Hybrid Courses: Some Random Thoughts on Expectations and Outcomes

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Hybrid CoursesSome Random Thoughts on
Expectations and Outcomes

• Martha Goshaw
• Seminole State College of Florida
• November 12, 2009

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Where were going

• What is a hybrid course?
• Why I went hybrid
• My successes and failures
• The random thoughts

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Spectrum of instructional approaches

• Traditional
• ? web enhanced
• ? hybrid
• ? online

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What is a hybrid course?

• A blend of face-to-face instruction and online
  learning, which reduces classroom time by moving
  a significant part of course learning online.
• SCC 75 online/25 classroom

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My Scenario

• Spring 2002 began teaching online statistics
• Within four semesters grew from 1 section to 4
  sections
• Increasingly popular with students, particularly
  nursing students, working students, and single
  moms
• Spring 2004 began teaching online business
  calculus (MAC 2233)

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Online MAC 2233

• Began Spring 2004 with 1 section
• Not as successful as statistics
• Experimented over next few years with different
  strategies to increase student success and
  retention within the course
• Spring 2007 offered my first hybrid section

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Random thought 1

• Hybrid courses will have higher retention and
  success rates.

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Hybrid MAC 2233Spring 2007

• Talked with other professors who were teaching
  hybrid courses
• Attended several conference sessions regarding
  hybrid courses
• Wanted to ensure that each class meeting led into
  the online learning and that the online learning
  would prepare students for the next class meeting

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Results?

• Dismal! Out of 16 students who began the course,
  only 5 finished.
• Why?
• Students had wrong expectations of the course.
• I needed more online resources for them.

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Random thought 2

• Students in hybrid courses will benefit from
  face-to-face instruction with the instructor and
  learn the material better.

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Try again!

• Summer 2008 I tried again with a hybrid section
  of STA 2023.
• Of the 15 students enrolled, 13 finished. The
  two who withdrew did so for valid reasons that
  had nothing to do with the fact that the course
  was hybrid.

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Why successful?

• More clearly defined expectations about the
  format of the class
• Regular weekly meetings
• Better structure to class activities

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Random thought 3

• Hybrid courses provide the best of both formats
  (face to face and online).

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Fall 2008

• Lets try hybrid MAC 2233 again!
• Better description of the course and what was
  expected of them
• Redesigned structure of weekly class meeting time
• More resources posted online for students to use

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What was different?

• Graded the class activities as part of their
  final course grade.
• Activities could not be made up, to encourage
  attendance.

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Results?

• Of the 25 students enrolled, 21 finished.
• Of those 21 who finished, 15 got a C or higher.

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Spring 2009

• Offered both hybrid statistics and business
  calculus
• Courses offered at 930 am!

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Results?

• Hybrid Statistics 21 of 25 finished, with 15
  getting C or higher
• Hybrid Calculus 18 of 24 finished, with 12
  getting a C or higher, but only 1 A
• Younger students plus timing of course did not
  lead to the success I wanted

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Random thought 4

• Hybrid courses will be easier for me to teach.

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• Students felt no work was necessary outside of
  class.
• To create continuous flow, I was doing double
  work creating materials for the classroom and
  creating materials and assessments for online.

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Fall 2009

• One hybrid stat and one hybrid business calculus,
  but later in the day.
• Hybrid stat began with 30 and has 25 left.
• Hybrid business calculus began with 21 and has 16
  left.

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What is different this time?

• Better flow between classroom and online
  components.
• Restructuring of classroom component to shift
  responsibility to students.
• Graded homework assignments.

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Course Flow

• Before class read material, complete
  Reading/Study Guide to bring to class.
• In class submit Guide, class discussion based
  on Guide, answer questions as needed
• After class two days to prepare for quiz, then
  five days to prepare for next class

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Issue

• The mindset of todays students!
• Turn it in and take the test should automatically
  result in an A!

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Course Redesign

• The National Center for Academic Transformations
  Course Redesign Alliance
• Promote informational technology as a way to
  improve student learning and reduce institutional
  costs.
• Could a redesigned hybrid format fit?

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Suggestions

• Integrate the classroom and online components.
• Emphasize to students their responsibility for
  learning.
• Keep trying until you find what works for you and
  your students.

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What about next time?

• Revise the Reading/Study Guides to include more
  exercises and require as part of final grade.
• Diagnostic test?

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• Please feel free to contact me at
• goshawm_at_scc-fl.edu
• Power point slides are online at
  www2.scc-fl.edu/mgoshaw