Volume 38, Issue 13. Today is
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Volume 38, Issue 13. Today is
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Hybrid offers new tool for MCC facultyBY AMANDA ZELLER
They may end up registering for a hybrid course and not even know it. A hybrid class is a combination between a class lecture and an Internet course and many teachers are moving toward it as a new teaching tool. "Hybrid refers to the idea of putting together different instructional approaches," said Greg Pratt, an economics instructor at MCC and a strong supporter of the hybrid classes. In a hybrid course, students would be required to attend class two to three times a week and then post assignments, read lecture notes and even take exams over the Internet. "It was developed because students learn best when they learn in different ways," Pratt said. These courses are designed to provide the best of both worlds: face-to-face interaction with an instructor and the use of the newest technologies. There are also critics to the hybrid system, including many students. There is the idea that these courses dehumanize teaching and learning, and end up hurting the students ability to fully understand the material. There are also many technical flaws to hybrid courses such as a defective computer or a disconnected server. There is no guarantee that you will always get the information you need as it is with traditional courses. Although some students say the combination of both old and new is helpful at times, many students show a negative approach to the courses. "With the hybrid course I find that there is really no reason to attend class," said Noelle Olarian, an MCC student. "Everything you need is on the Internet so class feels like a waste of time." Some students feel that they would rather just take an Internet course. "I would take Internet courses only if all of my classes were that way," said Nathan Perris. "If I am already here on campus, then I might as well go to class, but if I were going to take a class that used the Internet I would take an Internet, course, not a hybrid." "If I could see the syllabus or maybe see how much the Internet applies to the course, I might take a hybrid class again," Perris said. Students may have to do just that. The schedule for fall 2001 courses does not list every course that will incorporate the Internet with the classes. |
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