eLearning Department

The Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) eLearning Department and the Office of Faculty Development comprise the Center for Teaching Excellence. The eLearning Department provides the academic support services, infrastructure, professional development and technical support to implement and maintain the effective use of technology in the delivery of high-quality courses for our students to enhance their learning experience.

We accomplish this through our collaborative partnerships with a variety of innovative technologies and systems such as:

  • Canvas
  • Acadeum
  • Online Learning Consortium
  • Florida Virtual Campus
  • TurnItIn
  • Tutor.com
  • Respondus
  • Microsoft
  • Zoom

Types of Courses

100% of the direct instruction of the course is delivered using some form of technology when the student and instructor are separated by time, space, or both. All special course components (exams, internships, practice, clinical, labs, etc.) that cannot be completed online can be completed off-campus. Courses may have virtual synchronous class attendance requirements which will be published in the PBA online course schedule.

  • While an internship or a similar type of course component may require the student to be at a specific location, the requirement can be met via a local option for the student.
  • Courses that have less than 100% of direct instruction delivered using some form of technology are not considered to be a Fully Distance Learning Course, even though it may be possible to complete the course via a local option for the student.

80-99% of the direct instruction of the course is delivered using some form of technology when the student and instructor are separated by time, space, or both. There is a requirement for the student to attend campus or another explicit geographic location for a portion of the course. These courses are conducted primarily via web-based instruction and collaboration. Courses may require proctored examinations, and may include opportunities for face-to-face orientations, but there may be limited class attendance requirements.

  • An internship or similar type of course component that requires the student to be at a specific location, potentially at a distance from his or her home, would not be considered a Primarily Distance Learning Course unless 80-99% of the direct instruction is delivered using some form of technology.

A combination of face-to-face and technology delivered instruction where from 50 to 79% of direct instruction is delivered utilizing some form of technology when the student and faculty member are separated by time, space or both. These courses may include required classroom attendance and alternate eLearning delivery methods. Hybrid courses have considerable content distributed over the Internet and/or via other eLearning or technology delivery methods, which may replace some class sessions. Hybrid courses may combine a video component with online instruction and assignments.

A combination of face-to-face and technology delivered instruction where from 20 to 49% of instruction is delivered when the student and faculty member are separated by time, space or both. These courses will include required classroom attendance and alternate eLearning delivery methods. Minimally Hybrid courses may have content distributed via eLearning or technology delivery methods, which may replace some class sessions.

Tutoring

All currently enrolled PBA students receive 5 hours of free tutoring per term. Reach out to the PBA eLearning team for additional online tutoring hours and/or assistance with online tutoring by emailing onlinehelp@pba.edu or calling (561) 803-2652.

Location

1301 South Olive Avenue, Room 108
(north west most entrance next to the VL Rinker building)

Contact

Contact the eLearning Department
onlinehelp@pba.edu | (561) 803-2652

outline of the continental United States

We are in 49 States

PBA’s online courses are open to students in 49 states (excludes California) through our agreement with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA).

Quality Matters

PBA is a member of the Quality Matters (QM) organization. QM is a nationally recognized, faculty-driven peer-review process used to ensure quality in online and hybrid course design via a research based, standards rubric. Our Instructional Designers and faculty have received QM professional development and certification in using the QM Higher Education Rubric.

Quality Matters (QM) Organization

Award Winning Program

PBA’s commitment to quality online and hybrid course design is evidenced in the recent award of the Association of Christian Continuing Education Schools and Seminaries (ACCESS) Course of the Year Award for Outstanding Hybrid Course. The award was given at the annual conference on March 15, 2019. The hybrid course which won the award was NUR 6153 Advanced Nursing Practicum II.

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