Hybrid Learning: The Best of Both Worlds

What is it?
The goal of a hybrid class is to blend the best features of in-person instruction with technology-enriched online experiences to create an educational atmosphere that promotes active participatory learning. By supplementing traditional in-person methods with web-based activities and resources, the course is made more accessible and interactive and cultivates increased student interest and self-exploration. [1]

Why do it?
Studies conducted at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee found that students benefited from the hybrid format by: learning more, writing better papers, performing better on tests, discussing course materials more meaningfully, and completing higher quality class projects.

Data from the University of Central Florida also indicate that students participating in hybrid courses received better grades than those taking traditional onsite classes or online courses and that student success rates in hybrid courses on the Central Florida campus are “equivalent or slightly superior” to face to face courses. Also notable is that the hybrid courses have lower dropout rates than courses that are taught solely online [2]

How is it done?
1.First, think about the types of activities that take place in a classroom environment. How can or can’t those be duplicated or enhanced in an online environment? (see Delivery Options for Online/Hybrid Activities handout).
2.Analyze your current face-to-face class outline. Are there any components of lessons that could be delivered online?
3.What are those components and how would they be delivered in an online environment?
4.Dissect a particular lesson by determining what activities can be taught in an online format and what activities are best suited in the face-to-face environment. (see Hybrid Lesson Design Tool handout).

Ideas to get you started:
•Maricopa Learning Exchange (MLX) Hybrid Resources: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/search_results.php

•Hybrid Design Resource Course:
http://bb63.maricopa.edu/webapps/login/
Username: Trainer Password: training
Click on GWC.Hybrid Design Resource Course in the list of courses (at the very end)

Sources
[1]http://teachvu.vu.msu.edu/public/pedagogy/hybrid/index.php?page_num=2
[2]http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no1/larson-daugherty.pdf

Active Learning Online...

Active vs. passive, what’s the difference???
Simply put, active learning is “doing.” The very nature of an online environment is active. Students very rarely are able to sit back and view or listen to anything. They must actively seek out knowledge and create their own truths.

“Most of the time, in a typical classroom setting, students are involved only passively in learning, i.e., in listening to the instructor, looking at the occasional overhead or slide, and reading (when required) the text book. Research shows that such passive involvement generally leads to a limited retention of knowledge by students…” *


What’s the big deal?
We know that student remember 90% of what they say and do and only 10% of what they read and 20% of what they hear…..(Dale, 1954)


How do I do it?
•Start small – you might already be doing it without knowing!
•Set the stage
•Approach each lesson from a student perspective
•Think about what the students will be “doing” each lesson


Activities
•Is there a lecture you typically prepare that can be more interactive (think: less reading, more research, summarizing, and synthesizing)? Have your students get into online groups and research various topics from a lecture. Use an online collaborative tool so that students can share ideas in an online area. Have them present their findings to the class in a virtual classroom or discussion board.
•Have a student or group of students moderate discussion boards. Ask them to facilitate the conversation and summarize and close the discussion board at the end.
•If students are writing papers, have them use the collaboration tools to peer review each others papers. Be sure to provide guidelines of what constitutes an effective peer review.
•Are your students involved in a practicum or field based experience? Reconnect them to their classmates by having them use a reflection or discussion tool online.
•Send students on a virtual scavenger hunt by providing resources in the form of web resources & documents.


*http://courses.science.fau.edu/~rjordan/active_learning.htm

Non-Threatening Environment

A co-worker brought up an interesting point during an in-service on multiple intelligences last week. She said it was important to build a non-threatening classroom environment. This environment would better facilitate learning. My first thought was that this made perfect sense. The more I think about it, the more I see its relationship to learning. Students feel comfortable physically and emotionally in a classroom and they will preform better than students who are afraid to ask questions or participate in class discussions. Taking this even further, if students feel comfortable and safe with an instructor, they may be more motivated to attend class and work harder on assignments....less likely to drop out or just not show up. I've always fostered the student-teacher relationship in my classroom....now, I know why it's so important (especially at the community college).