Online Course Delivery Structure
AIU Online follows the 10-week quarter system. At the undergraduate level, each quarter consists of two sessions of five-weeks each, or a single session of 10-weeks. Students focus on one to two courses in each session that comprises a full-time course load for the duration of the 10-week quarter. At the graduate level, students will take two 10-week courses each quarter. This is based on the adult learning theory that supports the belief that adult learners are more successful in focusing on two courses at a time. Information regarding expectations of time to be spent in AIU courses can be found in the Credit Hour Policy (
Undergraduate) and (
Graduate) sections of this catalog.
Each course includes five learning units that consist of two to three learning events in each unit. Based on the learning model explained below, each learning event produces a learning product that is evaluated on an outcomes mastery model for learning assessment. AIU Online five-week courses are delivered in a format based on the general structure outlined below.
GRADED LEARNING EVENTS
Course units may contain one to three Learning Events (known traditionally as assignments). Instructions for each Learning Event are provided and each concludes with a deliverable product.
Deliverable products vary and may be in the form of a paper, a PowerPoint Presentation, programming code, an HTML Web page, a design, or any other authentic assessment measure that allows the student to demonstrate his/her mastery of the course outcome related to that unit of instruction. These deliverables are evaluated qualitatively for outcomes mastery using the stated course evaluation methods. Students have regular access to the course grade book through the course platform. Grading is organized according to the unit structure. Learning events should be each student’s individual work unless designated as a group project. Students agree that by taking courses through AIU Online, all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.
INTELLIPATH™
Some AIU Online courses include intellipath, an adaptive learning system that provides you with a customized learning map built around your own unique knowledge base. With intellipath, you can skip over course content you already know and focus on what you need to learn, making learning more efficient. The platform consistently assesses your progress and updates your learning path based on your needs. intellipath also keeps both you and your professor informed on your progress, allowing for targeted outreach and coaching when and how you need it.
ASYNCHRONOUS DISCUSSION
Asynchronous discussions are tied to specific course Learning Events for each week of the five-week or ten-week session. Asynchronous discussion is required and evaluated qualitatively by the Instructor.
GROUP PROJECTS
Courses may include a group project that facilitates collaborative learning and teamwork. Group projects also adhere to a performance-based, authentic assessment of the students’ mastery of course outcomes. Products of the collaborative group project are evaluated based on the instructor’s evaluation of the demonstrated competencies.
COURSE COMPONENTS
Each AIU Online Course contain the following components:
SYLLABUS
The Syllabus tab includes the course description, course objectives, course materials list, the grading scale, instructor contact information, and other pertinent course-level information.
LIVE CHAT LESSONS
At their discretion, instructors may deliver a live chat lesson. Students are not required to attend the live chat lessons. The live chat lessons focus on a specific topic(s) for the appicable unit of the session. Live chat lessons are not included in the course grade, however, each individual lesson is archived, and they serve as valuable resources for learning and real-time interaction (especially for auditory learners).
UNITS
Every course is organized according to the five week, five unit format, i.e., Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, etc., or a ten week format in which each unit is two weeks in length (5 units total). Each week is identified by a specific Unit topic heading for each week of the session. For example, in a Sociology course it may appear as:
Unit 1: The Sociological Perspective
Unit 2: Society and Social Structure
Unit 3: Social Inequality
Unit 4: Social Institutions
Unit 5: Social Change
INTEGRATED CONTENT
Some online courses include integrated electronic content from a text companion website, CD ROM, e-Books or other delivery device. This content is fully integrated into the related unit of instruction or Learning Event with instructions for its use and purpose.
ANCILLARY CONTENT
Some online courses include ancillary electronic content found on a text companion website, CD ROM or other delivery device. When a student is referred to ancillary content, instructions on how and when to access the content is included in the unit and its use is identified.
ASSESSMENT
Every unit includes an Assessment of the course outcomes identified for that unit. Assessments are authentic and evaluated by standardized rubrics for each unit. Assessments can include papers, projects, code, designs, schematics, or any other authentic assessment measure that allows the student to demonstrate his/her mastery of the course outcome related to that unit of instruction. All grading is done qualitatively based on the Grading Scale Qualitative Definitions. Students have regular access to the course grade book through the course platform. Grading is organized according to the unit structure.