what is a flex course

Flex courses are short, flexible online learning opportunities for member school students. Students enter a global conversation about relevant, real-world topics and build modern learning skills with guidance from a teacher at their home school. Flex courses are designed for students in grades 7-12.

Full Answer

What is the difference between a flex course and a course?

Courses are highly interactive and designed for daily student engagement, at a time during the day that works for them. Flex courses range in length from four days to two weeks, with students averaging around 45 minutes a day of engagement.

What is a Flex class?

What is a flex class? While the vast majority of Outschool classes feature scheduled, live meetings using our video classroom, we also offer the option to create flexible schedule (“flex”) classes, which don’t rely on live meetings.

What are the benefits of a flex course?

Flex courses are short, flexible online learning opportunities for member school students. Students enter a global conversation about relevant, real-world topics and build modern learning skills with guidance from a teacher at their home school. Flex courses are designed for students in grades 7-12.

What is an on-demand flex course?

On-demand flex courses have five parts, student engagement averages 30-45 minutes per part or 3-4 hours of total course engagement. Flex courses are available exclusively to GOA members at no additional charge, and schools can enroll an unlimited number of students.

What does flex course mean?

Flex Start classes allow students to take shorter term courses that start later in the semester, giving students more opportunities to manage around their schedules.

How do Flex classes work?

In a Flex Class format, teachers conduct the class by posting in the Outschool classroom and engaging with learners asynchronously. Flex classes run for a minimum of four weeks.

What is flex in college?

What is Flex? The California Community Colleges Flexible Calendar Program allows colleges to set aside a specified number of days/hours for professional development (Flex) activities in lieu of teaching each semester (Title 5, Section 55720).

What are flexible classes?

Flexible learning is a method of learning where students are given freedom in how, what, when and where they learn. Flexible learning environments address how physical space is used, how students are grouped during learning and how time is used throughout teaching.

How do you skip your period in middle school?

Consider going to class and asking to be released by the teacher to see the counselor, go to the bathroom, spend some time in the library, or call home. Check with the counselor and set an appointment for later in the day during the class you would like to skip.

What is Flex class in Outschool?

In a nutshell, an Outschool flex class is: A course you create of just about any subject that's approved by Outschool. At least 4 weeks long. No required live Zoom meetings or classes. Learning materials and student-to-student interactive activities are shared via Outschool's discussion board.

What is Flex start?

Through Flex Start, your classes will begin later or end earlier than the official term dates. This shortens the number of weeks you'll spend in class, but not the number of hours. A compressed schedule like this may not be right for everyone.

What is a Flex class Valencia?

Flex Start courses shorten the number of weeks you'll spend in class—from 14 weeks to 10 weeks or less. They start later, or end earlier, in the term than traditional courses.

What is flex day?

A flex day is an entire school day dedicated to flexible learning time for students. This enables them to work independently, get extra help where they need it, and pursue enrichment projects. Many schools have a 'flex block', 'activity period' or something called 'W.I.N.

How are online classes flexible?

Online students are able to plan study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. You can work at your convenience, which makes balancing work and family commitments with your education possible.

What is an example of flexible learning?

Modes of flexible learning include: face-to-face contact ▪ websites with interactive content and/or chat rooms, discussion boards ▪ CD-ROMs ▪ VHS or broadcast video ▪ teleconferencing or videoconferencing ▪ print resources ▪ audio tapes ▪ field trips.

What are the benefits of flexible learning?

Day or night; on campus or off: flexible learning delivers more scheduling options. Enhanced personalization of degree programs. More just-in time learning options for career learners. Improved learning experiences, including more experiential and community-based learning options.

What is flex course?

Flex courses are opportunities for high school students to build modern learning skills and join a global conversation about relevant, real-world topics. Led by an experienced GOA facilitator, students explore playlists of resources, engage in discussions with peers around the world, and complete hands-on activities to apply their new knowledge.

How many hours a week should I take flex classes?

The shortest courses often require students to engage for about 45 minutes a day, and the longer courses suggest students budget 2-3 hours a week. Flex courses are designed to pair well with on-campus courses or activities, and the learning is most impactful when supplemented by affiliated teacher support.

How long is a GOA Flex class?

Flex courses range in length from four days to two weeks, with students averaging around 45 minutes a day of engagement. While most students come to GOA flex courses when their teachers sign up the whole class or grade level, we certainly welcome individual students who just want to learn more about the topic.

Can you have more than one student in Flex?

No, there is no limit to the number of students allowed in each flex course. These courses are designed for a large, global audience. Many affiliated teachers choose to enroll all of their students in a given class in our flex courses, and incorporate our courses into their regular class meetings.

Do teachers get guidance during Flex?

Yes. Prior to the start of the course, affiliated teachers will receive guidance on how to prepare themselves and their students for the experience. During the course, the flex course facilitator will provide resources and teacher support.

Can flex courses track student engagement?

While affiliated teachers often monitor their own students’ participation using their own tools and approaches, flex courses are not designed for GOA to track or measure student engagement and therefore we cannot remark on individual student engagement.

What is a Flex class at FSU?

