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SUNY Niagara offers a variety of flexible instructional methods to meet your degree requirements! To align with the way that students live, work, and learn today, SUNY Niagara is providing students with a variety of flexible learning options. The aim of these delivery modes is to offer students the maximum amount of choice possible within a formal learning program. Face to Face Enhanced, Online, Hybrid, Blended, and HyFlex courses give you the opportunity to gain knowledge using current technology with flexible scheduling and learning environments.
100% online: Flexible and convenient online learning on your schedule but within course deadlines
Combination of traditional in-person learning and online coursework
Combination of live, synchronous online learning and online coursework
Option for in-person, live online, and/or fully asynchronous learning
Traditional in-person learning with a Microsoft Teams option.
A Live Online Interaction (LOL) class is “a live, synchronous class held via Microsoft Teams at a specific day and time, allowing for real-time interaction with faculty and classmates without being physically on campus.”
Any course with online course will require you to have access to a broadband connection and a desktop or laptop computer/MAC, using a tablet or other mobile device may not have the functionality required for the course. You can use the Brightspace Mobile App to complete some of your coursework, however, in most cases, the app does not provide the full functionality needed to complete ALL of your required coursework.
In addition, check with your professor to make sure your available equipment is acceptable for each course you are taking. Some technology-related courses require the ability to download software, for example, Chromebooks do not allow software to be downloaded.
**Technology for courses using real-time synchronous technology “Team’s” such as Blended, HyFlex, Live Online Interaction (LOL) Course, and Face to Face Enhanced Courses – In addition to any technical requirements listed above, blended courses use Real-Time Technology, which means you will be required to log into a web conferencing tool like Team’s to participate in the live “synchronous” virtual lectures. To participate in the live lectures, you will need access to a webcam or built-in laptop camera and microphone. In most cases, you can download the Team’s app and participate using your tablet or smartphone. Your instructor will provide you details on which web conferencing tool will be used for your blended course.
You can attend class from anywhere as long as you have access to a desktop or laptop computer/MAC with a broadband connection. Attendance in an online course is tracked by your course work submissions, including discussion postings. Logging in to the course does not count for attendance. Most online courses will require your participation three to four times per week. You can access your course 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Although you can work at your own pace and choose when to “attend” class, each online course has a definite timeline and weekly deadlines. In addition, some online courses may require a proctored exam and some may require the use of a lock-down test monitoring software called Respondus. You will be notified by your instructor if this technology is being used in your course.
Combine face-to-face or synchronous “live virtual sessions” along with online instruction. Attendance is required for the face-to-face or live virtual sessions along with submissions of course work required in the online portion. Check your schedule in Banner Web for course days/times. Each instructor will email you prior to the course start date with additional getting started information, web conferencing log in information, course work requirements, and more.
provide you the option to attend the course in-person on campus or join in the class virtually, in real-time through Team’s at the normal scheduled class times. You can choose how to attend class and attendance will be taken whether you come to campus or log in to the class live through Team’s.
Provide you the highest level of flexibility as you can choose between a variety of delivery modes. You can attend In-person on campus, attend class virtually, in real-time through Team’s, or complete the coursework 100% asynchronously online. You can choose your preference and change the mode on how you attend from one class meeting to the next as needed. Attendance will be documented by attending class in-person or virtually in real-time with Team’s, or if you choose to attend to complete the course asynchronously online it is documented by the course work you complete and submit. Each submission in Brightspace is date and time stamped and that is how attendance is recorded for the 100% online option.
Attendance is required for live virtual sessions along with submissions of course work required in the online portion. Check your schedule in Banner Web for course days/times. Each instructor will email you prior to the course start date with additional getting started information, web conferencing log in information, course work requirements, and more.
Online LearningPhone:Faculty Support call – 716-614-6487Students Support call 716-614-6488Email: onlinelearning@niagaracc.suny.eduLocation: D-106 Suite Learning Commons