Southwest Tech offers courses in various formats. As a technical college many of our courses require that the student and instructor be able to engage in face-to-face learning, while other courses can be offered in alternative formats. This page attempts to explain the differences in the different format options so students are better prepared for the experience of their courses.
Online
ONLINE COURSES consist of 100% (*Asynchronous) online course work. There are no requirements of on campus hours for these classes. Sometimes these courses use hands-on material provided to the students.
Remote
REMOTE COURSES are classes that are currently being offered virtually (*Synchronous or Asynchronous as deemed by faculty). They try to follow the format of a face to face course using distance Technology (Zoom).
Blended
BLENDED COURSES are classes that consist of a mix of on campus time requirements and online materials. These courses were designed to be face to face with an online component.
What this means at Southwest Tech:
Courses that were being delivered at a reduced in class time requirement (usually a 1/3 ratio) will continue to be offered in this format.
Face to Face
FACE TO FACE COURSES are classes that consist of 100% in person instruction. This format is usually required for classes where instructors must observe students demonstrating skills (any lab classes).
* Asynchronous learning happens on a flexible schedule. Instructors provide materials for reading, lectures for viewing, assignments for completing, and exams for evaluation, within a weekly time frame. Methods of asynchronous online learning include self-guided lesson modules, videos, posted lecture notes, and discussion boards.
* Synchronous learning happens in real time. This means that Instructors and students interact in a specific virtual place/time. It’s not exactly anywhere, anyhow, anytime. Methods of synchronous online learning include video conferencing, teleconferencing, live chatting, and live-streaming lectures (Zoom).