As you’re probably aware classes at Columbia Basin College are delivered in three modes, online, hybrid and standard lecture. If the class is scheduled to be lecture mode it means you must attend class every day. Okay, for you literal types this doesn’t exactly mean every day since classes usually only meet Monday through Thursday, but you get the idea. If the class is scheduled to be online you will not be expected or required to come to campus for any class sessions. If the class is scheduled to be in hybrid mode it typically means that the class meets two days per week and the instructor will be in class to help you on those days. Computer Science and Cyber Security classes are offered at least once per year in lecture mode, and once per year in hybrid or online mode for those students who don’t live in the Tri-Cities area, are working full time, or prefer online classes for whatever reason. Hopefully you already know which mode this class is using.
One of the first things you need to do in this class is ensure that you know whether your section of this class is being taught as an online class, a hybrid class, or a standard lecture class. This will tell you if you need to attend class on campus and if so how many days per week. This is especially critical if you have restrictions on your time that may make it difficult for you to attend the scheduled classes. If you are signed up for a lecture or hybrid section of the course but want to take it online make sure and get in touch with me to see if this is possible. We can most likely find a way to make this happen, but there may be courses where this is not possible. Note that you need to get express consent from me for each and every class you take from me before taking a lecture or hybrid class fully online. If you fail to get this permission it will have a negative effect on your class grade and you may be dropped from the class for non-attendance.
If you don’t know the mode of the class this quarter you can determine this information by looking at your class schedule. You should see information that looks like one of the lines shown in the following figure:
Look at the code under the Section heading. It will be DII, DIH or something else.
DII – This code stands for DIstance Instruction and it means the class is online and you are not required to attend any regular class sessions. However there may be a few days where you are required to come to class to do things like attend an orientation or take a test. If there are any days and times that you are required to attend class they will be communicated to you by the instructor.
DIH – This code stands for DIstance Hybrid and it means the class is a hybrid class with a mix of online and regular class sessions. The instructor will be in classroom on the scheduled days. In the past the college stated that all students taking hybrid classes MUST attend class on the days listed for the class. While this is no longer the case, you should still get in contact with me as soon as possible to check your options regarding attendance.
Anything Else – If the Class Section code is anything else it means that the class will be delivered in the traditional lecture format. Once again, in the past the college stated that all students taking lecture classes MUST attend class on the days listed for the class. This policy has been loosened up to allow more flexibility for students that may not be able to attend classes on campus, but only with the permission of the instructor. If you are unable to attend class on the scheduled days you should still get in contact with me as soon as possible to check your options regarding attendance.
This note is crucially important so I’m going to repeat it. If you’re signed up for a lecture or hybrid section of the class you need to get express consent from me for each and every class you take from me before taking a lecture or hybrid class fully online. If you fail to get this permission it will have a negative effect on your class grade and you may be dropped from the class for non-attendance.