Introduction
Purpose of Distance Education
The Las Positas College Distance Education mission statement:
The mission of the Distance Education program at LPC is to provide high quality course offerings and programs that contribute to the academic success of students who need flexibility in their class schedules and/or prefer to learn in a non-traditional setting. Distance Education courses will increase the community’s access to higher education, contribute to the diversity of the College, and meet all of the standards of excellence set forth in traditional, on-campus courses. Faculty will receive ongoing instruction in current pedagogical and technical practices in Distance Education design, development, and delivery. Technical and academic support will be provided to students and faculty to ensure that the Distance Education program carries out the mission of the College.
The college mission statement:
Las Positas College is an inclusive learning-centered institution providing educational opportunities and support for completion of students’ transfer, degree, basic skills, career-technical, and retraining goals.
Types of Distance Education
Online Courses
An online DE course is delivered via the Internet using a campus-supported Learning Management System (LMS). No on-campus meetings are required. Students are required to use a computer or mobile device with Internet access and might be required to use other available technologies to acquire and learn course content. Through regular and substantive interaction, the instructor and students interact to complete assignments and assessments and to demonstrate mastery of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).
Online courses come in three varieties at LPC:
- Asynchronous online: All activities and work are done online at any time of the day or night in the LMS, Canvas.
- Synchronous online: All class meetings occur live online on scheduled days and times in Zoom.
- Synchronous online and asynchronous online: Scheduled live, online meetings are combined with online asynchronous activities.
In the Schedule of Classes, asynchonrous online courses are identified with the section number of A0x, synchronous online courses are identified as S0x, and the combined synchronous-asynchronous courses are identifed as B0x (the B stands for Both).
Hybrid Courses
A hybrid course replaces some face-to-face class time with online instructional time. Any hybrid course that meets 51 percent or more at a distance is considered a hybrid DE course. Hybrids that meet 51 percent or more on campus is a non-DE hybrid course. On-campus meetings might include orientations, assessments, scheduled class meetings, or other required activities. A campus-supported LMS is used to provide course content replacing face-to-face time. Students must have access to a computer or mobile device and the Internet. Learn more about hybrid courses at LPC.
In the Schedule of Classes, hybrid courses are identified with the section number of H0x.
If instructors use the LMS to post materials and engage in discussion but do not replace their classroom time with online instruction, this is a web-enhanced course and is not considered a distance education course or a hybrid course. Web-enhanced courses are listed in the Schedule of Classes as regular, face-to-face courses.
HyFlex Courses
A HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible) course allows students the choice of attending class on campus or online. Online modalities may include synchronous online, and/or asynchronous online instruction. These courses are identified as HFx in the Schedule of Classes.
Distance Education Outcomes
Upon completion of the Distance Education program at LPC, students will be able to:
- Interact with the instructor online
- Interact with classmates
- Communicate using proper online behavior
- Navigate their course(s)
- Utilize online support services (e.g. tutoring, counseling, etc.)
- Troubleshoot problems
- Contact technical support
- Manage their time efficiently
- Utilize a mobile device for class purposes
- Utilize the LPC Library web site