Isn't it borning just sitting in a lecture hall, listening to a teacher read off his power point day after day? A new way professors are starting to teach their classes are by having hybrid courses. A hybrid course is a class that spends part of the instruction in a traditional lecture manner and part in an online environment.
Brian McFarlin, a professor at the University of Huston's Laboratory of Integrated Physiology decided to see what the difference in grades would be if taught half of his class online. In his 2004 to 2005 class there were three hundred forty six students that he taught in the regular face to face lecture. In his 2006 to 2007 class he had three hundred twelve students and they took the course in the hybrid format. The class had 1.5 hours in a lecture hall and 1.5 hours online. On average students who take the hybrid course had a 14 percent higher grade. Professor McFarlin used WebCT Vista to deliver the online portion of the class. He spent between 16 and 20 hours to complete each lecture online. This is much more time than he would have spent making a power point for a traditional lecture, but he says he can reuse much of the same information for other classes.
Brian Mcfarlin created power point files similar to the ones used in the traditional classes and narrated them using Articulate Studio. He also added learning games and tests to the websight. He also uploaded all in class lecture audio to WebCT for students to download in either WMA or MP3 format. This was only available to students who attended in-class lectures as an incentive to go to class.
There are many pros and cons to hybrid courses. Some pro's were that the grades were higher than just lecture hall classes. Also, only have 1.5 hours in the classroom a week allowed the classroom to be open for the Univeristy to offer more classes and use that classroom. One student said "I liked the fact that the class was hybrid, he gave you all the tools you could possibly imagine to be successful in this class. He was extremely knowledgeable about the subject, and I feel I was able to learn a great deal in here." Another student said "The availability of class material on WebCT contributed to my success in this course. Lecture audio was extremely helpful to review before exams."One con to hybrid courses is that it is difficult to confirm the identity of the studnet who is completing an assignment, and it takes a long time to create the online material. McFarlin said "I experienced a number of setbacks with the implementation of technology; however, in the end, I expanded my own instructional capacities and provided a better learning experience to my students.
Do you think that hybrid courses would be beneficial here at Western? Why or why not?
Whare are more pro's and con's to hybrid courses?
Sources
ESchool News
By: Meris Stansbury
11 comments:
Looks like you did OK -- I am just seeing if I can leave a comment.
I think that hybrid courses are a very interesting idea. I do think that many students would prefer it because they don't want to get up and go to class. However, I feel that many students would use their friends to help them for the online portion or they could use other online sources at the same time to better their grade.
I agree with Katie. I find it very interesting and I have not actually heard of this classes. I do not if I would use these because I think there would be less work for the student. I think they have the option to use other resources.
I think hybrid courses are a good idea, especially for general education classes. If classes are interactive online and in person then students will come to class more because there will be less class.
It is true that students would probably appreciate it more, but for those (like me) that are hands-on visual learners... how would it benefit them? Would the professor be available for students to contact with questions? I already feel like my professors don't get to me when I email them with questions and problems.
I don't like the idea of hybrid classes. We have all taken online tests and how often are they the simple multiple choice type tests and it is really easy for people to cheat. Also as you stated the teacher planed on using the same materials again because they took a long time to make. I believe that would lead to classes becoming stagnate.
The pro's of hybrid classes include: students not having to physically go to class, increasing students attention, and integrating technology into the classroom.
The Con's of hybrid classes include: students slacking off, students falling behind because of being disorganized, and not learning real material but just copying it from a book.
I don't know if I agree with not having to go to class as a pro. Having to get up and physically go to class is a way of preparing you for a job. Although I am consistently late to class :) Also, Megan stated in her blog that these classes would allow for more classes to be offered. Wouldn't that mean the teachers would have the added responsibility of even more students? As Katie said, most of us already have troubles meeting outside of class with our professors.
I do like the idea of having materials available online. I think it makes it easier for students to gather information when they can access it from their home.
If students don't physically have to get up and go to class then if they are sick or something they can still get some work done if they can easily access it from the comfort of their own home.
To relate to Gina's comment, however, if I were a student who was sick then yes.. I would appreciate being able to access some information online. BUT-- realistically, every student is going to be "sick" quite a few times a semester if they are allowed not to have to come to class. It leaves no room for motivation to want to be in class.
Post a Comment