Blended/hybrid Learning Discussion

1. Blended/hybrid Learning Discussion Online only Both online and f2f F2f only Knowledge Team March 2008

2. Hybrid or Blended Learning What Are Hybrid Courses? • In "hybrid" classes, a significant amount of the course learning activity has been moved online, making it possible to reduce the amount of time spent in the classroom. Traditional face-to-face instruction is reduced but not eliminated. • The "hybrid" course model is also referred to as "blended." On this site, we use these terms interchangeably. • http://www4.uwm.edu/ltc/hybrid/

3. Texas Higher Education and Blended Learning Texas A&M • To respond to demands of larger numbers of residential and non-residential students, TAMU supports the development of technology-based teaching to complement traditional face-to-face instruction.  TAMU recognizes that communication technology offers faculty an increasing number of ways to provide instruction and that the Internet allows development of asynchronous learning. • Delivery of courses and programs via distance will focus on graduate programs and continuing education, although distance methods for leveraging faculty time and expertise will be strongly advocated for high-demand residential and, where appropriate, off-campus undergraduate courses.

4. Another way of saying it: Oregon University System • Residential students try to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance, accelerate or optimize face-to-face course scheduling by adding asynchronous courses.  •     Asynchronous students try to take advantage of courses offered face-to face at alternative schedules to enhance, accelerate or optimize their programs. http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:h9F04ymXqjoJ:www.ous.edu/state_board/workgroups/edp/files/VirtualUniversity.ppt+%22residential+students%22+%22distance+education%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6

5. Another way of saying it: Northwestern University

6. Still another example: Brigham Young University

7. University of North Texas “UNT has adopted Blackboard Learning System – Vista, formerly WebCT Vista, as the learning management system (LMS) that is supported across the university. Faculty members use Vista to supplement and support 100% face-to-face instruction as well as to conduct all of their online course activities.” http://cdl.unt.edu/Content/About/Statistics/An_Analysis_of_UNT_DL_Spring_2007_revised.doc

8. Problems Addressed (Why they use blended learning: • Infrastructure/Logistics • Limited number of qualified faculty to teach the courses • Need to expand enrollment • Lack of classroom space and classes of the right size • Multiple sections taught by faculty (mostly teaching fellows) • Not enough time to help those students who need help • Lack of consistency of content across multiple sections of the course • Lack of standardization of content • Need for teaching fellows and teaching assistants to have experience with new forms of teaching

9. Problems Addressed (Cont.): • Design/Delivery • A reliance on the lecture method • Little student interaction with instructor or with each other • Need for more interaction Need for a higher level of interaction • (Not just more but more thoughtful) • Little attention paid to varying learning styles • Improving student comprehension of learning • (drawing on multiple learning styles) • Little attention paid to marrying content to application • Same delivery method for the whole course • Lack of requiring higher-level learning skills and critical thinking • Lack of continuous improvement of materials and methods

10. Problems Addressed (Cont.): • Outcomes • Poor retention of content • Poor attendance • Poor completion • Poor success High repeating of courses • Lack of motivation and excitement about the subject • Student anonymity • Assessment • Assessment techniques that encouraged students to absorb large quantities • of material, expel it, and then forget it (bulimic learning)

11. Texas Teaching Mode of Delivery

12. U of North Texas and Blended Learning • 43% of post-baccalaureate and masters students take at least one online course with 32% and 27%, respectively, totally online • Very small percent of undergraduates are online only, but a significant percentage of all UNT students are taking both face-to-face and online courses (20% for all students and 22% for freshman) • Taking courses both face-to-face and online increases the number of semester credit hours taken (by 1.17 SCH) and percentage of students pursuing coursework fulltime (by 8%) • If undergraduates are taking online courses to increase course load, special care may be indicated to promote success

13. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee • Faculty Insights • What have UW-Milwaukee faculty said about going hybrid? • "My students have done better than I've ever seen; they are motivated, enthused, and doing their best work." • "Introverts, who are quiet in the face-to-face class, really participate online." • "Discussions are good, both in and out of class." • "This gets so much more student interaction." • "The hybrid allowed me to do things in my course that I've always wanted to do and couldn't." • "Students think the they are learning more, and I think they're learning more." • "Hybrid is the best of both worlds." • "Give it a try once. I think people owe it to their educational mission of being a teacher and instructor to try one hybrid course."

14. Resources

15. Resources Creating Successful Blended Courses Marj Kibby School of Social Sciences ─ Faculty of Education and Arts