Types of Blended Course Designs

Online Teaching

Types of Blended Course Designs

Blended learning is an umbrella term that represents a wide range of course designs that incorporate both online and in-person, asynchronous and live elements in different percentages (鈥渂lends鈥�). This means you can blend locations (online versus in-person) or how interaction takes place (asynchronously or synchronously). Just as a fully online, asynchronous course has its advantages (e.g., accessible by students in all time zones) and disadvantages (e.g., difficulty in feeling connected with you and their peers), the various forms of blended learning have their benefits and challenges.

Blended (mix of in-person and online)

In this 鈥渃lassic鈥� model, some aspects of the course happen online (synchronously and/or asynchronously) and other aspects happen in-person, in the classroom. How much of the course happens online versus in-person is up to you, although typically an instructor will use the learning management system at least for sharing resources, submitting assignments, and displaying grades. Students must be able to be present on campus in this model.

The pros and cons of the聽Blended聽model include:

Advantages	Challenges
Provides some accessibility and flexibility for both you and your students as attendance on campus is less frequent Enables design of courses that takes advantage of the strengths of both modalities Creates opportunities for a flipped classroom in that content can be online, while hands-on, lab, problem-solving, group work, and discussions can be held in person	Less flexible and accessible for those who cannot be in attendance on campus every week (unless an online lab/section was provided for place-bound students) Blended courses can often result in a higher workload (for both you聽and/or students) in comparison to fully online or fully in-person聽 Technology issues Potential need to proctor exams remotely, if held online

Online (mix of synchronous and asynchronous)

In this blended model, the course material is delivered online鈥攑artly asynchronously and partly synchronously. Students complete some of the course asynchronously, as well as come together online at a time you designate for a lecture or preferably for discussion and/or activities. Synchronous group work might also be included.

The pros and cons of the Online model include:

Advantages	Challenges
Students have opportunities for both self-directed and instructor-facilitated learning Students and instructors have opportunities to engage in real time Synchronous sessions can be recorded to reduce any disadvantage to those who can鈥檛 attend Students learn digital literacy and technology skills	Students in different time zones and with other responsibilities may not be able to attend the synchronous components (although these can be recorded) Potential lack of student engagement Students expect you to be available 24/7 Students may have difficulty with self-directed learning or time management Technology issues Potential need to proctor online exams

Distributed (mix of synchronous in-person and online)

In the distributed model, also called 鈥渂lended synchronous,鈥� you hold the class on campus鈥攕ome students attend the class in person, while others attend via videoconferencing (from either another site or from their individual computer). The course may still make use of the learning management system for resource sharing, submission of work, and grades.

The pros and cons of the Distributed model include:

Advantages	Challenges
Accessibility by two distinct groups of students: those who attend in person and those who are at a distance who attend virtually Students and instructors have the opportunity, whether in person or at a distance, to participate in real-time with one another	Students at a distance can feel disconnected and less engaged than students who are in-person Difficulty in planning appropriate pedagogies to engage both audiences Technology issues for virtual students can impact both virtual and in-person students learning Proctoring exams for students at a distance

Dual Mode or HyFlex (multi-access)

In these models of blended learning, the course is offered in both a fully online (both asynchronously and synchronously) version and fully in-person version at the same time. For Dual Mode courses, students choose at the outset which version of the course they will take; in the Hyflex model, students have the flexibility from week to week to choose which version(s) they will attend.

Both Dual Mode and HyFlex are logistically challenging, require use of a classroom with specialized technology, and bring with them a heavy workload for you鈥攂oth in designing, but also in teaching, the course. At this time, instructors at AV俱乐部 should very carefully consider the challenges of this type of blended course design and are strongly encouraged to consult with CLT and ATS before making a final decision.

The pros and cons of the Dual Mode and HyFlex models include:

Advantages

Challenges

Accessibility and flexibility as a result of choice (in case of HyFlex, ongoing choice especially important if someone is sick or has to quarantine)
Students鈥� choice around how to engage as personal circumstances change or to align with context preferences
Ability for students to attend both online asynchronous and in-person sessions for extra review

High workload for faculty鈥攃reating two courses in one, and teaching them both simultaneously
Usually requires additional personnel support to ensure seamless integration between in-person and online students (i.e., increased TA support)
Variability or uncertainty of students鈥� attendance may make instructor planning from week-to-week challenging
Lack of specialized technology in in-person classroom spaces
Need for students to be self-motivated and self-aware to make the best decision for their learning each week

References

Educause Learning Initiative (2020). The HyFlex Course Model. Retrieved from

Farmer, H. (2020). 6 models for blended synchronous and asynchronous online course delivery. Retrieved from