Web-Enhanced Courses Versus Hybrid Courses

It's easy to get web-enhanced courses and hybrid courses confused. After all, don't both take place (at least partially) online? The answer to that question is: kind of. In reality, web-enhanced and hybrid courses do have the internet in common, as both may have things like the syllabus, readings, and even recorded course video lectures online located in a college-based learning portal. With that said, each type of course is very different, as web-enhanced and hybrid courses aren't the same thing at all. Here's the difference.

Web Enhanced Courses

These courses take place entirely in the classroom at Dean College. Students must attend the lectures in person and participate in any required in-person activities, like group work or discussions. However, the course does have a web-based platform attached to it. 

• Students Meet in a Traditional Classroom – With a web enhanced course, the class is taught traditionally in a lecture hall or classroom. Students have a specific schedule that they need to follow, and must be in the correct room at the right time in order to attend the lecture and learn the material provided. This part of the course is entirely traditional and is what students are most likely familiar with or picture when they think of college.
• Some Components of the Course Are Provided Online – In this particular type of course, the online learning portal is treated like a supplement. Professors may put the syllabus online, so it's easy to access, and they might post things like additional readings to help students gain a deeper understanding of the material. There might also be online drop boxes for assignment submissions.

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses are a little different. They do features some in-person components, as well as plenty of online web-portal-based ones. However, not all of the course is taught in person; some of it takes place online.

• Less In-Person Class Time – Some of the courses at Dean College take place in a hybrid format, which means that students spend only part of the semester attending classes in person. These parts of the class are very similar to the traditional ones, as they include a specific schedule of dates, times, and locations to meet and attend a lecture. Students also get to interact with their fellow attendees in person during these weeks of the semester, and the arrangement is very familiar.
• Flexible Learning Environments – The remaining weeks of the course (depending on the schedule, of course) take place online. Lectures are recorded and uploaded as audio or video files, assignments must be submitted or contributed to (such as discussion forums) online, and there may be additional readings posted besides the ones in the required textbook. These weeks of the course are very flexible, allowing students to get the work done as their own schedule allows, as long as their assignments are turned in on time. The hybrid format is great for adult students who lead busy lives and have plenty of different things to juggle, such as children and jobs.

Clearly, it’s easy to confuse web-enhanced courses and hybrid courses as they both contain a non-face-to-face, online learning component. However, it’s best to understand the differences between the two and how they will serve your needs before jumping into one with both feet.

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