There are six course modalities (also called “teaching methods”) which are used to define the general characteristics of the course.
The designated modality of a course will help students know:
- Where is their course (e.g. on campus or fully online)
- When their course meets (e.g. regular meeting times or no meeting times)
- How they are expected to engage (e.g. attending classes or freelance online activities)
These terms should help students understand general course expectations when registering for courses.
Modalities mainly fall into two main categories: On the campus and On line. There is an additional modality called Flex which is either on campus Where on line.
Please see the definitions of each modality and an infographic below. Please also see the responses to Frequently Asked Questions About Terms.
Modalities on campus
On the campus
This course modality meets on campus with instruction delivered directly to students by an instructor in a classroom setting. Students attend in person on designated dates and times. This modality can be supplemented with online materials, but student seat time is only offered through in-person synchronous meetings. All seat time requirements required by accreditation are met through regular student participation in live class sessions with the appropriate number of out-of-class activities to meet minimum engagement requirements.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting place: on campus
- Scheduled presence: Always
- Online freelance work: occasionally
- Example: The class meets on campus on MWF from 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
Hybrid on campus
This course modality meets on campus with instruction delivered directly to students by an instructor in a classroom setting. Students attend in person on designated dates and times; however, the frequency of in-person classes is reduced and the amount of online classes has increased. Normally, 30% or more of learning activities are designated as asynchronous online. This allows greater flexibility for students who prefer not to attend classes 2-3 times per week or cannot attend at a high frequency due to work schedules or other obligations. All seat time requirements required by accreditation are met through participation in live class sessions supplemented by appropriate online activities to meet minimum engagement requirements. Siege time is replaced with online activities.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting place: on campus
- Expected attendance: Sometimes
- Online freelance work: Regularly
- Example: The class meets on campus on 6 specific dates throughout the semester. All other courses are completed independently online.
Online Terms
Synchronous online
This course modality requires student participation in a synchronous (real-time) setting via Zoom or another web conferencing platform. These virtual class sessions replace the face-to-face class meeting. These dates/times are communicated to students before registering for the course. All materials are provided through the learning management system. All seat time requirements required by accreditation are met through regular student participation in virtual class sessions.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting location: Online
- Scheduled presence: Always
- Online freelance work: occasionally
- Example: The class meets online via Zoom on MWF from 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
hybrid online
This course modality requires student participation in a synchronous (real-time) setting via Zoom or other web conferencing platforms on certain dates and times, but with less frequency than standard online synchronous courses. This modality is to be supplemented with online materials and student seat time is offered through synchronous online meetings as well as asynchronous online activities. Normally, 30% or more of learning activities are designated as asynchronous online. All seat time requirements required by accreditation are met through a combination of participation in live class sessions through web conferencing and appropriate online activities. Siege time is replaced with online activities.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting location: Online
- Expected attendance: Sometimes
- Online freelance work: occasionally
- Example: The class meets online via Zoom on 6 specified dates throughout the semester. All other courses are completed independently online.
Asynchronous online
These courses use online learning resources and instructional technology such as UD’s Learning Management System (LMS), Isidore, to facilitate lesson, collaboration, and information sharing outside of constraints. time and place between students. There are no attendance requirements for live web conferencing sessions. All course material is delivered 100% online. Asynchronous courses are typically designed using digital pedagogy models that leverage the tools and resources of the virtual environment to maximize learning outcomes for students who never interact in real time. These are not self-paced courses, but scheduled deliverables as the course progresses. Siege time is replaced with online activities.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting place: No meeting
- Expected attendance: Never
- Freelance online work: Always
- Example: No meeting time. All courses are completed online.
On campus or online
Flex
This course modality meets on campus in a Zoom-enabled room while simultaneously streaming to remote students through the web conferencing platform. Depending on the instructor’s preference, students may be able to change their attendance location throughout the semester. All learning activities, including assessments, are planned equitably, serving both student audiences. Students who have registered for the online attendance option do not expect to attend any in-person learning activities, including assessments. Seat time is earned by attending the face-to-face classroom or by participating in the Zoom session of the online live class.
Characteristics of the modality:
- Meeting place: Student’s choice
- Scheduled presence: Always
- Online freelance work: occasionally
- Example: The class meets on campus on MWF from 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. Students have the option of attending online or in person.
