Important Summer Course Type Definitions to Know:
1. Asynchronous Online
2. Synchronous Online (may also include asynchronous course content)
3. Blended
1. Asynchronous Online Course
This is what students typically think of as an online course. “Asynchronous” essentially means that the course is not happening in “real time” (live). The asynchronous online course designation signifies that a section does not require students to attend “class” according to a regular meeting schedule. The classes are 100% online, usually occurring entirely within Brightspace. Rather than a traditional style lecture format, content is delivered in a variety of formats which may include, but not be limited to: short video lectures (generally no more than 5 minutes), asynchronous discussion forums, short content videos, readings, small group work, podcasts (by faculty and by learners), and more. Virtual office hours may be held in real time (live), but no real time, synchronous meetings of the full class are expected of students. Assessments can be in the form of quizzes, short papers, group projects, and other means to assess student learning. Assignments may have daily, weekly, and/or other regular deadlines to be set at instructor’s discretion.
Example of how an Asynchronous Online course looks in e-Campus:
2. Synchronous Online Course
A synchronous course may include a mixture of required synchronous (meaning in real time or live) and asynchronous (not in real time) course delivery, with the synchronous delivery components sometimes minimized to make course content accessible to students according to their availability. Asynchronous activities might include: short videos of related content or lectures, asynchronous discussions, hands-on activities, readings, small group work, podcasts (by you or by learners), etc. Synchronous meetings might include short lectures, demonstrations, student presentations, discussions, and feedback sessions. Students will be required to attend the class meetings according to the set weekly schedule listed in e-Campus. These meetings will be held via “Rhody” WebEx or another virtual meeting platform determined at instructor’s discretion. Course assessments will take the form of quizzes, short papers, discussion postings, projects, etc. Assignments may have daily, weekly, and/or other regular deadlines to be set at the instructor’s discretion.
Example of how a Synchronous Online course looks in e-Campus:
3. Blended Course
Blended courses consist of required, in-person meetings on a URI campus combined with content delivered asynchronously online. Students who register for a blended course must both attend in-person meetings and complete all assignments assigned asynchronously online.
Example of how a Blended course looks in e-Campus:
