Email This Email This       

Instructor Handbook

Teaching a Flexible Learning Course

Teaching a Flexible Learning course requires flexibility. Our students often have exceptional circumstances and need additional support, for which our office is readily available. Flexible Learning instructors must also be flexible in order to aid our student population.

Because these distance education courses function outside of the normal semester schedules, we often operate under different scheduling constraints. Our students are also geographically disbursed. They may not be familiar with all of UF’s policies or resources, and may need some assistance regarding grading, honor code, and transcript information.

Points to Remember

  • Communication:
    Open lines of communication are critical. In addition to online course internal emails, our office regularly emails and mails information to instructors. Please ensure that you respond promptly and please remember to advise us and your students when you will be unavailable. Timely and responsive communication with students is essential for a succesful educational experience.
  • Flexibility:
    Our students require flexibility and access. If a student has a question that you can't answer, ask us. In the past, our instructors have created alternate lab assignments for prisoners who could not have lab materials; created alternate test options for students in touring bands who had difficulty arranging proctors; and much more. Even if we haven't stumbled across a particular problem before, we're here to help find solutions. Please keep this flexibility in mind when designing your course and when teaching.
  • Grading:
    Student papers need to be graded and returned promptly on a regular basis; there is a two-week maximum for unusual situations. If you have concerns for meeting this deadline, please contact our office so we can arrange an alternate grader or instructor. If you have concerns over academic honesty, please contact our office so we can proceed following UF policy.

Student Issues

The Division of Continuing Education stands behind its faculty. If, for any reason, you have an issue concerning a student, please do not hesitate to contact our office.