifically the foundational field of early childhood education.
Requirements for Teaching Licensure
in Florida
The Florida Department of Education issues teaching licenses for early childhood education contingent upon successful completion of the following four-step process:
- Enroll in an accredited early childhood degree program in an approved Educator Preparation Institute (EPI)
- Complete a Florida-approved teacher preparation program during the education degree program.
- Take and pass the required Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) in order to qualify for the Florida Professional Certificate. Also take and pass the appropriate Subject Area Examinations to specialize in Early Childhood Education.
- Submit and pass a state and federal background check.
Online Education Program Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for online degree programs depend on the degree sought. Students applying for an online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education must have at least a high school diploma, GED, or 60 transferable credit hours from an an accredited community college, preferably with an emphasis in education, in order qualify for admission to an undergraduate program. Students applying for an online master’s degree in early childhood education must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major in education or a related field in order to qualify for admission. Florida’s doctoral programs generally have the same requirements for admission as those for master’s degrees, albeit with the added requirement of a master’s degree to qualify. Most graduate programs in early childhood education require the GRE, although some may not.
Average Salaries
For Common Educator Roles in Florida
- Preschool Teacher: $28,451
- Elementary School Teacher: $52,350
- Public School Teacher: $50,975
- Professor of Education: $85,045
- School Principal: $94,128
- Special Education Teacher: $49,257
- Math or Science Teacher: $54,585
- ESL Teacher: $45,040
- School Psychologist: $66,750
Scholarships for Future Educators in the State of Florida
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program
A scholarship worth 90% of tuition and books for Florida residents enrolled in degree programs at qualifying colleges and universities in Florida. Includes travel stipend and paid release.
Ann Eddy Early Childhood Education Scholarship
A private scholarship worth up to $500 per year for students who are graduating high school seniors and plan to enroll at an accredited institution of higher learning in the state of Florida, major in early childhood education, and complete a degree in that subject.
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
Provides a scholarship worth $4,000 per year to Florida residents and ethnic minorities who are enrolled in teacher education programs at colleges and universities that participate in the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers.
The 5 Best Online Education Degree
Providers in Florida
Florida has a total of 16 education degree-granting institutions that provide online education degrees. These range from community colleges offering associates in early childhood development or human services, to nationally ranked universities that offer a wide spread of masters level and education endorsement-level programming. While future students may want to go to the “best” online institution in their state for education degrees, they should take some to double check what exact degrees are offered by their institution of choice at the directory of all online education degrees at the bottom of the page. To select the following top five universities, we’ve looked at two factors: the number of fully online education degrees offered by an institution, and an “academic prestige” score. The academic prestige score takes into account metrics such as average amount of financial need received, average class sizes, admissions standards, and the percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees in their field. Also note that the tuition numbers below are just indicators of relatively how expensive or affordable a college is. The tuition numbers below, specifically, are the in-state (where applicable) undergraduate yearlong tuition rates for education degrees. Many universities, however, have similar tuition rates at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
1
University of Florida
In-state Tuition: $6389
Online Ed Degrees:13
Founded in 1853, the University of Florida is a land, sea, and space grant university located in Gainesville, Florida. University of Florida is one one of the largest and topmost ranking public universities in the nation, placing consistently among the Top 20 such schools in the nation. University of Florida also supports online programs for many of its degrees. As one of the state’s largest institution of higher learning, and one that consistently ranks among the Top 50 schools in the nation, the University of Florida enrolls approximately 60,000 students, over a quarter of which are graduate and professional students.
The University of Florida’s 13 online degree programs in education offer some of the best graduate degree programs in early childhood education in the United States. In addition to the more traditional master’s programs in Education, the University of Florida’s Master of Science in Special Education with a specialization in Teach Well is especially suited to students who want to start or advance careers in special and early childhood education, which might lead to advanced careers as elementary school leaders of students with disabilities or special needs. The Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders is sure to go a long way toward securing gainful employment as one of Florida’s high-demand special needs schools. And of course, the education program’s four doctoral programs will undoubtedly increase both the job prospects and earning potential of early childhood educators who want to become leaders of their profession.
2
University of South Florida
In-state Tuition: $6410
Online Ed Degrees:11
Established in 1956, the University of South Florida is a public research university located in Tampa, Florida. USF’s fourteen colleges—which are stationed across three locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee—are known to produce some of the best public health, education, and information studies graduates in the Southeast. Its Education program is well-noted for being a leader in both the academic field and industry of special education, consistently ranking in the top 100 such schools in the United States.
