Instructional Methods

The University of Northern Colorado delivers courses through various instructional methods as prescribed by the Department of Education. The following list provides a description of the delivery methods of course offerings at UNC:

1. Face to Face: Instructors interact with students in the same physical space for 75 percent or more of the instructional time
2. Mixed Face to Face: Instructors interact with students in the same physical space for less than 75 percent of the instructional time with the remainder of the instructional time provided through distance or correspondence education (See Item 5 below)
3. Directed Study: Instructors interact with students through a flexible format
4. Internships/Practica:
   1. Internship: Applied and supervised field-based learning experience where students gain practical experience following a negotiated and/or directed plan of study
   2. Practicum: Practical student work under the supervision of a faculty member or under supervision of a professional in the student's field and regular consultation with faculty member
5. Correspondence: Instructors interact with students through mail or electronic interface according to a typically student self-paced schedule
   1. Instructional materials are provided by mail or electronic transmission including exams
   2. Students are separated from the instructor
   3. Interaction between instructor and student is not regular and substantive and is primarily initiated by the student 
   4. Typically self-paced 
   5. Is not distance education 
6. Distance Education: Instructors interact with students exclusively through one or more forms of distance delivery
   1. Students are separated from the instructor
   2. Interaction between the student and instructor is regular and substantive  
   3. Technologies:
      1. Internet
      2. One way and two way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communication devices
      3. Audio-conferencing
      4. Videocassettes, DVDs, and CD-Roms, if the videocassettes, DVDs or CD-Roms are used in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in a. through c.