Scheduling Online Classes

Scheduling Online Classes

Online classes support timely degree completion by increasing flexibility and offering practical solutions to schedule conflicts. A robust schedule of online classes also increases equity and access for non-traditional students who have work or caregiving responsibilities.

Why Might You Schedule Online Classes?

Academic programs can boost student achievement by developing and scheduling online classes purposefully. Collectively, the faculty in your unit might discuss these scheduling strategies:

Support Degree Completion
Promoting Success FOR ALL

How many online classes per year might a typical student in your program need to address scheduling complexities or other competing obligations?

What mix of classroom and online classes might support working students, students with disabilities, or students from other under-represented groups?

Enhancing Student Achievement
Helping Students Plan Ahead

Would a particular sequence of online classes help students meet prerequisites, Core Education requirements, or other requirements within your four-year plan? Would a sequence of online classes allow students to complete a minor in your program?

Would some classes in your department lend themselves to a rotating modality schedule (e.g., two terms in person, one term online)? Could you predetermine the rotation so that students can plan for a specific online classes in a future term?

See Strategic Considerations for Online Format for an extended list of questions designed to spark unit-level conversation.

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Online Instructional Methods

During the recent pandemic, UO Instructors adapted their teaching practices and effectively used technology to meet emergent needs. Their creativity and innovation took many forms and resulted in inconsistent naming conventions that create confusion for students at the point of registration. In response, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Registrar have developed specific definitions - and related class codes - to support a wider range of technology-enhanced teaching modalities. Your academic unit can help students understand options more clearly by adhering to these definitions of online classes as you populate the class schedule.

 

 

Asynchronous Online

Asynchronous Online classes are offered fully online with no scheduled meeting dates or times. Lecture content is pre-recorded and students complete online activities with day and time flexibility.

Synchronous Online

Synchronous Online classes are offered fully online with students required to participate in online meetings and lectures on specific days and at specific times. Please note that Synchronous classes require approval from the Office of the Provost.

Hybrid

Hybrid classes combine reduced classroom instruction with additional online instruction. All students attend class in person, but the amount of time spent in the classroom is reduced from the standard number of meeting hours per credit and replaced by online learning activities.

 

 

Read more about definitions and coding for different teaching modalities

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Scheduling an Online Class

The Office of the Registrar is eager to help you schedule your unit's classes, ensuring that they are coded correctly and represented transparently for your students.

Academic & Classroom Scheduling provides the Registrar's scheduling policies, curriculum information, data resources, and forms.

For more information, contact Sarah Strickler, Senior Assistant Registrar for Classroom Scheduling, Curriculm, and Catalog, at 541-346-1264.

Email Sarah Strickler

Related Resources

Online Courses

Well-designed online courses offer students the support and flexibility needed to achieve their educational goals on their own time. For additional information about how to develop an effective online course for your students, please visit the Developing an Online Course page.

Online Graduate Programs

Students are increasingly opting for online education to maximize their educational and professional goals and resources. UO Online is poised to assist departments in developing, designing, and deploying online graduate programs. For more information, please visit the Developing an Online Graduate Program page.