Defining Hybrid Courses

Hybrid online courses have a percentage of class time meeting in a traditional classroom setting and percentage of class time meeting online through the UWF eLearning management system or Elluminate web-conferencing. Hybrid online courses with a significant percent of instruction delivered online thereby reducing seat time in a classroom are Blended courses. Courses with only a small percentage of instruction or instructional material online and no reduction in classroom seat time are Supplemental courses.

Blended Learning.   Blended courses utilize a combination of learning strategies.  In some cases, class sessions will be fully online in eLearning, or via videoconference, or in Elluminate while other class sessions are conducted traditionally on campus.  This model works especially well if trying to utilize classroom space to the fullest.  Two courses could conceivably be scheduled for the same classroom at the same time during a semester – with classes alternating online and face-to-face class meetings.

Supplemental Instruction.  Supplemental instruction is designed for the courses that meet face-to-face and use the eLearning management system to store class syllabi, course materials, additional out-of-class activities and homework.  In this model, there is no reduction of classroom seat time but the web is used to store substantial course materials. This is a very convenient approach for storing class materials, emailing students throughout the week between class meetings, storing URLs and other references, and for assigning interactive homework activities such as participating in an online chat or discussion forum.

Note: In either case, it is important for students to be aware of this model when registering for a Hybrid online course.  Students will not only need to be able to get to class for in-class meetings, but will also need to have access to the Internet at home or work for web-based class meetings.  Computer labs are available for web-based class meetings for those students without Internet access.