FLEXLEARNING INFORMATION FOR FACULTY
Background
FlexLearning is a course delivery strategy that allows a student to have the option to take the course either completely face-to-face, or completely online, or in a blended fashion with no learning deficit.
The FlexLearning initiative was introduced during Summer Semester of 2013 at Penn State Lehigh Vallley. From the beginning, a formalized process was implemented which included faculty development and consultation with instructional design professionals before a course was approved. A nominal incentive pay is offered for the development of a FlexLearning course and an additional nominal incentive pay is offered the first time a FlexLearning course is delivered.
FlexLearning Course and Faculty Development
Faculty are responsible for the development of a FlexLearning course, and are free to design the course content and delivery method in a manner best suited to their discipline and course objectives. The process follows the path outlined below.
Step One: Training
Faculty complete the following courses. OL2200LV was created locally and is facilitated by PSU-LV’s Instructional Designer, Dean Shaffer. Other OL courses are delivered by Penn State Outreach and Online Education.
- OL2000: Effective Online Teaching
- OL2200LV: Preparing Your FlexLearning Course (specific to PSU-LV)
- OL2700: Online Presence or OL4000: Course Authoring
Step Two: Planning
Faculty redesign their course material to allow the delivery of the course as fully online or in the traditional face-to-face or as a blended course. The following are intended to help in the design and development process:
- Online Course Self Analysis
- Best Practices for Online Teaching
- Best Practices for Course Management
- Faculty Checklist for Online or Hybrid Courses
- Online or Hybrid Course Development Proposal Form
- Supplemental Syllabus Categories for Your Online Course
Step Three: Consultation
After planning a specific FlexLearning course, Individual faculty members sit down with members of the FlexLearning Committee to share their ideas and discuss the design and methods. They bring the following completed planning documents:
- FlexLearning Faculty Memorandum Of Commitment (FMOC)
- Course syllabus
- FlexLearning Course Review Rubric
- Sample two week plan
Additional Information
For more information contact Dr. Carolina McCluskey at cpsm@psu.edu