Distance Education

Distance Education Courses provide busy individuals - with work, family, and other responsibilities - the opportunity to pursue their education in a way that suits their busy lifestyles.  Below you will find the types of courses Delaware Tech offers and the skills and technology requirements necessary to participate in distance courses. We invite you to explore your options and then discuss with your Program Advisor which is best for you!

Primary Course Classifications

Classroom Course
Course activity is organized around scheduled class meetings. Classroom courses are measured by the number of hours spent in required class meetings or other traditional classroom activities, such as laboratories, field trips, or internships. Such courses may involve some sort of computer usage—for example, a software simulation or laboratory or design software for art or engineering applications—but the course is still anchored to the regular classroom schedule.

Video Conferencing
Course meetings are held in a campus-based video conference room (e.g. Distance Learning Classrooms) at designated times.

Web Conferencing
Web-based technologies are used to extend classroom lectures and discussions to students at remote sites in real time. These courses use web conferencing or other synchronous e-learning media to provide access to the classroom experience to students at off-campus locations (such as their homes, places of employment, other campuses, etc.) while otherwise maintaining a traditional classroom structure.

Hybrid Course
Online activity is mixed with classroom meetings, replacing up to 75% of in-person instruction. In addition to classroom meetings, students may be required to participate in online synchronous meetings. Instructors must clearly articulate expectations for all online and in-person class meetings to students within the first five days of class. Additionally, hybrid courses require that students meet in-person for the first day of class and receive instruction during all subsequent in-person meetings. Students may be required to take exams during some scheduled class meetings. However, a course in which students receive all instruction online and come to campus only to take tests does not meet the instructional requirements of a hybrid course.

Online Course
All course activity is done online; no required in-person sessions or on-campus activities are required within the course. Online courses consist entirely of online elements that facilitate the three critical student interactions: with content, the instructor, and other students. Students taking an online course may be required to take proctored tests at a testing center or through an online proctoring system. Additionally, students may be required to complete a practicum, residency, or internship depending on the requirements of the course/program. Students must be notified at the time of enrollment of any requirements for proctored tests (online or in a testing center).

Skills Necessary for Success in Distance Education

Distance education require a greater level of self-direction than traditional classroom courses. Students aiming to succeed in online courses should be comfortable directing their own learning and possess the following skills:

• Self-motivation to complete coursework
• Discipline to stick to a schedule
• Willingness to seek help
• Determination to solve technology problems

Learn more about preparing for online courses.