Hours of Instructional Activity Equivalent

Instructional Activity Equivalent Ìý(IAE) is a general term to describe learning activities, assessments, and assignments that are required “student workâ€� in an academic course. Online courses are required to follow the guidance for hours of instructional activity outlined in theÌý Provost Memo: Definition of Credit Hour.

The information below provides definitions of applicable terms, examples of Instructional Activity Equivalents, and estimates of the time commitment for student work for each IAE are provided.

Definitions

A fully online course is defined by the Florida Board of Governors as having 100 percent of the direct instruction of the course delivered using a form of technology when the student and instructor are separated by time, space, or both. All special course components (exam, internship practice, clinicals, labs, etc.) that cannot be completed online can be completed off-campus.

A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement, for the various modes of instruction offered at ÌÇÐÄVlog, in accordance with the following guidelines:

  1. For traditionally delivered courses, not less than one (1) hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction each week for fifteen (15) weeks per Fall or Spring semester, and a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work for each credit hour. Equivalent time and effort is required for which may be offered over a shortened time frame. ELearning, hybrid, and other non-traditional modes of delivery will demonstrate equivalent time and effort.[BH1]

Procedures:

Faculty develop the syllabi for each of their courses, following the Provost’s Guidelines for Course Syllabi and any additional guidelines provided by the department/school and college, and the credit hour guidelines in this memorandum.

  1. The course syllabus must document not less than one hour (50 Minutes) of direct instruction each week for fifteen weeks per semester for each credit hour. Courses meeting during shorter enrollment periods must document the equivalent direct instruction time. ELearning, hybrid, and other non-traditional modes of delivery must document weekly equivalent instructional activities to demonstrate the effort needed to achieve the course learning outcomes.
Definition Section in Provost Memo: Definition of Credit Hour

Relevant State And National Policies/Guidelines For ÌÇÐÄVlog Online

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[pages 9-16]
2025 SUS Strategic Plan for Online Educationarrow_forward

Quality Course Standardsarrow_forward

Distance Education Definitionsarrow_forward

NC-SARA

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreementarrow_forward

Example Time Equivalencies for Instructional Activities

(This is not an exhaustive list. References are provided for additional IAE resources)
Instructional ActivityÌý - Hover items for Notes Ìý Ìý Instructional Activity Time Equivalent
Reading course content 1 hour per 35 - 40 pages. Use aÌý .
Discussion board post 30 - 45 minutes per post with at least 2 supporting details
Discussion board reply ½ hour per reply
Peer reviews 15 minutes per page
Interactive learning objects 30 - 45 minutes
Self-check quiz ½ hour per 5 questions
Instructor created videos 20 minutes
External video content ½ hour
Case studies 1.5 - 2 hours per case study. Read, analyze, post.
Group project 1 - 3 hours per week
Presentation creation ½ hour per slide
Presentation and feedback review 30 - 45 minutes
Lab activities 1 - 2 hours
Interviews 1 hour per interview
Interview Debrief 30 minutes
Field trips 45 minutes - 1 hour
Blog posts ½ hour per page
Synchronous research/project group meetings 1 hour per meeting. 1 - 2 hours prep for meeting

Additional resources

Penn State Online Faculty Engagement Subcommittee.(2021).

University of Florida Information Technology. (n.d.).

University of Nevada Reno Instructional Design & Educational Technology (n.d.).

University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication...