What is eLearning?

Pensacola State College has adopted the broad term, “eLearning” to refer to learning activities that utilize electronic technologies in general and the Internet in particular. The eLearning website is the focal point of Pensacola State College’s eLearning activities and serves as the gateway to Pensacola State College’s eLearning system called Canvas. PSC offers courses in several modalities, which all use an eLearning component and are described below. 

Distance Learning

Distance learning courses (also referred to as “online” courses) require no on-campus visits, and are asynchronous, which means students are not required to meet with their instructor online at specified dates or times throughout the semester. Distance learning courses are housed in Canvas, which is our online course management system. They have weekly schedules, login requirements, and assignment due dates that must be adhered to. Many instructors require proctored testing which may be monitored by a specific browser, a live person at a testing center, or another option. Your instructor will let you know how online exams will be proctored. When searching the PSC course schedule note that the class type for a distance learning course is “Web-based Course”.  Note, students are charged an additional fee of $12 per credit hour for Distance Learning Courses.

Live Online

Live Online courses are also online courses, but are synchronous, which means students ARE required to log on to the course site in Canvas to meet with the class at specific dates and times throughout the semester. These classes utilize the Zoom videoconferencing technology to construct a real-time learning environment for students and instructors. Students login to the course at regularly scheduled dates and times throughout the semester to “attend” class in this virtual classroom. Live Online classes are perfect for students who prefer real-time contact with an instructor but also wish to pursue their studies from a remote location. Reliable Internet access, a webcam, and microphone are required.  When searching the PSC course schedule note that the class type for a live online course is “Live Online”.  Note, students are charged an additional fee of $12 per credit hour for Live Online Courses.

Hybrid

A Hybrid course is one in which some portion of on-campus instruction is replaced with online asynchronous instruction delivered in Canvas. Hybrid courses are designed to simply reduce the number of times a student has to travel to any Pensacola State campus. Attendance at the on-campus meeting times is required. The online component also has weekly schedules, login requirements, and assignment due dates that must be adhered to. When searching the PSC course schedule note that the class type for a hybrid course is identified as “Hybrid”. 

Traditional On-Campus

Traditional on-campus classes meet on campus in a specific classroom at scheduled days/times of the week throughout the term. These courses often use companion websites in Canvas to house content that supplements and supports the course. For example, a collection of assigned readings, homework, practice activities, etc., are the kinds of things one might find on a companion website for an on-campus course. At some point during a course the instructor might instruct his/her students to access this information, but not in lieu of class attendance. When searching the PSC course schedule note that the class type for a traditional on-campus course is identified as “Lecture”.