What is an FSU. flex class? In a flex course, the instructor teaches in-person, in the classroom, following all CDC recommendations and university safety protocols. Students enrolled in a flex course can choose to attend the course remotely or in-person.

What is FSU's flexible course model?

FSU's approach allows students the choice of learning remotely or in-person and includes both "flex" courses and those with cohorted face-to-face (F2F) and remote sections. It also ensures a high level of instructional resilience should the pandemic necessitate a shift back to fully remote instruction. Regardless of whether you teach a flex course, a cohorted F2F/remote course, or a strictly F2F course that may include quarantined students, the steps below provide helpful tips for course planning.

What are some examples of F2F?

Examples include pre-recording lectures, posting assignments, and creating discussion boards. When remote students engage with course materials, they should be doing an equivalent amount of work and contact hours as F2F students. Be sure to set clear expectations for both your remote and F2F students.

How to ensure remote students are making equivalent contact with the course materials?

Additional homework or other engagement assignments may be necessary to ensure remote students are making equivalent contact with the course materials. Step 2. Create and communicate your course policies. The course syllabus should clearly communicate your course policies.

What is FSU offering?

In addition to the tips below, FSU is offering a variety of trainings, Q&As, and other resources to support you with classroom safety, flex teaching strategies, and use of Canvas and related technologies. Stay tuned to university announcements so you can access these essential services for flex course planning and implementation.

What is flex class?

Flex classes are an opportunity to think creatively about how to foster deep and meaningful student-to-student and student-to-educator interactions in an asynchronous learning environment.

Why do flex classes need to be interactive?

Because flex classes don’t meet live, a higher degree of interactivity is required in order to sufficiently engage and support learners. Educational research shows that consistent interaction and feedback is necessary in order to create a quality learning experience. This means that we require that there are multiple opportunities ...

How long does a Flex class last?

Flex classes run for a minimum of four weeks.

Can you use live meetings in flex classes?

Can flex classes make use of live meetings? Yes, some flexible schedule classes do make use of live meetings. Some teachers arrange 'office hours' with their learners depending on need. Some classes also include optional group video chats that are arranged on a weekly basis, as opposed to being scheduled in advance.

What is a hybrid flexible course?

A HyFlex (hybrid-flexible) course is a course that allows each individual student to choose whether they want to attend class online or in person. Students can choose their preferred method of learning on a daily basis; they can attend some sessions online, and other sessions in the classroom.

What are the advantages of hyflex?

Advantages of a HyFlex course: Each student chooses to learn in their preferred learning style – whether online or face-to-face. Students entering the class with a stronger background in the course material may choose to do more online sessions rather than coming to class. Students have the option to attend both online and face-to-face versions ...

Can you take Hyflex online?

The flexibility of a HyFlex course is great for students who commute long distances or who have to balance work and family responsibilities with their education. Classes can continue to take place online, even when there are weather-related circumstances (ex. snowstorms) that make commuting difficult.

What is the flexibility of Hyflex?

Students can decide how to participate. The flexibility of the HyFlex model demonstrates a commitment to student success, and that flexibility can also enable institutions to maintain educational and research activities during a disruption.

What is hybrid flexible?

The hybrid flexible, or HyFlex, course format is an instructional approach that combines face-to-face (F2F) and online learning. Each class session and learning activity is offered in-person, synchronously online, and asynchronously online. Students can decide how to participate. The flexibility of the HyFlex model demonstrates a commitment to student success, and that flexibility can also enable institutions to maintain educational and research activities during a disruption.

Why is Hyflex important?

Despite the drawbacks, there are some obvious benefits to leveraging a HyFlex course model. It allows students more flexibility than ever before, meaning they can adjust as needed to accommodate their schedules. It also gives students access to a greater breadth of learning materials than they would otherwise receive.

What is real time streaming in Hyflex?

The element of real-time streaming means HyFlex courses have even greater needs when it comes not just to the technology itself, but also technology support. In the event that something isn’t working once a class starts, instructors will need swift access to technology assistance. Not to mention routine support needs.

What are the requirements for online learning?

Every program that is fully or partially online needs a number of key elements to provide a quality education experience. When it comes to online delivery, these factors break down as follows: 1 A technology ecosystem that supports online learners 2 Courses that are designed with online delivery in mind 3 Teaching methodology that incorporates online best practices 4 Student and faculty learning technology support

Does Hyflex require a lot of time?

Some skeptics point out that incorporating HyFlex models requires a lot of time, not to mention resources. These are fair criticisms. It’s true that faculty need ample training and will face the somewhat challenging task of reimagining a course that supports every learning experience.

Can schools offer online courses synchronously?

Part of this is because there are really a few ways to approach it. According to Dr. Brian Beatty, one of the professors who conceived this alternative delivery model, schools can offer the online component synchronously, asynchronously or by incorporating both options.

Is Hyflex the best course?

While there are some undeniable benefits of using a HyFlex course model, it isn’t necessarily the best choice for every institution. Some schools will inevitably find that it’s better to instead focus on other alternative modalities. Still, one thing that’s become clear is every college and university must be better prepared to leverage available technology and instructional models to offer programs remotely so they can continue education students during the next crisis or event.