The Flexible Course Attribute

The Flexible course attribute refers to courses in which the online portion of the course is delivered through asynchronous instruction without regularly scheduled live class meetings online. Flexible courses may include the use of asynchronous video or recorded meetings to supplement online course material. The Flexible attribute can be applied to the following UCF online modalities:

• Mixed-Mode (M)
• Limited Attendance (RS)
• Video (V)

What Does Flexible Instruction Look Like?

• M Flexible: Courses include both required classroom attendance and online instruction in a blended format. In-person classroom activities are more than 20% of the instructional time during the semester. 
  • E.g. Class meets in person on Thursdays from 10:30 am - 11:45 am with content and activities available online for the rest of the week in place of in-person meetings.
• V Flexible: Courses are online with extensive use of digital video, which may be supplemented by additional online activity, projects, or exams.
  • Asynchronous videos are posted online for student review each week accompanied by additional online content, weekly quizzes, and a final project.
• RS Flexible: Courses are primarily online in a blended format combining required in-person and online elements. In-person classroom activities may use up to 20% of the instructional time during the semester.
  • E.g. Content and activities are available online with in-person class meetings on Thursdays, 3:00 pm - 4:20 pm six times during the semester.

Advantages to the Flexible Course Attribute

There are many advantages to the flexible course attribute:

• Students can think and reflect on the course material at any time and from anywhere before engaging with their peers/instructor and completing graded assessments.
• Students have the time and opportunity to review course materials when it's optimal for them ("on-demand").
• For courses that integrate short lecture videos:
  • Instructors can create short lecture videos once, but the video can be replayed as many times as the student feels necessary. 
  • If the same question is being asked by multiple students, students can be directed to the video in which it was addressed.
  • Asynchronous videos that are captioned, as opposed to synchronous activities, may benefit students in the following ways: 
    
    • Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing can now experience the content.
    • Students who have a learning disability benefit from reading and hearing the content at the same time.
    • ESL (English as a second language) students can benefit from reading and hearing the content at the same time.
    • Students can see the proper spelling of words, acronyms, and phrases that you use in your lecture without having to refer to the text.
    • Captions are critical for deaf students, but they can also be used by students who are watching a video without headphones, are in a loud environment, or in a quiet environment unable to turn up the volume.
    • Transcripts of the audio can be used as a study guide.

 The Live Course Attribute

The Live course attribute refers to courses in which the online element of the course is delivered through online synchronous instruction with regularly scheduled, live class meetings online. Synchronous instruction and tools allow instructors and learners to communicate and collaborate from different locations at the same time. If your course requires live, scheduled online class meetings, the Live course attribute is the best fit. The Live attribute can be applied to the following UCF online modalities:

• Mixed-Mode (M)
• Video (V)
• Limited Attendance (RS)

What Does Live Instruction Look Like?

• M Live: Class is comprised of scheduled in-person meetings and scheduled online meetings via Zoom each week. in-person scheduled meetings/activities should be more than 20% of the instructional time during the semester.   
  • E.g. Class meets Mondays/Wednesdays at 10:00 am in person and Fridays at 10:00 am via Zoom.
• V Live: Class content is mostly scheduled online class meetings via Zoom that may be supplemented with some asynchronous content or activities (including videos)  
  • E.g. Class meets via Zoom every Tuesday, 2:00 pm – 3:20 pm with additional videos and other online content and activities posted online for review each week.
• RS Live: Class content is mostly completed online but includes limited in-person meetings (less than 20%) and scheduled meetings via Zoom. 
  • E.g. Content and activities are available online with a scheduled in-person meeting one Monday each month from 10:50 am - 11:20 am and scheduled meetings via Zoom.

Advantages to Live, Synchronous Instruction

• The most cited advantage of live, synchronous instruction has to do with presence. Sharing space, albeit a virtual one, can increase the feelings of learner presence in the online classroom.
• Students can think and reflect on the course material before immediately engaging with their peers and completing graded assessments.
• Through the use of webcams, it is easier to "read the room" (body language cues facilitate communication).
• Interactions are back-and-forth with little or no lag times. Immediate personal engagement between students and instructors may create greater feelings of community and lessen feelings of isolation.
• Problems can be addressed at the moment, and brainstorming is dynamic which may prevent miscommunication or misunderstanding.
• Sessions can be recorded and shared later for those who could not attend.

The PAL Course Attribute

The Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL) attribute refers to courses that are delivered via an adaptive learning system that customizes content and assessments to create a personalized learning path for each student. The PAL attribute can be applied to the following UCF online modalities:

• Web-based (W)
• Mixed-Mode (M)
• Video (V) 
• Limited Attendance (RS)

What Does PAL Instruction Look Like?

• W PAL: One or more content modules and activities are available completely online via the RealizeIt Platform (an adaptive learning product).
  • Content and activities are available online via Canvas with three modules available via the RealizeIt Platform.
• M PAL: Courses include both required classroom attendance and online instruction in a blended format. In-person classroom activities are more than 20% of the instructional time during the semester. 
  • E.g. Class meets in-person on Mondays, 9:00 am - 10:20 am, with content and activities available online via Acrobatiq (another adaptive learning product).
• V PAL: Courses are online with extensive use of digital video, which may be supplemented by additional online activity, projects, or exams.
  • Asynchronous videos are posted online for student review each week accompanied by additional course content and activities available online via RealizeIt.
• RS PAL: Courses are primarily online in a blended format combining required in-person and online elements. In-person classroom activities may use up to 20% of the instructional time during the semester.
  
  • E.g. Content and activities are available online with in-person class meetings on Wednesdays, 4:30 pm - 5:50 pm, six times during the semester.

 Advantages of Using PAL

• Personalized software interacts with each student differently and based on their interactions with the course decides what each student needs to learn and then constructs an appropriate learning pathway.
• The system continues to learn more about each student as they proceed on their learning pathway and then constructs a specific lesson based on individual learning preferences and needs.

The REAL Course Attribute

Important note: The REAL course attribute is primarily offered in the UCF College of Business.

The REAL course attribute refers to courses delivered primarily through asynchronous online instruction with some required in-person meetings which incorporate active learning activities. The REAL attribute can be applied to the following UCF online modality:

• Limited Attendance (RS)

What does REAL instruction look like?

• Class content and activities are completed mostly online with limited scheduled in-person meetings throughout the semester where students are able to actively interact and collaborate with their peers and instructor.
  • E.g. Content and activities are available online with active in-person class meetings on Thursdays, 3:00 pm - 4:20 pm six times during the semester. 

Advantages to Using the REAL Course Attribute

The REAL course attribute is able to combine elements from the flexible nature of online courses with active learning strategies. Other advantages include:

• Students have the time and opportunity to review course materials when it's optimal for them ("on-demand").
• Students can think and reflect on the course material before immediately engaging with their peers and completing graded assessments.
• Students can get reinforcement of the concepts provided online by participating in active learning sessions with their peers and the instructor.