In fall 2020, all courses will have assigned days and times; however, instructors may choose their preferred format: synchronous, asynchronous, or blended.
There are three types of online courses:
Synchronous Courses
A real-time, online course where the instructor and students meet via web conferencing tools, at
scheduled days and times. Instructors and students share information, ideas and learning
experiences in a virtual course environment. Participation in synchronous courses requires
students to have reliable, high-speed Internet access, a computer (ideally with a webcam), and a
headset with a microphone.
Asynchronous Courses
An online course where the instructor and students can share information, ideas, and learning
experiences at different times and in a virtual course space. Instructors develop course content as
a sequence of units, which students can move through based on their schedules. Units can be
comprised of assigned readings, guiding questions to consider, online media, quizzes, and
discussion boards. The instructor guides the students in the way the course is developed,
providing them with feedback, and conducts assessments. Meeting times may be used in
asynchronous courses for tests, midterms or office hours at the discretion of the course instructor.
Students are expected to be available during the meeting time and remain up to date with the
deadlines and due dates provided by the course instructor. These courses require high-speed
Internet access and a computer.
Blended Courses
An online course where there is a mixture of synchronous meetings and asynchronous activities.
This means students need to be prepared to meet some of the time online via web conferencing
tools at scheduled days and times. The specific dates will be communicated by the instructor in
the course outline. The asynchronous activities are intended to provide flexibility to students when
the class is not meeting synchronously. Students are expected to remain up to date with the
deadlines and due dates provided by the instructor. These courses require reliable high-speed
Internet access and a computer (ideally with a webcam), and a headset with a microphone.
Please let us know what type of course you will be teaching in the Fall 2020 term using the form below: