Get Your Students Hired
I have to agree that hybrid classes are the way to go in some situations. Why can't students learn online and then attend an onground portion fo the course to complete labs, take tests, give presentations, etc.?
It seems to be either on line or on ground for a class. Why can't it be a combination of the best of both worlds?
Also, the technology used in the future will be determined by the types of learners. Many people are technology savvy and will not want to sit in a classroom. Institutions who provide online learning will need to think out of the box on this one and identify a new way to teach students.
Lois:
The hybrid model you are adopting is the best fit for thistype of training especially when one considers that the consequences of error could be grave in this profession.
Satrohan
The trend in meeting the Health Care Continuing Education requirements for our healthcare workers is to update information and testing on line.
The required hands on skill testing are done face-to face with an evaluator. The skill testing is scheduled on different days and times to accommodate the student/employee.
We have found that in order to retain a qualified healthcare workforce the training requirements need to accommodate their lifestyle.
Max Knowledge is an example of meeting the needs of the trainers (students) in meeting their educational requirements at a time that is convenient for them.
Fernando:
Your viewpoint on the Subject is well taken. There are some Subjects that lend themselves well to teaching all topics online; other Subjects would require a blend of online learning and a traditional classroom environment.
Offering hybrid courses poses a real challenge for institutions who would like to reach out to the student population outside the geographical region of the institution------national and even at an international level.
Satrohan
I am agreed with you, even though there are so many online programs today. I still think there are many others which are better to take in a class room, or to have a practice in the lab. There are other programs that you still need to interact with other people to explore your potential in a particular professional field. So online courses would be only a supplemental solution
Sonia:
I am not familiar with the demographics of your student population. For students who are on th elower end of computer lkiteracy, i would conduct face-to-face tutorials supported by Quick Reference Materials, and access to a Help Desk to instill into the th elevel of computer literacy they require to take an online course.
I cannot find a simple way parallel the administration of pop quizzes. In an on-the-ground setting, all students receive the Quiz at the same time, and answer the questions in the time specified. I do not know of a way of replicating this scenario in an online environment. We can release Quizzes at a particular time, for a specifice period, and the Quizzes can be timed. However, because the Quiz is released for a period of time to accommodate variation in students' schedules, we have no control of students informing other so the Questions in the Quiz.
Satrohan
I also worry about students who have been out of school for while and have not touched a computer in the last 8-10 years. In the classroom, I can monitor the way they hold their hands over the keyboard, give them encouragement when I meet their children, highlight all of the ways they are talented that may not show up through their lack of technical skills. Many people have to realize that if they have been out of the education process for a while, they are not best suited for this program. But, I have a student who works an amazing job that requires her to be away from a classroom setting. She is thriving with a school that works around her schedule.
I also worry about the quick retention that we are able to get from our students in the classroom. I love pop quizzes and questions that require them to remember something immediately. I would be interested in a way to get this same effect in the online classroom.
Belinda:
Your argument for face-to-face interaction is indisputable. Scheduling the fac-to-face sessions for students in full time jobs may pose a challenge. I have known of situations in which the entire course is online, students come to a regular classroom setting in which there are computers on which they complete their coursework; and an Instructor to answer any questions they may have. This has worked out well; however, in that setting, all students came in at the same time of day, and the session ended at the same time of day. Multiple sessions may have to be run to cater for students in full-time jobs or on shift work.
Satrohan
Hybrid courses are definitely the way to go, especially when dealing with high-risk students, i.e. failure to complete high school,alternative high school, and GED completers. These students need face-to-face interaction not only for daily progress checks but also for guidance and support. Many of these same students must maintain full-time employment, therefore online courses allow flexibility in their schedules.
Agreed Larry. As a matter of fact cost to implement high-end learning technologies is also a concern for universities even when they are not targeting international studenst. And when they target international students as students in remote areas at the national level, there is always the concern for long downloading times for students with low internet transmission rates.
Satrohan
The high cost of specialized equipment is of major concern to the career college and the prospective student. A hybrid program is ideal but not practical for extremely long distance students.
Nori:
Your comments are well taken. To those I would like to add that hybrid courses are the way to go for courses, the learning outcomes of which relate to psychomotor skills.
Satrohan
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I would have to agree with Bonnie. More schools are starting to offer hybrid courses. Hybrid courses still offer convenience, interaction, increased learning and retention. They can be basic, housing only course information, presentations, and reference material or they can be interactive with tests, quizzes and discussion boards. Yet, they allow for face-to-face interaction that may be necessary to complete course objectives.
I think that a hybrid course can offer the best of both worlds. Give students the opportunity to cover theory and content in whatever timing suits their schedule best, but require in-class attendance for practice and demonstration of acquired hands-on skill sets.