Flexible Learning | Support | Seneca Students

What is flexible learning?

Using innovative learning spaces, professors teach a class to students in a classroom, studio or lab and broadcast to students online at the same time. In courses delivered in the flexible format, students have a choice of coming to campus for an on-campus experience or learning remotely online.

The technology in the flexible learning enabled classrooms allows for in-person, synchronous online, and asynchronous online deliveries.

Why offer flexible learning?

Benefits to students

• Increased access to courses:
  • when attending class in person is problematic because of location, family or work commitments, and 
  • when desired classes are scheduled at the same time, providing students with the opportunity to select the courses they want
• 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 
• Access to recorded lectures and classroom activities is always available

What technology is needed for flexible learning?

The existing Technology Enhanced Classrooms (TEC) already have the required technology to deliver flexible learning. However, these are limited at each campus and costly to build. A simplified version of TEC has been identified. By using two core technologies from the TEC rooms – the Follow-Me auto tracking camera and Wireless wearable microphone, more than 20 classrooms are currently being configured to offer flexible delivery at King, Newnham, and Seneca@York campuses.

The Technology

Flex 2.0, provides enhancements to the Flex 1.0 classrooms, where initially we had an auto-tracking camera and wireless lapel mic for the instructor to use while teaching in the classroom.

• Aver TR530 Auto-tracking camera (classroom, lab use)
• Tiny ObsBot Auto-tracking camera (home use)

The additional technology added includes:

• Ceiling microphone (takes away the need for a wireless lapel mic)
  • Students connected remotely can now hear all the discussions, questions happening in the classroom without the need for the professor to repeat the question and answer with the traditional wireless lapel mic
• Audience camera
  • Students connected remotely can now see the students in class, the professor can switch between the auto-tracking camera and the audience camera based on the activities taking place in class
• Dual monitors on the podium
  • Professors can now have their content/presentation on one monitor and the online collaboration tool on the second monitor.  This provides the professor ease of use and not having to switch screens / applications
• Presets for the Auto-tracking camera
  • Professors can switch between two presets that show the left and / or right whiteboard.  Students connected remotely can view what is annotated by the professor

1. Current public health restrictions limit the number of students on campus. Flexible delivery will enable more students to participate in the class by connecting remotely as Seneca leverages high-quality technology to deliver to both sets of students
2. Students who are constrained by the pandemic, geography, finances, or other restrictions can avoid travelling and still participate remotely. They will not miss the opportunity to engage in the classroom experience or access the course lessons and learning materials
3. Even for those classes where all students may be participating remotely, faculty may want to elevate the online teaching experience and teach from a flexible technology enabled classroom

What’s next

As we explore flexible delivery over the summer, we will be gathering feedback on the training from faculty and the flexible experiences from students and employees to inform what we do next.  We are also continuing to research other forms of innovative technology for flexible teaching and learning.