The University of South Florida’s 11 online degrees in education offer some of the best graduate programs in early childhood education the state of Florida. In addition to the traditional master’s degrees in Education, which include emphases in Special Education and Gifted Education, the University of South Florida’s M.A. in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Severe Intellectual Disabilities offers an excellent path to pursue administrative and leadership roles in the early childhood education arena that involve teaching students with special needs. The M.A.’s in Reading, Physical Education, and Career and Technical Education also offer unique opportunities for students who might like to teach language arts, P.E., or proctor career testing to kids at the same time as they teach or work either full- or part-time from home. All of these options, and their attendant flexibilities, make the University of South Florida a perfect fit for busy working Floridians who are looking to add another line to their educational résumés and become leaders of their professions.
3
Florida State University
In-state Tuition: $6507
Online Ed Degrees:5
Established in 1963, the University of Central Florida is the largest public research university by enrollment in the State of Florida. Located in Orlando, the University of Central Florida is particularly well-known for its enrollment of over 60,000 students, its aerospace and engineering schools, as well as for its top ranking degree programs. The University of Central Florida’s College of Education and Human Performance ranks among the Top 100 Best Colleges of Education in the United States, and a growing portion of University of Central Florida students attend online classes and earn online degrees.
The University of Central Florida’s 5 online degrees in education offer some of the best graduate programs in early childhood education the state of Florida. In addition to the traditional master’s degrees in Educational Leadership / Administration and Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, the University of Central Florida’s Master of Education in Exceptional Student Instruction offers an excellent opportunity to pursue the career path of teaching and serving students and families with special needs from Pre-K-12. The Master of Arts in Applied Learning and Instruction and the Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology also offer unique opportunities for students who might like to teach both teachers and students how to implement and use technology to achieve their educational goals while also teaching or working either full- or part-time. All of these options, and their attendant flexibilities, make the University of Central Florida a great fit for busy working Floridians who are looking to add another line to their educational résumés and become leaders of their professions.
4
University of Central Florida
In-state Tuition: $6368
Online Ed Degrees:5
Founded in 1879, Florida Atlantic University is a public research university located in Boca Raton, Florida. Supporting an enrollment of greater than 30,000 students, the majority of FAU’s students reside at one of its six campuses in the state’s southern half. Approximately 6% conduct their studies online through distance education and lifelong learning initiatives. Its Lifelong Learning Society in particular has increased accessibility to university course materials for more than 19,000 adult learners, working professionals, and senior citizens since its inception.
Florida Atlantic University’s 4 online degrees related to early childhood education offer some of the best graduate programs in early childhood education the state of Florida. All of these degrees are Master’s degrees, which include the Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education for Early Childhood Education, a degree program uniquely suited to prospective early childhood educators who want to teach students with special needs. In addition to this option, Florida Atlantic University also offers highly specialized degrees such as the Master of Education in Social Foundations of Education for Instructional Technology, as well as the Master of Education in Social Foundations of Education for Educational Psychology, both of which are ideal programs for prospective school administrators who want to use cutting edge technology to teach or counsel students in an early childhood educational setting. At less than $303 per credit hour for in-state graduate students, these degree programs are a best value for Florida residents.
5
Florida Atlantic University
In-state Tuition: $5432
Online Ed Degrees:4
Founded in 1879, Florida Atlantic University is a public research university located in Boca Raton, Florida. Supporting an enrollment of greater than 30,000 students, the majority of FAU’s students reside at one of its six campuses in the state’s southern half. Approximately 6% conduct their studies online through distance education and lifelong learning initiatives. Its Lifelong Learning Society in particular has increased accessibility to university course materials for more than 19,000 adult learners, working professionals, and senior citizens since its inception.
Florida Atlantic University’s 4 online degrees related to early childhood education offer some of the best graduate programs in early childhood education the state of Florida. All of these degrees are Master’s degrees, which include the Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education for Early Childhood Education, a degree program uniquely suited to prospective early childhood educators who want to teach students with special needs. In addition to this option, Florida Atlantic University also offers highly specialized degrees such as the Master of Education in Social Foundations of Education for Instructional Technology, as well as the Master of Education in Social Foundations of Education for Educational Psychology, both of which are ideal programs for prospective school administrators who want to use cutting edge technology to teach or counsel students in an early childhood educational setting. At less than $303 per credit hour for in-state graduate students, these degree programs are a best value for Florida residents.
