A hybrid distance-learning/face-to-face class experiment

Many colleges and universities have begun to offer distance-learning classes by using the World Wide Web. Although distance learning offers many advantages, it does not provide the face-to-face experience of a traditional classroom experience. In this paper we explore the results of teaching a hybrid WWW and face-to-face class. A computer organization class that is typically taught two evenings per week will be restructured to meet one evening per week (or perhaps every other week) during spring quarter 1999, thus reducing the number of evenings the students and instructors must commit to class meetings. The reduction in class meetings is accomplished by providing the class lectures via the WWW. Class lectures will be presented using off-the-shelf presentation software with voice accompaniment, allowing the students to view/listen to the lectures at times of their own choosing. Moreover, they may review the lectures at will to enhance their understanding. During classroom sessions, students can ask the instructor questions and participate in group discussions. The class sessions will also provide a time for demonstrations and examinations. A unique aspect of this experiment is made possible by offering a concurrent section of the same course using traditional teaching techniques with the same instructor. By comparing the outcomes of the two courses, conclusions on the relative effectiveness of the hybrid class may be drawn.