Instructional Technology Glossary
Instructional Moadalities
The three instructional modalities in SIS/Albert are listed below and are accompanied by brief definitions. These definitions focus on instructional time, as distinct from student work time. In all three categories, the required student work may involve engagement with online materials or platforms. But what distinguishes these modalities from one another is the degree to which active instruction (as opposed to student work) happens in an online format.
- IN-PERSON
100% of the required instructional time is in person.
- ONLINE
100% of the required instructional time is in an online format.
Types of online courses include:
- Asynchronous (e.g., a self-paced online course with content available during a set timeframe)
-Synchronous (e.g., an online course with real-time virtual sessions, with
all participants logged in simultaneously)
-Hybrid (e.g., an online course involving a mix of asynchronous and
synchronous instruction)
These three types will be identifiable in SIS by their distinct meeting patterns. (An asynchronous course, e.g., will have no meeting pattern reflected in SIS.)
- BLENDED
Some but not 100% of the required instructional time is in person, with the rest being in an online format
Like a fully online course, the online component of a blended course can be offered in asynchronous, synchronous, or hybrid meeting patterns.