Data integrity for informed decisions and student success
A course instruction mode defines how a class is taught.
This may be in-person in a classroom or lecture hall, or online using video conferencing; it may be taught at a specific time (synchronously) or on demand (asynchronously), or any combination of all of these. To best describe these differences, the University of Maine System uses Instruction Modes.
Get Started!
- View the instruction modes and their details in the table below.
- Follow an easy-to-use student flowchart (External Site) or faculty/staff member flowchart (External Site), or text-only, accessible guide.
- Watch a closed captioned instructional video on instruction modes (External Site).
Instruction modes:
- Allow students to choose classes that fit their learning goals and their schedule.
- Allow faculty and staff to categorize classes into the best suited Instruction Mode.
Instruction Mode Details
University of Maine System Instruction Modes for all Institutions beginning Summer 2021
| The course section is designed to be delivered: | Official Instruction Mode Description (Code) | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Via Technology, in a classroom.All or the majority of required class meetings occur in a classroom, with instruction delivered via technology | Receive(RE) UMA Use Only | The course meets at scheduled times in a classroom. Instruction is delivered to the classroom via technology. |
| In-person, off-site. This is a Service Learning course. | Service Learning(SL) | Instruction time and locations are to be determined by the instructor. |
| In-person, off-site. This is a clinical or field placement, an internship, independent study, or research hours. | By Arrangement(AR) | These courses are meant for clinical placements, field placements, independent study, internships, and research hours. They do not require a classroom or meeting time but are considered to be in person, with location and time arranged by the instructor or supervisor. |
| In-person, in a classroom. All or the majority of required class meetings happen in-person, and in a classroom. | In-Person(P) | The course is taught fully face-to-face in a classroom at scheduled meeting times. |
| Entirely online. All classes are fully online with no scheduled online meetings. | Online (WW) | A course section where 100% of course activity and class meetings are completed asynchronously (i.e., not in real time) online with no required online meeting times. |
| Entirely online. Classes are fully online with required online meeting times for all or part of the course. | Distance Synchronous Learning(DS) | These classes never meet in person. The course is taught online, and the instructor is expected to deliver instruction synchronously (i.e., in real time) at the times for which the class is scheduled. |
| Both online & in-person. There is flexibility for students to attend required class meetings in-person, or via live video or audio. | Hyflex(HF) | A single course section with the option to attend on-site, attend via video or audio technology during class meeting times, or in combination of the two. |
| Both online & in-person. There is a mix of in-person scheduled class meetings and online components. | Hybrid/Blended(HB) | These classes have both in-person and online components. The dates/times of in-person meetings are scheduled. |
| Both online & in-person. Students attendance requirements are split between required online and in-person meeting times. | Split Delivery(SD) | These classes will meet during all scheduled class times. However, groups of students in the class will alternate in-person and virtual attendance as designated by the instructor to maintain reduced density in classrooms (i.e., platoon system). |
Distance Education Reporting
For reporting purposes, it is frequently required to know if an instruction mode fits into a simple category: distance education or not distance education. The instruction mode codes shown in the above table fit into those categories as noted in the table below.
| Instruction Mode Code If Code is: | Distance Category then category is: |
|---|---|
| In-Person (P) Hyflex (HF)Split Delivery (SD) By Arrangement (AR) Service Learning (SL) | Not Distance Education |
| Online (WW) Distance Synchronous (DS) Hybrid/Blended (HB) Receive (RE) | Distance Education |