Directory of Online Education Degree
Providers in Florida
University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 13 | |
TUITION $6389
GRADUATE DEGREES
|
University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 11 | |
TUITION $6410
|
Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 7 | |
TUITION $3131
|
Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 6 | |
TUITION $2765 |
Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 5 | |
TUITION $6507 |
University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 5 | |
TUITION $6368 |
Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
TUITION $5432 |
Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
TUITION $21130 |
Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 3 | |
TUITION $6118 |
University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 2 | |
TUITION $6394 |
Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $36350 |
Florida International University | Miami, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $6556 |
Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $33100 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, IL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $2640 |
Carlos Albizu University-Miami | MIami, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $12384 |
Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee, FL | Online Ed Degrees: 1 | |
TUITION $2026 |
FAQs
Can I get my teaching degree online in Florida? ›
Florida State University offers several online degree programs including Master of Science in Educational Leadership/Administration; Special Education; and Learning and Cognition.
Can you study online for a teaching degree? ›UJ offers two different online teaching degree programmes at the Masters level for education: Master of Education in Educational Management and Master of Education in Information & Communication Tech. These are two areas of specialisation that are both common and in-demand within the field of education.
What is the easiest college degree to get online? ›- Business. Online business degrees prepare learners for diverse careers. ...
- Liberal Arts. Liberal arts programs hone critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. ...
- Education. ...
- English. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Agriculture Science.
- Online Engineering degrees. ...
- Online BBA degrees and MBA degrees. ...
- Online Computer Science degrees. ...
- Online degrees in Healthcare Studies. ...
- Online Graphic Design degrees.
Florida educators need a bachelor's degree including a teacher preparation program to qualify for a teaching license or certificate.
How much do virtual teachers make in Florida? ›How much does a Virtual Teacher make in Florida? As of Nov 7, 2022, the average annual pay for a Virtual Teacher in Florida is $30,880 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $14.85 an hour. This is the equivalent of $593/week or $2,573/month.
Which degree is best for teaching? ›While a bachelor's degree in education is the minimum level of education you'll need to become a teacher, you have many options as to what and where you'll teach. You can specialize in special education, secondary education, middle-level education, or early childhood education.
Do online teachers pay well? ›Does teaching English online pay well? Generally speaking, online English teachers typically make anywhere between $10 - $40 USD per hour depending on their level of qualification. If you're a first-time English teacher with a TEFL certification, you will likely be making $10-$20 per hour to start.
How can I become a teacher without a degree? ›You can work as an unqualified teacher in a secondary school/further education while training part-time or you can complete a University or College course such as the Professional Certificate in Education (PCE) or the Certificate of Education (CertEd), which both meet the requirements of Level 5 DET.
What degree can I get in 6 months? ›- Real Estate Agent. Selling real estate has limitless potential, and you can get started quickly. ...
- Commercial Truck Driver. ...
- Phlebotomy Tech. ...
- HVAC Tech. ...
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ...
- Personal Trainer. ...
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
What is the simplest degree to get? ›
- Psychology.
- Criminal Justice.
- English.
- Education.
- Religious Studies.
- Social Work.
- Sociology.
- Communications.
What is the fastest and easiest degree to get? Often students focus on Business Administration, Psychology, or Education degrees for the fastest degrees; however, General Studies, English, and Communications may be considered some of the easiest, along with Psychology.
Is online degree really worth? ›According to the study, 86% of online learners considered the value of their degree equal to or greater than the cost they paid to pursue it. Among those who have attended on-campus and online courses, 85% said that online learning is as good as or better than attending courses on campus.
How can I get a degree in 1 year? ›- B. Tech. Bachelor of Technology.
- Eng Dip. Engineering Diploma.
- B. ED. Bachelor of Education.
- M. SC. Master of Science.
- MBA. Master of Business Administration.
The opportunity cost of your degree is less because you can continue to earn income while pursuing your degree (plus tuition and fees can be lower than on-campus programs). You experience the incremental worth of a degree, as you can apply the skills you learn to your day-to-day job from day one.
What is the starting salary of a teacher in Florida? ›How much does an Entry Level Teacher make in Florida? The average Entry Level Teacher salary in Florida is $39,857 as of October 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $33,291 and $48,602.
How long does it take to get a teacher certification in Florida? ›Please note, it may take 7-10 weeks for documents to post to the FLDOE website once they are received. Then, once the application is complete, it may take another 7-10 weeks to process the application for eligibility.
How long does it take to become a certified teacher in Florida? ›This requires a bachelor's degree in elementary education or a bachelor's degree plus 30 credit hours in elementary education. There are also certain specific courses that are required, as well as the content area examinations required for K-6 educator certification.
What is the highest paid teacher salary in Florida? ›...
Which Tampa Bay teachers make the most money?
