West Coast University Catalog
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Definition of a Credit Hour in an Online Class

Calculation of credit hours in an online or blended format course is based on the consideration of the following activities:

  1. The time spent in live instruction. Live instruction may be
    1. synchronous or instructor-led online time, or
    2. on-ground learning in the classroom 
  2. The number of screens viewed in the course of online instruction. The average time spent on a “screen” is generally calculated as being between 3-5 minutes per screen.
  3. The run-time for required media asset assignments calculated on a 1:1 ratio to seat time. Run time may be factored to account for expected multiple viewings of the asset for review and re-enforcement of the material. Assets may include
    1. self playing videos or animation, or
    2. audio podcasts and recordings
  4. Links to external learning assets – calculated as an average of the time required to consume content such as by
    1. reading an article
    2. watching a self-paced instructional video
    3. playing an instructional game
    4. or completing a simulation
  5. Assignments – The instructor expectation of time spent in online instructional assignments and activities such as:
    1. postings to group discussion sites/bulletin boards
    2. online group project work
    3. use of class social media sites for group discussion/participation
    4. student-teacher interaction

The point is, West Coast University strives to ensure an equivalency of effort and time invested by the student in learning activities, whether a course is taught in an online or on-ground environment.