Why Design for Flex?

"In terms of why flex works well, it really puts students in charge of their own learning. The students who feel like they learn best from in-person instruction and classroom interactions have that traditional format, while the students who need most of the content online due to shifting work schedules or other responsibilities can still take the course and benefit from the material."

Janelle Cordero, English, SCC

Expanding on Beatty (2019), a Flex course may provide opportunities for:

• Increased access to courses:
  • when attending class in person is problematic, and 
  • when desired classes are scheduled at the same time
• Schedule control: more control over day to day schedules associated with attending class
• More learning resources: multiple modes of participation often require more robust instructional materials, enabling richer instruction and providing additional opportunities for learning 
• Provide a built-in alternative when classroom instruction isn’t possible due to scheduling conflicts (inclement weather, less lost time if something gets in the way of instruction)

What Does This Look Like?

With all the moving parts of a Flex course, it can be difficult to imagine what Flex looks like in action. DePaul University instructors have been designing for Flex for years and have created the following video containing helpful insight from both the students and the instructors of Flex courses.

---

Click Next to learn about Consistency and Equivalency for Flex course design