Course Modalities

The modality of a course can be categorized as follows:

Traditional Lecture Instruction

This modality of instruction is characterized as "instructor centered", in which the delivery of information happens verbally from the instructor, and the student listen passively. There are dynamic and engaging lecturers who use Socratic questioning techniques to liven up the lesson (think Robin Williams in Dead Poet's Society); however, technology is not typically used with this modality. 

Technology-Enhanced Instruction

The use of technology to augment instruction and engage learners is known as educational technology. Teachers, faculty, and trainers now have options such as computers/projectors, document cameras, tablets and mobile devices, interactive white boards, audio/video, and access to the web via wireless access to provide Web 2.0 experiences for students. Check out the standardized technology your own professors have access to at Tarleton at:

http://online.tarleton.edu/tech_support/Technology_Enh_Classrooms.htm

Lecture with Online Component Instruction

This modality of instruction may include supplemental materials online (ex. course syllabus, schedule, and mail), but not typically learning materials or activities. The lecture portion of the class remains the same, and may or may not be integrated or aligned with the online portion.

 

Hybrid Instruction

A hybrid (also known as blended) course fully integrates online materials within the structure of the face-to-face course. The face-to-face meetings of the class may or may not be reduced, but the idea is that the instructor conducts lessons during scheduled class sessions and students are assigned independent and collaborative study online outside of class. Hybrid instruction has grown as online tools and Learning Management Systems have become more readily available.

 

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Examples of hybrid learning include:

Online Instruction

With online instruction, there are typically no face-to-face meetings, and students are presented with content and expected to apply it and demonstrate mastery in some form or fashion. The benefits of online instruction for students are likely why it has expanded, and include flexibility (real-time access that is not time or place bound), and savings (in terms of time, tuition, and travel costs). Teaching students in a fully-online format means that you need a platform/system to house and present information, communicate with students, and build in interaction opportunities - the LMS.