To ensure everyone’s health and safety, all Summer School sessions are now online for summer 2020.
Based on the expectation that social distancing will continue throughout the summer, the Brandeis Summer School will now offer all of the 5-week courses in Undergraduate Summer Session 1 and Session 2 via “remote learning.” As in past years, we will also offer a number (now greatly expanded) of 10-week asynchronous online classes.
What is the difference between 5-week Session 1 and Session 2 courses, and 10-week Session O?
- Session 1 (June 1 – July 3, 2020) and Session 2 (July 6 – August 7, 2020) will offer five-week courses via “remote learning,” through which you’ll engage with instructors and classmates by utilizing Zoom for synchronous meetings, as well as LATTE.
- Session O (June 1 – August 9, 2020) will also offer a number of 10-week asynchronous online classes. As in past years, Session O courses at Brandeis are generally presented asynchronously using a common structured calendar of readings, assignments, and interactions with classmates. You do not need to be online in front of your computer at set days and times each week. Instead, you’ll have shared course deadlines for completing the readings, watching and creating videos, submitting assignments, critiquing peer work, posting original and thoughtful contributions to online discussion forums, and replying to classmates.
What skills do I need to succeed in an online course?
- Strong reading and writing skills: our courses rely on written material, recorded video, and podcasts. In addition to weekly readings, course content may include weekly online “lecture notes,” supplemental readings, articles, case studies, and discussions. You’ll participate in the course through regular, written assignments, discussion posts, and project work.
- Effective time-management skills: using the syllabus, weekly checklists, and an online calendar and assignments tool, you’ll follow the course schedule and meet weekly assignment expectations. Expect to spend 18-22 hours per week in a 10-week course, and 36-44 hours per week in a 5-week course (including the live “remote learning” class meetings).
- Comfort with the technology: you’ll learn to use online learning technology effectively. All online summer courses are based within the Brandeis LATTE system, the University’s online learning environment. Remote learning courses will utilize Zoom. Many courses will also use other online tools, like the creation of videos, sharing of files, development of Google Slides, Sheets, and Docs, as well as specialized programs developed for the subject matter.
What courses are being offered in the 10-week session online, and in the 5-week sessions?
Visit our course listings page. Then, to find the 10-week asynchronous online classes, use the “Choose which sessions to display” filter at the top of the page to select “Session 0” (Online) to view just the courses that will be offered 10-week asynchronous online. The 5-week “remote learning” courses will be listed as Session 1 or Session 2, along with the dates and times of the online class meetings.
Registration will open soon!
The schedule and offering of summer are subject to change, and with the announcement that all classes will be online, a few courses have changed sessions, dates, and times. So be sure to review the Summer School course offerings and check your Sage account to confirm that you don’t have any holds that could prevent you from registering.