County | Pasco |
---|---|
Average Salary | $46,649 |
Number of Teachers Employed | 4,951 |
Average Years of Experience | 10.5 |
Percentile | Salary | Location |
---|---|---|
25th Percentile Public School Teacher Salary | $44,112 | FL |
50th Percentile Public School Teacher Salary | $52,813 | FL |
75th Percentile Public School Teacher Salary | $64,401 | FL |
90th Percentile Public School Teacher Salary | $74,951 | FL |
Are teachers needed in Florida? ›
Florida needs teachers in many subject areas and grade levels. Critical teacher shortage areas are identified each year and can be accessed here. Our public school districts are defined by county boundaries; therefore, each school district is unique with respect to its hiring procedures.
What type of teacher is most in demand? ›Which teaching subject is most in demand? While specific needs vary by institution, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are subjects that are always in high demand.
What type of teaching pays the most? ›Professor
When you are looking for the best-paid teaching jobs for your area of interest or specialized skill, then you may consider working as a professor in a college or university. A college professor prepares course material, teaches students in a classroom environment, and grades student work.
The monthly salary of a degree teacher in Ghana is GHS1,987.678. The above salary of a degree teacher is the initial salary of a newly recruited member of staff in the GES.
Which online teaching is best? ›- Chegg Tutors. Chegg Tutors is a top online teaching platform. ...
- Tutor.com. Tutor.com is one of the oldest teaching sites online. ...
- TutorMe. TutorMe is a comprehensive online teaching site. ...
- MyPrivateTutor. MyPrivateTutor is one of the largest online teaching sites. ...
- Skooli. ...
- Wize. ...
- BuddySchool.
- Preply. Preply is an online language learning platform where students get to work with their preferred tutor at their own time and pace. ...
- VIPKid. ...
- Lingoda. ...
- SayABC. ...
- Qkids. ...
- DadaABC. ...
- Cambly. ...
- Italki.
- Tutorabc.
- Qkids Teacher.
- ITutor.
- Amazing Talker.
- Tutorlanding. Cambly.
It typically takes between four and five years to become a teacher. That is the length of time required to complete a bachelor's degree, which is the minimum qualification for teachers, whether they are teaching elementary, middle school or high school.
Can I teach adults without a degree? ›The simple answer is no – you cannot become a teacher without a degree. But if you're an undergraduate or have a degree in a different subject than what you want to teach, there are options to help you on your journey into teaching.
How do I become an early years teacher without a degree? ›Can I become an early years teacher without a degree or my GCSE passes? If you do not currently have a degree, you will have to study and obtain one before being able to enter an ITT course. Alternatively, you could study for a specialist degree which would qualify you to teach early years (as explained below).
What degrees are always in demand? ›
- Engineering.
- Business.
- Nursing.
- Hospitality.
- Education.
- Computer Science.
- Architecture.
- Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Phlebotomist Certification Programs.
- Medical Assistant Certification Programs.
- Certified Nurse Assistant Certification Programs.
- Medical Coder or Biller Certification Programs.
- Flight Attendant Certification Programs.
- Welder Certification Programs.
- Police Officer. Although many police officers do have college degrees, the minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma. ...
- Commercial Pilot. ...
- Gaming Manager. ...
- Electrical Powerline Installer and Repairer. ...
- Elevator Installer and Repairer. ...
- Transportation Inspector.
- Electrical Engineering. ...
- Aeronautics. ...
- MRI Technology. ...
- Radiology Technology. ...
- Respiratory Therapy. ...
- Occupational Therapy. ...
- Mechanical Engineering. ...
- Network Engineering. Network engineers design, administer, and maintain local and wide area network systems.
- Psychology. If you're interested in the human mind and human behavior, you may want to major in psychology. ...
- Liberal Arts/Interdisciplinary Studies. ...
- Communications. ...
- Business. ...
- English. ...
- Biology. ...
- Computer Science.
- Bachelors in Entrepreneurship. ...
- Bachelors in Computer Sciences. ...
- Bachelors in General Engineering. ...
- Bachelors in Natural Sciences. ...
- Bachelors in Language Studies. ...
- Bachelors in Environmental Sciences. ...
- Bachelors in Nursing. ...
- Bachelors in Law.
The easiest associate degree to get is an online Associate Degree in General Studies, Liberal Studies, or Education. Although these online associate degree programs have flexible curricula, how easy you find your coursework will depend on your learning abilities and style.
What is the cheapest online college to attend? ›- Thomas Edison State University.
- University of Alabama.
- The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
- West Texas A&M University.
