Spring Break
Blended courses offer best of two worlds
Blackboard Vista imitates a classroom environment in a Web setting.
By Trey Randolph
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: News
Originally published: 9/25/08 at 1:22 PM CSTLast update: 9/25/08 at 5:24 PM CST
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Many students are unaware of the availability of alternative learning options such as online and blended courses, which can lessen or even eliminate the need to travel to campus as often.
"Blended classes combine the best of face-to-face, and the best of online (learning)," Dr. Carol Keller, history professor, said Sept. 18. in an interview.
"Those who survive genuinely (enjoy) it."
Blended courses allow students the freedom to work from home while also allowing adequate face-to-face time with teachers to address issues or concerns.
"(Students like) knowing that they (can) contact me in a variety of ways and get help with the class no matter which segment, online or in-class, we (are) working on at the time," Dr. Dawn Elmore-McCrary, English professor, said Tuesday via e-mail.
Online and blended learning at this college is done primarily through a learning management system called Blackboard Vista, an online system enabling students and teachers to interact on the Web.
Teachers may add or delete things such as announcements, discussions and bulletin boards, quizzes or tests, or any other number of other useful tools designed to imitate a classroom environment in a Web setting, she said.
There is even an instant message feature available that allows users to see who is online at any given time and communicate with one other to answer questions, get feedback or discuss topics.
Keller is this college's Blackboard Vista coordinator, and is passionate about using the system to its potential for blended courses.
As the coordinator, Keller made a PowerPoint presentation for staff to address the benefits and downfalls of the blended learning system.
It is important, she said, to save the infrequent class time for things "best done in class," such as group work or giving presentations while using the online system to administer tests and assignments.
Keller says the best candidates for online or blended classes are disciplined students who are good at keeping calendars and working independently.
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