What is a CLOC?
CLOC stands for Campus-Linked Open Course. This online course is linked to SI 357, Building Web Applications in Django, while it is being taught at the University of Michigan School of Information.
The online and campus experiences are not identical. Campus students are formally enrolled, receive credit, complete graded work, and follow firm deadlines. CLOC learners participate online without university credit or grades. The connection comes from the shared course calendar, weekly communication, course materials, office hours, and selected support from the instructional team.
Why take it this way?
Completely self-paced courses are flexible, but it can be hard to stay motivated when there is no schedule and nobody to ask for help. The CLOC adds a reason to keep going: a cohort moving through the material, suggested due dates, office hours, and responsive help when the course is confusing.
How it works
You will work through readings, videos, Django examples, exercises, and programming assignments. The campus-linked portion lasts about 15 weeks. There are no late penalties or exams for CLOC learners, and course access continues for approximately 360 days so you can finish at your own pace.
The first offering is also an experiment. We will listen to questions and feedback, clarify instructions, add examples, and improve the course as we learn what online students need.