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Hybrid Courses
Introduction to Hybrid Courses at ACC"Hybrid" is the name commonly used to describe courses that combine traditional face-to-face classroom instruction with online computer-based learning. ACC Hybrid courses combine the best of two worlds, engaging students in the active, autonomous learning process of an Internet-based PCM course, while also providing regularly scheduled interaction with the course instructor. Hybrid courses offer a number of advantages over face-to-face teaching and online-only courses, including increased student learning and retention rates. The flexibility of the Hybrid format provides faculty the opportunity to incorporate new types of learning activities that were not possible in traditional courses, and foster a greater sense of interaction with students. Students enjoy the convenience of scheduling courses to better fit their busy lives, and benefit from the self-directed learning activities, advancing their time management, critical-thinking, and technical skills. At Austin Community College, there are two types of Hybrid formats: HYD — Hybrids offered through Distance Learning, and HYC — Classroom Hybrids.
Determining whether the course will be a HYD or HYCFor each course that will be delivered in the Hybrid mode, a department will need to calculate the number of contact hours that will be delivered face-to-face (in the classroom) verses the number of contact hours that will be delivered online in order to determine if a course will be a HYC or HYD, as prescribed in the manner above. [top] Advantages and Challenges of Hybrid CoursesThere are several advantages to Hybrid courses:
Challenges a Hybrid course instructor must consider include:
[top] Scheduling Hybrid CoursesHYD — Distance Learning Hybrid Courses Any HYD — Distance Learning Hybrid course offered for the first time will require submission of a DL Course Approval Form since this is a new delivery mode for the course. The form provides DL with a description of the course's intended objectives and activities, the instructional materials and technologies to be used, and the rationale for offering the course. Academic departments will schedule the on-campus component of the HYD class through the Campus Manager's Office, following current classroom scheduling procedures. Campuses will need to coordinate scheduling of the on-campus portion of the Hybrid classes. Information about campus, room number, time, and other meeting details will be sent to Distance Learning using the Request for Adding a Section of a Distance Learning Course to the Schedule Form. For additional information about offering HYD courses, contact the Director of Distance Learning, Robert Bermea, at 223-8032 or rbermea@austincc.edu. For more information about developing HYD courses, contact Susan Thomason, Director of Instructional Development Services, at 223-7796 or sthomaso@austincc.edu. HYC — Classroom Hybrid Courses HYC — Classroom Hybrid courses will be scheduled in the same manner as on-campus classes. Academic departments are encouraged to pair HYC courses and schedule them on alternating days, doubling the number of possible offerings per class period and maximizing classroom use. Departments will schedule the on-campus component of the HYC class through the Campus Manager's Office, following current classroom scheduling procedures. Campuses will coordinate scheduling of HYC classes. For additional information about developing HYC — Classroom Hybrid courses, contact Susan Thomason, Instructional Development Services Director, at 223-7796 or sthomaso@austincc.edu. [top] Course Schedule NotesHybrid listings in the Schedule include Course Schedule Notes to provide students with important, specific details about the section, including faculty contact information, the course website URL, and any important information the students may need prior to enrolling in the course. Due to the uniqueness of the delivery mode, Hybrid sections must be added to the Course Schedule by the print deadline so that classroom scheduling information can be provided. Hybrid Course Schedule Notes for both HYC and HYD must include:
Course note information is to be provided by Department. HYD Course Schedule Note example: 54321 — HYD class: coursework is 25% classroom-based and 75% is via the Internet. Internet access required. RGC A257, Meeting days 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (see syllabus for exact dates) Time 4:15pm – 5:30pm, J. Doe, 223-1234, email: jdoe@austincc.edu, www.austincc.edu/jdoe/syllabus.html MANDATORY Online orientation prior to 5/26 at www.austincc.edu/jdoe/orientation.html [top] Course Orientation and SyllabusAn on-campus course orientation can be held the first day of a Hybrid class, or the orientation can be conducted online. The orientation must explain how the Hybrid course works at ACC, and provide a syllabus offering an overview of course components and objectives, the instructional materials and technologies to be used, assignment schedules and grading policies, testing procedures and deadlines, and the ACC and DL support services available to students. A well-structured course orientation establishes the foundation and sets the tone for student-instructor communication for the entire semester. The course syllabus is an essential resource for students to help them maximize their time and efforts and complete any course successfully. For Hybrid classes, the syllabus is especially important since faculty contact with students is less frequent than in traditional classes. Faculty members should prepare a complete and thorough syllabus for Hybrid courses, and make the syllabus available to students online. A Hybrid course syllabus must contain the following:
[top] TestingACC Academic Testing Centers may be used to administer tests for HYD — Distance Learning Hybrid courses. The Academic Testing Centers website provides information about the hours of operation and locations for each testing center. DL instructors should consult the ACC Academic Testing Centers Guidelines HYC — Classroom Hybrid classes must have tests in the classroom. [top] Faculty EvaluationsFaculty teaching HYD — Distance Learning Hybrid courses may use either the on-campus Faculty Evaluation form, or the web-based Distance Learning Faculty Evaluation Form, located in Online Services. A tutorial on how to complete the DL Faculty Evaluation is available online for students and faculty to reference. The online evaluation process follows the same timeline as the evaluation period for on-campus classes. HYC — Classroom Hybrids must use the on-campus Faculty Evaluation Form. For complete information about ACC's faculty evaluation procedures, visit the Faculty & Staff Evaluation website. [top] Instructional SupportTeaching a successful Hybrid class requires faculty members to re-examine their course goals and objectives, create new online learning activities to support those goals, and effectively integrate the online activities with the face-to-face lectures. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to work with Instructional Development Services staff to design, develop, and deliver Hybrid classes. Instructional Design Specialists are available to help faculty adapt existing courses for Hybrid delivery, and assist with the design of new Hybrid courses. This collaborative process leads to innovative courses and college-wide cooperation facilitating the long-term success of the Distance Learning program. [top] Best Practices for Hybrid Courses
[top] Other Institutions Using Hybrids
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Requests for HYD classes will be sent to Curriculum Services by DL.