Course Delivery Modalities: Useful Definitions

Online Learning

Online learning describes courses where all instruction, course activity, and assessments occur online. Usually, instructors teaching online courses at UPEI will do so through the learning management system Moodle, however, some instructors may use alternative tools. Online courses are frequently attributed as being flexible to a student's schedule, but that is not always the case, online learning can refer to synchronous and asynchronous learning courses. These terms are described below. 

Synchronous Online Learning

Synchronous Online Learning courses are courses in which students are expected or required to participate at given times. This may mean joining an online classroom space for lectures at regular times or participating in other time-bound course activities or assessments. While these courses are online, they provide flexibility of space but have restrictions on time. Synchronous online courses may make use of asynchronous elements, though in a synchronous course there will be expectations on students for being present at certain times. 

Asynchronous Online Learning

Asynchronous Online Learning courses are courses where students are able to choose when and where they engage with the course instruction, activities, and assessments. These courses may rely on recorded lectures, readings, videos, or other instructional materials that do not require the student to be present at a given time. An asynchronous course may employ synchronous events or activities, but these would be optional. For example, an instructor may host a weekly synchronous office hours event where the instructor is available for drop-in video meetings, but students would not be required to attend. 

In-Person Technology Supported Learning

In-Person Technology Supported Learning are courses where all course instruction occurs in-person. In these courses the learners are expected to participate in-person, such as attending lectures or in-person class activities. These courses employ technology to support learning, such as materials shared through Moodle, conducting online assessments, or online course activities. 

Emergency Pivot

An emergency pivot is an unanticipated change in the course format, possibly by supplementing with additional online instruction sessions, or changing the course format entirely. The separation between an emergency pivot and a hybrid learning format is the unanticipated nature of the change. This may occur as a result of environmental factors, such as a course's schedule heavily impacted by weather closures. This may also occur due to an unanticipated change of course instructor.