4 University of Massachusets – UMassFlex

Flexible Learning

UMass defines flexible learning aka UMass Flex as any course taught as in person plus either synchronous online and/or asynchronous options for students to complete all course expectations. UMass includes “flexible teaching strategies or practices” a less formally/institutionally defined concept that includes various teaching practices that individual faculty may adopt when teaching in any mode that provide flexible options for students (ie an inperson class in which the instructor allows students to attend synchronous online on occasion, an online course in which the instructor offers in person office hours).

Initiative: Flex Learning Fellows (FLP)- 2021 through 2023

The FLP was offered for two years by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Instructional Design offices. FLP was a competitive departmentally based program that provided departments with up to 25K per year (to be used in any way that supported an individual department) and included two departmental faculty reps who participated in biweekly FLP professional development sessions designed to promote shared expertise in flexible learning and leadership skills so that fellows could support their departmental colleagues.

Critical success factors:

• Departments had to offer a minimum of one UMass Flex course during the funding period. Fellows needed to develop resources to be shared within their departments.
• Departmental plans/proposals had to ensure sustainability post funding period.
•  Institutionally UMass had expectations for increased student enrollment in Flex classes and input from fellows/departments on faculty/department needs for Flex classroom technology and support.

Challenges:

• Leadership changes led to a changed focus on developing single courses rather than departmental initiatives. Funding was discontinued beginning the 2023 – 2024 year.
• Issues/concerns were expressed by the faculty union in terms of work load issues (flex was perceived as teaching double sections—in person plus asynchronous/synchronous).
• Tracking/scheduling of UMass Flex courses was difficult because of course enrollment software limitations.
• Classroom technology issues (needed hardware) as well as support personnel was an ongoing issue which proved frustrating to faculty/departmental participants

Evaluation or assessment of impact:

• The FLP program effective included formative quality assessments by Flex faculty representatives—used for program improvement.
  • Student surveys of their perceptions of learning in flexible classes (both official UMass Flex as well as courses using flexible learning teaching strategies).
  • Enrollment data for students enrolled in different UMass Flex courses.

Next steps:

•         FLP is no longer funded.
•         The instructional design offer intends to offer course design institutes in the future (timeline unclear).
•         The CTL will continue to offer faculty resources on flexible teaching strategies.
•         The status of designating courses as UMass Flex courses is still in development.
•         The leadership for UMass Flex is being restructured from a former “oversight” by a Flexible Learning Implementation Committee disbanded and move to a Flexible Education Committee (more focused on traditional online learning).
•         Senior leadership changes at the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor levels may impact institutional focus and resources for flexible learning.
•         Flex classrooms are still funded for deployment but the scale may be reduced.