Research
Hybrid vs. online vs. traditional face-to-face
- Little difference in outcomes - grades, student satisfaction - My impression is that there is no decisive stream of research to suggest any substantial difference in outcomes between these modes of instruction. One review of the literature suggests that it is not possible to design studies that can fruitfully compare modes of instruction, but instead suggests that research is better off comparing structures within modes.
- Focus on technology, efficiency, cost savings at the expense of pedagogy? Some writers criticizes the focus in the literature on technology, efficiency and convenience at the cost of a focus on the quality of pedagogical outcomes.
- Students need greater self-regulation skills. The structure of hybrid courses typically do not have as many prompts for students who are externally motivated and organized. Those students who are procrastinators or who have poor study habits might have more difficulty. Hybrid course design should take that into account.
Face to face discussions vs. asynchronous (via discussion board, not live chat).*
- Face to face good at:
- Creating motivation, commitment
- creating community
- identification with the course,
- Setting roles
- Brainstorming - lots of new ideas
- Enabling sociable people
- Simple, spontaneous contributions
- Creating motivation, commitment
- Asynchronous discussion boards good at:
- Higher order conceptual work
- Critical argumentation Students are less willing to criticize other students
- Complex, deliberate contributions
- Well thought out responses
- Enabling shy people
- Higher order conceptual work
* e.g., D. Randy Garrison and Norman D. Vaughn. (2008) Blended Learning in Higher Education: Framework, Principles, Guidelines.