School of Professional Studies Office of Distance Learning

Summary

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) has a teaching and learning model based on asynchronous learning. As the SPS student population is comprised of adult students at varying stages of their careers and lives, this works well. However, the asynchronous elements of a course are best when complemented with strategic, effective synchronous sessions. When asynchronous material is accompanied by synchronous sessions, students receive a bi-modal delivery of information and support that reinforces the building of peer-to-peer and student-to-instructor relationships. We recommend using sync sessions for interactive activities, such as group discussions, problem-solving exercises, social events, and guest speakers.