A Four Step Process to Hybridizing your Course
The following steps have been created to help you transform your traditional course into a hybrid course with reduced class seat time. This process is meant to be a guide that allows you to stay focused on your learning objectives, develop effective online learning strategies, and easily organize your content into a learning path.
Rather than arbitrarily trying the split a course in half or in thirds, for example, the best way to hybridize a course is to complete the instructional design process for the ENTIRE course, and in that process determine which components can be most appropriately moved online.
Step 1: Revisit the Syllabus
This is a step that you are already accustomed to completing, so it should not require any significant additional work. Unlike a completely online course, you will have face-to-face time with your students and can clarify syllabus questions, but it is a good idea to be very explicit in your requirements and course objectives. You want to also be very clear about the technical requirements, expectations for online participation, and frequency of online access outside of the classroom. Also, make sure you include explicit information on where to get help.
Step 2: Divide Course into Weekly Units or Modules
To organize your content and activities in an easy-to-follow format, the course should be divided into weekly modules that include all of the materials and assignments for that week. The benefit of designing your course this way is to give students a single point of entry for everything they need to do to successfully complete the week. And remember, a week is really a 7 day week, not the traditional Monday – Friday. A good rule of thumb is to begin a unit on a Monday and have all online assignments due Sunday evening.
Just like with any learning unit or activity, the weekly units should have defined objectives. Ask yourself "by the end of this unit, students should be able to..." Clearly defining measurable and attainable objectives will make the following 2 steps much easier.
Step 3: Complete the Hybrid Course Development Template
For each
of the weekly units decided in step 2, you will complete a template that will
help you focus each objective into instructional events (activity, description,
online/on-campus, due dates and points). The template will help you develop
a game plan for planning online and on-campus learning strategies.
This template is designed as a planning document only, to help you lay out
the strategies and activities for the week. It will help you separate those
activities you'll engage in class from those you'll engage online, as well
as generate a list of materials you may need to gather or create. You will
create the learning path using the assignment template that details each activity
in order with a point value, and a due date.
Step 4: Develop Course Electronically in eCollege
After you
complete the previous 3 steps, you essentially have a solid framework to begin
organizing and developing your content to be placed online. Note that in the
Instructional Design process, technology is one of the last items considered,
which puts the focus on the instructional strategies and keeps you from being
distracted by the challenges and capabilities of the technology.
Jeffrey B. Larson, Ph.D
Dean of EICCD E-learning Enterprise
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Kahl Educational Center - Suite 801
326 West Third St.
Davenport, IA 52801
563.336.5237 (O)
563.271.4801 (C)
jlarson@eicc.edu
http://www.eiccdonline.blogspot.com/
http://www.eiccdonline.net/Elearning/