- Columbia College.
- Eastern New Mexico University.
- American Public University.
- Grantham University.
- Business Administration. Business administration is one major that is usually considered “easy.” Some programs will also only take 3 years to finish! ...
- English. ...
- Human Resources. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Marketing. ...
- Supply Chain Management. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Communication.
Are Online Classes Harder in College? Because online classes cover the same or similar material, typically in the same amount of time as traditional classes, they are not harder. The only thing that can make an online class seem harder is the amount of reading and communication they require.
How does an online degree look on a resume? ›
These students simply list the name of the university or school they attended, omitting the term “online” from the education section of the resume. Using this strategy can help you bypass the issues you may face as a graduate of an online degree program.
Do colleges care if you do online? ›As long as a school is regionally accredited, colleges won't typically have any issue with whether the school is online or in-person. For students looking at more competitive universities, there are obviously additional considerations, such as AP courses or extracurricular activities.
Can you get a degree in a few months? ›fast-paced online degrees
Mercy College offers a number of online accelerated programs in both bachelor's and master's degrees. Students can complete their degrees in as little as 12-15 months through accelerated 5- and 10-week courses.
As a fact , Online BA generally is a three year undergraduate course, but with one year degree program student can complete this course through Credit Transfer, Breaking Study or Lateral Entry . So a candidate need to study 5- 6 subject including one or two compulsory subjects.
How do I complete Graduation without going to college? ›But for the long run you should enroll in graduation through correspondence. That will allow you to be a graduate and also earn while you learn but please do complete your graduation as it becomes a requirement when you grow in your career.
Can I get a job with a online degree? ›The answer is yes. Online courses are most likely to land you a job faster than a traditionally achieved qualification. This is because they can be finished quicker and are mostly designed to improve your skillset, making you workplace ready. As long as you choose the right course, the right school, you should be fine!
Is it better to do online college or in person? ›Online programs are usually less expensive than on-campus classes since online students don't need to be provided with the same type of resources as traditional students need. Taking online classes means you don't need to worry about paying any student amenity fees or about getting expensive on-campus parking passes.
How long does it take to get your certification for teaching in Florida? ›The Bureau of Educator Certification will not begin to process your application until all the above items have been received. Once your file is complete, it will take approximately 90 business days to receive your Official Statement of Status of Eligibility, depending on the time of year.
What degree does an online teacher need? ›Most online programs require at least a bachelor's degree with a current state teaching license. Others offer additional salary incentives to teachers with a master's degree. Some private schools require prior teaching experience in a traditional classroom.
Does Florida do online school? ›Florida is a nationally-recognized leader in K-12 virtual education. It has the largest state virtual school in the nation and each school district operates online schools, programs and/or courses for their students.
How much does a teach make in Florida? ›
How much does a Public School Teacher make in Florida? The average Public School Teacher salary in Florida is $52,673 as of September 26, 2022, but the range typically falls between $43,991 and $64,223.
Is there a teacher shortage in Florida? ›FDOE has released an analysis of which areas are most in need of teachers. According to the report, released in February 2022, most of the shortage areas are in English and Reading, and Science.
How much does a certified teacher make in Florida? ›As of Nov 10, 2022, the average annual pay for a Teacher in Florida is $24,940 a year.
How much do online teachers make per month? ›The average online teaching salary in South Africa is R 240 000 per year or R 123 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 210 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 390 000 per year.
What is the average salary of a online teacher? ›Online Teacher salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.7 Lakhs to ₹ 7.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3.0 Lakhs.
How much does online teaching pay per hour? ›Fortunately, teaching online presents a solution! But can you support yourself working as an online teacher? While teaching English online salaries depend on your qualifications and the specific job, you can expect to make anywhere from $10-$25 USD/hour (and sometimes more).
What is the best online school in Florida? ›- University of Florida-Online. Gainesville, FL. ...
- University of Central Florida. Orlando, FL. ...
- Florida International University. Miami, FL. ...
- Florida State University. ...
- University of South Florida-Main Campus. ...
- The Baptist College of Florida. ...
- The University of West Florida. ...
- Florida Atlantic University.
The best top ranked online private schools in Florida include Education World Wide, Queen of All Saints Online Academy and Eagle Aerospace Military Academy. The average acceptance rate is 92%, which is higher than the Florida private school average acceptance rate of 85%.
Does Florida have free online school? ›All FLVS Flex courses are offered FREE to Florida students and taught by dedicated, certified teachers. With year-round, 24/7 access, these mastery-based courses allow students to learn on their own schedule and at a flexible pace.