Real Estate Courses - Computer-Based

The Commission approves the offering of computer-based course that meet applicable requirements outlined in rule 520-2-.04 as well as other standards including:

• Teach to Mastery - every computer-based course must teach to mastery meaning the course must, at a minimum:
  1. divide the material into major units as approved by the Commission;
  2. divide each of the major units of content into modules of instruction for delivery on a computer;
  3. specify the learning objectives for each module of instruction. The learning objectives must be comprehensive enough to ensure that if all the objectives are met, the entire content of the course will be mastered;
  4. specify an objective, quantitative criterion for mastery used for each learning objective;
  5. implement a structured learning method by which each student is able to attain each learning objective;
  6. provide means of diagnostic assessment of each student's performance on an ongoing basis during each module of instruction;
     • this assessment process must measure what each student has learned and not learned at regular intervals throughout each module of instruction, and
     • the diagnostic assessment must specifically assess the mastery of each concept covered in the content material
  7. provide a means of tailoring the instruction to the needs of each student as identified in #5 above. The process of tailoring the instruction must ensure that each student receives adequate remediation for specific deficiencies identified by the diagnostic assessment;
  8. continue the appropriate remediation on an individualized basis until the student demonstrates achievement of each mastery criterion;
  9. require that the student demonstrate mastery of all material covered by the learning objectives for the module before the module is completed; and
  10. consist of interactive computer-based instructional material which will reasonably require a student completing the course to expend the number of hours for which the course is approved.

• Documentation of Methodology - prior to the development of specific computer-based courses to be offered to meet prelicense, postlicense, and continuing education requirements, a school must submit to the Commission for its approval satisfactory documentation of the method by which each element of mastery is to be accomplished. If the Commission authorized that method, the school may utilize that method in developing any course it may offer to meet licensees' education requirements. The rationale for the educational processes implemented with computer-based study must be based on sound instructional strategies that have been systematically designed and proven effective through educational research and development. The basis and rationale for any proposed instructional approach must be specified in any request for approval.

• Required Testing and Evaluation of Courses - computer-based courses must also meet the other course requirements except those governing in-class instruction. Except where the Commission has granted permission in writing to do otherwise, persons developing computer-based courses must:
  • when developing prelicense courses for salespersons and community association managers, utilize at least nine persons (at least three must be unlicensed, at least three must be licensed salespersons or community association managers, and at least six must be non-educators) in testing programs in order to evaluate for the developer the quality of content and user friendliness of the software and hardware. Persons developing any other courses for education credit for licensees must utilize at least six persons (at least four must be non-educators and no more that two may be brokers, unless the course will only be offered to brokers) in testing programs in order to evaluate for the developer the quality of the content and user friendliness of software and hardware. Persons developing such courses must document that those testing the programs have varying skill and knowledge levels of computers and real estate; and
  • make reasonably available to an authorized representative of the Commission documentation on the development and testing processes utilized in its computer-based courses.

• Written Course Work/Assessments - schools may permit students in approved computer-based or distance learning course to complete written homework assignments, standard forms, or other assessment exercises. Each written assignment must include a student certification statement as written in Rule 520-2-.04. An approved instructor and/or school coordinator/director must supervise the grading of written course work required of students in computer-based courses.

• Time Requirements - every computer-based course must consist of interactive computer based programs which will reasonably require the student to expend:
  • twenty-five (25) hours in completing approved content areas for the Community Association Manager's Prelicense Course, or
  • seventy-five (75) hours in completing approved content areas for the Salesperson's Prelicense Course, or
  • twenty-five (25) hours in completing approved content areas for Sales Postlicense Course, or
  • sixty (60) hours in completing approved content areas for the Broker's Prelicense Course, or
  • the number of hours for which the course is approved for Continuing Education Courses.

• Instructors - every school offering an approved computer-based course must offer those courses under an instructor. For prelicense courses, the school must offer those courses under an approved instructor. Every instructor in a computer-based course must:
  • be available to answer students' questions or provide them assistance as necessary;
  • provide reasonable oversight of students' work in order to insure that the student who completes the work is the student who is enrolled in the course;
  • certify students as successfully completing a computer-based course only if the student has:
    • completed all instructional modules required to demonstrate mastery of the material,
    • attended any hours of live instruction and/or testing required for a given course, and
    • passed the final examination for the Community Association Manager's Prelicense Course, Salesperson's Prelicense Course, Sales Postlicense Course, Broker's Prelicense Course or any test required by a continuing education course.
  • obtain a student certification statement as written in Rule 520-2-.04

• Assessment Exercises - schools may provide homework exercises, contract forms, or other assessment exercises required in approved courses in a computer-based or internet delivery format. A school must provide prior documentation or demonstration to the Commission of the delivery methods prior to offering such exercises or assessments for authorization.

The following types of programs will not be deemed as meeting the requirements for computer-based courses:

1. those which consist primarily of text material presented on a computer or other audio or audiovisual programs rather than in printed material;
2. those which consist primarily of questions similar to those on the state licensing examination;
3. those which consists primarily of combinations of the elements in #1 and #2 above.