Entry #5: To Hybrid or Not to Hybrid

Angry hybrid ADHD baby

It seems that hybrid courses are becoming more popular among colleges across America. If you are thinking, “What is this hybrid course you are talking about?” Then think of the hybrid course as if a traditional course and an online course had a baby, a baby with ADHD. This offspring is half in-class meetings and half online work. The ADHD is because the course is 7^1/2 to 8 weeks, half of a semester, instead of 15 to 16 weeks or a full semester course with the same course load. As a student I absolutely have mixed feelings on shorter classes. For basic classes or if one excels at a certain subject then a hybrid course would be a great way to earn those credits quickly, as we all know time is money.

The equation of the American Dream.

 But if more time is needed to process information before full comprehension is achieved then a hybrid course is not the way to go. As someone who has passed one hybrid course and in the middle of another, I am not sure I will be taking another one unless it is Basket Weaving 101.I'm fairly positive anyone who works full time and goes to school full time could ace BW 101.

It's so easy this guy can weave underwater.

 Which makes me think of parents who are full time students that also hold a full time job. Props to all those people killing it to achieve their goals. Three full time activities I cannot imagine the stress involved. On the other hand hybrid courses really do prepare students for the real world. Having been in the work force for 15 years short deadlines are a daily occurrence. Most of my deadlines are dropped on me same day with the expectation of getting my regular work as well as the new deadline done by the end of the business day. So in a time restraint world hybrid courses do prepare the student for abrupt deadlines. I am just not positive teaching students in this manner is in the best interest of our future architects, engineers, or healthcare professionals.

All my classes are hybrid, now I have a bleeding ulcer.

The question that needs to be proposed is, “What information is really being retained with this fast paced course?” Colleges are currently assessing what other courses can be converted to hybrid. This is worrisome because students are carrying the same course load in half the time. Imagine driving through a residential area at 25 mph. The driver would be able to glance around at the houses, the cars, neighbors talking in their yards, a father and son washing the family SUV, or maybe perhaps an elderly woman planting flowers. Now imagine driving down that same road at 50 mph. The driver would not only be endangering all of those residents in the area but they would not be able to retain, in detail, the neighborhood. Retaining information is a process which takes time. I for one would think twice about driving across a bridge built by an engineer that was able to graduate with their master's in six years versus eight. Not to say it cannot be done but for the average person the odds may be against them with hybrid courses.