Context

Clarifying student workload is useful, but it is especially helpful when designing online or virtual learning. It supports a balanced workload throughout the course, helps students manage their time, and contributes to meeting accreditation standards. Based on national guidelines, Northwestern defines 1 credit to be 2 hours of work out-of-class for every 1 hour of work in-class. The Online Learning Office has developed our Credit Hour Calculator to measure student workload when most, if not all, activities occur in an online or virtual environment. The video below will further explain student workload and how to use the Credit Hour Calculator, which can be found below the video. Click on the video to play.

Measuring Student Workload Video (5:34)

Files

Other Resources

Rice University's Credit Workload Estimator

If you have any questions about measuring student workload or the Credit Hour Calculator, please contact the Online Learning Office (olo@unwsp.edu).