LIFE Flex Spotlight What is Your LIFE Flex Style ?
A flexible education schedule is a successful education schedule . LIFE Flex is an innovative approach to course delivery that provides students with flexibility and multiple learning opportunities . In the 2021 Fall Quarter , students had the ability for the first time to choose to engage with classes in three different ways : face-to-face experience oncampus ; synchronously ( real-time ) online ; or in some cases , in a self-guided , asynchronous ( not real-time ) option for portions of courses . Online offerings are accessed via Blackboard , Life U ’ s learning management system .
In this student-directed learning experience , students are in the driver ’ s seat deciding how , where and when to engage with professors and classmates . This allows for more control over students ’ daily schedules and access to robust learning resources both in-person and online .
Effective for the 2021 Fall Quarter , all Life University lecture classes utilized the LIFE Flex format . In order to encourage proper engagement , there are attendance expectations in place to ensure academic excellence . Students are expected to attend lecture classes in person for at least 70 % of total lecture sessions each quarter . Students attending less than 70 % of in-person lecture classes will have their grade lowered , which can result in failure of the course . Laboratory sessions involve extensive hands-on and inclass participation , so in-person attendance is individually set , required and outlined in course syllabi .
In the 2022 Spring Quarter , Academic Affairs conducted a survey among students and faculty to gauge early response to LIFE Flex and how to improve its use . Students responding to the survey strongly support synchronous participation ( 35.7 %) as it allows flexibility of location , while 24 % prefer the asynchronous modality as it provides the most flexibility . The general expressed preference is still high for traditional course delivery , at 40 % for students and 75 % for faculty , though it was noted that if better technology is made available , then delivery in LIFE Flex modalities should become simpler and more efficient .
To address technology challenges , Life U faculty utilized demo technology in two classrooms located in the CGUS and CCE buildings during the 2022 Spring Quarter . These classrooms were fitted with cameras installed at the back of the classroom that can be moved via remote to focus on various areas in the room . This assists the instructor to focus on important details or presentations within the lecture utilizing one button from the classroom podium . Microphones were installed in the ceiling to improve the quality of sound , allowing remote students to easily hear conversations occurring in the classroom .
The success of this technology has been positive . Life U plans to migrate classrooms to a similar technological capability as presented in the demo classrooms . The timeframe for implementation is open , as availability of technology components is limited . Life U ’ s Information Technology ( IT ) department will oversee installations and work with academic leadership to schedule updating specific rooms over the next several quarters . As the University continues to utilize LIFE Flex , feedback is encouraged regarding the types of interaction and improving the delivery of curriculum in all programs . For more information on LIFE Flex , please visit life . edu / academic-pages / life-flex .