Hybrid COURSES :
A hybrid (or blended) course combines in-class instruction and activities with flexible, guided online learning in a virtual environment.
The purpose of a hybrid course is to take advantage of the best features of both face-to-face and online learning. A hybrid course is designed to integrate face-to-face and online activities so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another, instead of treating the online component as an add-on or duplicate of what is taught in the classroom.
There is a convergence upon the three key points identified above:
- Web-based learning (self-study) activities are introduced to complement face-to-face work;
- "seat time" (face to face/physical classroom) is reduced, though not eliminated altogether;
- the Web-based and face-to-face (virtual classroom)components of the course are designed to interact pedagogically to take advantage of the best features of each.
Guided online activities in hybrid courses engage participants with independent, active learning that is supported, performed or submitted via a course learning management system (LMS).