News

Balancing Act: students, faculty weigh merits of hybrid learning

It’s time for Kirkwood Community College students to start thinking about spring classes, including which format they may prefer: face-to-face, online or hybrid. 

According to the college’s website under course formats, “Kirkwood’s hybrid courses allow you to meet in person regularly and complete the rest of your coursework online. These classes keep you on track without keeping you in the classroom. Think of it as an online course with a regular face-to-face meeting time.”

Emily Brown, associate professor of English, shared her thoughts on teaching hybrid courses. Brown said she has taught three semesters and eight courses of hybrid, but will no longer teach hybrid courses after this semester.

Brown said, “My least favorite part of teaching hybrid courses would be the lack of connection between teachers and students and the lack of community between students.”

Brown explained that the biggest struggle she sees in students in hybrid courses is when they aren’t in class, they tend to forget they still have work to do. She said there is outside work that has to be done in hybrid classes and some students don’t realize that. 

Brown also encouraged Kirkwood students to not take too many hybrid courses. “I recommend starting with one hybrid class per semester to see if you like it and go from there,” she said. 

Kirkwood student Jacob Merritt, criminal justice, said he prefers taking hybrid classes. He doesn’t have to be on campus as much and he can do his work from his house, which isn’t as loud and distracting as the environment at school. 

He said he would continue to sign up for hybrid courses. According to Merritt, “I will continue to sign up for hybrid because I like doing homework and stuff at home and if I have questions, I can go in the next day we have class and ask.”

Priority registration for current and returning students runs now through Friday, Nov. 8. Registration for new students begins Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.