Professor proposes online hybrid class
Campus Times
April 5, 2002
A proposal for a "hybrid" course has come up as a supplement
to improve the standard ULV class model. Instead of attending class, students
would have the opportunity to take some course hours on the Internet.
Jay Jones, director of the Office for Instructional Technology and Research,
says the hybrid will be a great way for students to become more active in
the planning of their studies. Taking web-based courses will force students
to take more initiative.
Under the plan, if there is enough material on a subject, the professor
of the course could propose an hour of the class to be offered on the Web.
The instructor's appeal would go through a series of committees and if passed,
would eliminate some of the class time as long as students get the same
course work on the Web.
One concern about offering hybrid classes is that they would diminish
contact between the professors and students.
But Jones defended this idea: "It will make the students become
more active in their education by making them take personal time outside
of class to learn the course work by themselves."
Many students take general education classes to satisfy requirements,
so their focus is to just pass the course. They may not take advantage of
the instructor contact enough to pass the course anyway, Jones said.
The proposed program would be similar to the Blackboard program the
school already uses. Students would be able to take tests, do research assignments
and even learn some of the curriculum on the Web.
"We have to be careful that a situation doesn't arise where the
rigor of the subject decreases because of the hybrid class. We still want
to keep the high value of our school education," Jones said.
Another advantage of the hybrid class is that the contact hours would
be very flexible because it would decrease class hours, making scheduling
much easier for students.
A formal proposal will be presented to the Undergraduate Academic Policies
Committee sometime this spring.