Hybrid Courses – What Are They?

What are they?

When referring to Hybrid courses, generally it is a class that is 80% online and 20% in the classroom.  This can vary though depending on the subject matter. For example, in a chemistry course, you might have 50% of the activities such as reading, writing, and quizzes take place online while the other 50% is reserved for in-class hands on lab exercises.

Characteristics of a Hybrid Course

• Remedial materials, lectures, articles, etc. can be put online.
• In class discussions can continue in online discussion boards.
• Online interactions improve writing skills, critical thinking, and research skills.
• Less controversial for faculty than an all online class.
• Students have to commute less and can go online/class at their convenience.
• Students who missed a class period may be able to catch up online.
• Saves classroom space.

Ideas for Hybrid Courses

• Have your in-class traditional course lectures on-campus and discussions and readings/activities online.
• You could alternate class sessions.
  • Week 1 – traditional class lecture
  • Week 2 – online class discussion and extended readings to be ready to discuss by week 3.
  • Week 3 – discuss readings from Week 2 and begin new traditional class lecture.
  • Week 4 – Have students research a topic using World Wide Web resources/Library resources and write a paper to be submitted for (peer review or instructor review)
• Have your course lectures/readings online and your lab sessions on-campus.
• You could alternate class sessions.
  • Week 1 – Meet online and read/discuss readings.
  • Week 2 – Meet on-campus to perform the lab.
  • Repeat the above steps but include resources such as learning objects, remedial materials, extended readings, discussions, and group projects all in the online portion of the class.
• Split up the semester by having either the first 8 weeks online or traditional, then the second 8 weeks either online or traditional.
  • You could save classroom space this way, as two hybrids can be running at the same time using the same room.