Designing & Teaching with Course Modality in Mind
When courses in the University System are available for students to sign up for, there is a shared definition of what the different delivery modalities are, and what students can expect from choosing a specific modality. This page will walk you through the LMS-design expectations for developing and delivering a course with student success and expectations in mind.
In-Person (P)
“The course is taught fully face-to-face in a classroom at scheduled meeting times¹ (this includes classes connecting from a Center)”
- Syllabus posted on the Syllabus page
- Contact information updated
- Timely feedback & Grades access
Hybrid/Blended (HB)
“These classes have both in-person and online components. The dates/times of in-person meetings are scheduled.”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how course site will be used for learning is present
- Content modules used for content delivery
Distance Synchronous (DS)
“These classes never meet in person. The course is taught online, and the instructor is expected to deliver instruction synchronously (i.e., in real-time) at the times for which the class is scheduled.”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how course site will be used for learning is present
- Content modules used for content delivery
- Class Zoom link is accessible on the course site
Online (WW)
“A course section where 100% of course activity and class meetings are completed asynchronously (i.e., not in real-time) online with no required online meeting times.”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how course site will be used for learning is present
- Content modules used for content delivery
- There are no synchronous meeting expectations
- Course activities allow for active and peer interaction
Service Learning (SL)
“Instruction time and locations are to be determined by the instructor (in-person, off-site)”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how course site will be used for learning is present
By Arrangement (AR)
“These courses are meant for clinical placements, field placements, independent study, internships, and research hours. They do not require a classroom or meeting time but are considered to be in person.”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how course site will be used for learning is present
YourPace (CBE)
Instruction is asynchronous online, and not structured by weeks or semesters, but by course competencies, or Outcomes.
Syllabus and personal faculty are present, plus:
- Course is developed to YourPace/CBE standards
- Pre-session course prep is completed
- There are no synchronous meeting expectations
- Rich and varied instructor interaction and mentorship through feedback is expected.
Hyflex (HF)
“A single course section with the option to attend on-site, attend via video or audio technology during class meeting times, or in any combination of the two.”
Syllabus/Contact info/Grades are present, plus:
- Communication/guide to how the course site will be used for learning is present
- Content modules used for content delivery
- The Zoom link is accessible on the course site
- All course sessions recorded and accessible in a timely manner on the course site
- All in-class activities/assessments are accessible on the course site, for asynchronous access
Getting Zoom Ready
Orient yourself with Zoom features, for lecture recording, or teaching Distance Synchronous or Hyflex courses. Remember that clarity and consistency are key to a successful semester for you and your students:
Getting Ready for Online or Blended Courses
If you are teaching fully Online, or in a Blended/Hybrid modality, becoming familiar with Brightspace is a must. Here are some resources that can help you think about tools and strategies to engage and more:
Resources & Attribution:
¹Note: all formal UMS definitions retrieved from UMS Data Governance page on Instruction Modes, retrieved from: https://gojira.its.maine.edu/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=107120760