Teaching a Hybrid of Online and Facetoface Courses

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Teaching a Hybrid of Online and Face-to-face
Courses

• Timothy C. Johnston
• The University of Tennessee at Martin
• Academic Business World Conference
• Nashville, May 2007

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Hybrid (blended) course

• the introduction of Internet-based learning
  activities
• a reduction of classroom "seat time" and
• an integration of the Internet-based and
  face-to-face components.
• (U. WI-M)

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Hybrid benefits

• Increase in teaching capacity
• Improved student performance
• An alternative to F2F or online formats
• Best of both worlds?

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Hybrid from China

• Summer courses
• Marketing Principles
• International Marketing
• 2.5 weeks online and 2.5 weeks live

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Questions predicted to favor the hybrid format

• Requires written work on assignments or exams.
• Does require work in course preparation outside
  of class.
• Makes students feel free to ask questions or ask
  for help.

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Questions predicted to favor the face-to-face
format

• Is accessible for consultation outside of class.
• Relates to students as individuals.
• Is available as a mentor or informal advisor.
• Lectures at students level of comprehension.
• Overall, this is a valuable course.
• Focusing now on the course content, this course
  is worthwhile in comparison with others I have
  taken in the College of Business.
• . . . worthwhile in comparison with others I have
  taken in this department.

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Instructor propositions

• Proposition 1 Students will rate the hybrid
  format higher than the face-to-face format in
  regards to written work and homework.
• Proposition 2 Students will rate the hybrid
  format higher than the face-to-face format in
  regards to their feelings of freedom to ask
  questions.
• Proposition 3 Students will rate the
  face-to-face format higher than the hybrid format
  in regards to items that reflect interpersonal
  relationships with the instructor.
• Proposition 4 Students rate the face-to-face
  format higher than the hybrid format in regards
  to items that reflect instructor lecturing.
• Proposition 5 Students rate the face-to-face
  format higher than the hybrid format in regards
  to items that reflect summary evaluation.

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Student comments

• One of the highlights of the course happened
  before the course even started when I was
  informed my teacher would be teaching from China.
  I thought that was something somewhat out of the
  ordinary.
• I liked the change of pace that this course
  offered. Sometimes it is good to have a course
  that is run a little differently than all the
  other ones that you take. It was a change for
  the better.
• My main highlight of the course was the first two
  weeks of class. I enjoyed taking this class as an
  online course. I think that it works better that
  way.
• What were the highlights of the course? Not
  having to go. It was a load off, at least for a
  little while. Learning about China was fun.
• I was happy enough with this course that I am
  going to take my first online class this fall
  after going to school over 3 years.

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Lessons learned

• The hybrid format is a viable option to the F2F
  and online formats.
• Students performed as good (B).
• Student evaluations were good contrast depended
  on the course.
• F2F relationships not inherent plus.
• Instructor planning is key to hybrid.