This workshop attempts to look at the growing trend toward hybrid classes and attempt to evaluate the effectiveness

of the hybrid in comparison to the traditional class and the fully on-line distance education classes.

First we needs to define our terms. Face to Face or Traditional: 100% instruction in the classroom

Hybrid: 48% or less instruction online and the rest in the classroom.
Distance: 50% or more instruction online.

While

definitions

of

the

traditional class and distance

classes are mostly clearly

defined, definitions for the

hybrid class seem to vary with the educational

institution , but most agree they are a combination activities.

supported

What advantages and disadvantages does each delivery system offer?

Traditional Classroom Instruction Advantages

High comfort for instructions and many students Availability of classroom visual materials Lower learning curve for many instruction Ability to meet face-to-face with the students and provide personalized assistance Oppurnity for Hands-on activities and discussion Other advantages

Traditional

Classroom Disadvantages

Instruction

Requires expensive buildings and equipment. Set times for classes can cause problems with students and faculty scheduling. Transportation time can be long and difficult. Other Disadvantages

Distance Instruction Advantages Opportunity to take class at times and places not possible in a traditional classroom

Use of multitude of on-line and multimedia resources

Provides students with different methods of communication(Chat, Blogs, Discussion Boards , ect.) Less expensive to provide (No brick and mortar buildings to build and maintain Promotes self-directed learning Other Advantages

Distance Instruction Disadvantages

Requires disciplines students can work on their own and who behave computer/technology abilities
Students need computers and internet connections (Broadband in many situations) There may be difficulty in communicating difficult concepts on-line.

There is a possibility for less Community and personal contact. There is high learning curve for the instructor.

Requires expensive equipment and technology.

Usually there is a high drop rate among distance students

Hybrid Class Advantages

Can Maximize Physical Resources
Allows for enrolment growth Maximize Limited Classroom/Computer Lab Space Budget Issues/Equipment

Flexibility: Both students and instructors like the convince afforded by the hybrid course model.

Increased instruction and contact among students and between the students and faculty. Allows for auditory , visual, tactile, learners.
Lower withdrawal rates than fully on-line courses. Other Advantages.

Hybrid Class Disadvantages

Requires disciplined students who can work on their own and who have computer/technology skills. Students needs computer/ Internet (Broadband in many situations) There is a higher learning curve for the instructor.

May require additional equipment and technology.

Other Disadvantages.

The goal of hybrid courses is to join

the best features of in-class teaching with the best features of on-line

learning

to

promote

active

independent learning and reduce

class

seat

time.

For several years, researchers associated with the Centre for Distributed Learning have been comparing results in hybrid sections against both traditional (face-to-face) and web-basedonly sections. The initial comparatives outcomes are dramatic and consistent. Students enrolled in hybrid courses have the highest success rate. These rates are higher than face-to-face courses and higher than web-based-only courses.

You can see as PowerPoint presentation of the results of UCFs on-going longitudinal distributed

Learning Impact Evaluation for more information.

They also have a PowerPoint presentation that

provides a look at the impact of varying

generations enrolled in todays online and blended courses.

I was still able to enjoy interacting with my peers and professors on a regular basis while retaining the flexibility of working in the online environment. Because I didnt have as many classes to attend. It was easier to arrange child care. -Lisa Harman,FastWeb

References
An excellent reference for developing a hybrid or blended course is a reference text by D. Randy Garrison and Norman D. Vaughn, Blended Learning in Higher Education , Framework, Principles , and Guidelines (JosseyBass 2009)

References
There is an evaluation check list developed by the
University Wisconsin-Milwaukee Learning Technology

Center , in part , from the Instructional Design Tips for

Online Learning by Duzer of Humboldt State University and California State University , Chico , Center for Excellent in learning and teaching , Rubric for Online Instruction.

References
Another list of expectations for faculty teaching
hybrid classes was produced by the University of

Maryland University College. Titled Expectations

for faculty teaching hybrid Classes the full text

can

be

found

as

Appendix

B.

Fuel Price are causing Americans to change more than their automobile preferences. With gas approaching $5 a gallon, interest in another type of hybrid is soaring as fast as prices at the pump. All of our academic units are being strongly encouraged to transition traditional courses to the hybrid, online and intensive formals.

Using Social Networking in Hybrid Classes

Hybrid classes have the oppurnity to utilize the

currently popular social networking sites as a part of

their presentations. Suggestions for using this type of site for the on-line portion of a class can be found in Allen A. Lew of Northern Arizona Universitys blog. In the Blog he list a number of ways to use Social Software to create Interactive and Collaborative Online and Hybrid Courses.

 One disadvantages of online learning is that contact between teacher and students and among students is limited to internet communication, and can seem an isolating experience. A new kind of class, the hybrid class, is changing that. In a Hybrid class, computerbased learning is combined with on-site class time, where students meet with the instructor and each other for lectures, collaboration projects and more.

This primary comparison of the three suggest that there is a general equivalence between the line and the traditional in terms of outcomes. When we look at active participation the on-line version stands out . When we look at the overall student performance the classes are roughly equivalent

-Vengroff Bourbeau, 2006

 Students in a hybrid class that incorporated instructional technology with in-class lectures scored a letter-grade higher on averages than their counterparts who took the same class in a more traditional format. -Development of an Online University-based Physical Activity and Obesity Education Program, BK McFarlin, AS Jackson The Diabetes Educator , 2006 tde.sagepub.com

Hybrid or Blended classes are becoming the newest offering for todays students . Most instructors agree that this generation of students learn in a radically different manner than past generations of students. By combining the multi-medie and social media that students use in their everyday lives, hybrid classes can improve student retention and satisfaction.

When carefully designed, a hybrid course combined the best features of in-class teaching with the best features of online learning to promote active student learning. Research cited for this workshop confirms this statement. If you are not offering hybrid classes in your area, you should consider doing so.

Bibliography
A complete listing of all of the sources for this presentation , this PowerPoint, and PDF files of the evaluation documents are available on the txDLA Conference Web site.