Hybrid Classes
If you ask English Instructor Kathy Whitham, an emerging trend in higher education called "hybrid classes" offers students distinct advantages.
"Hybrid classes offers students the best of both worlds," Whitham explained. "They offer the flexibility of online learning and the benefits of classroom learning."
At South, students taking hybrid classes participate both online and in regularly scheduled face-to-face sessions. For many students, this kind of flexible schedule provides the freedom needed to balance education with a busy life outside of school.
For those who are new to online learning, instructors guide their students to access and navigate the online classroom.
South student Shane Brookman enrolled in an English 101 hybrid class and was pleasantly surprised, despite his initial trepidation.
"At first I was a little nervous about it," Brookman explained. "But once it got going, I actually preferred it and when I take another English class I will look for a hybrid class."
Whitham, who is teaching English 102 as a hybrid class this Fall, also noted that the quality of instruction of hybrid classes is not compromised as the course objectives, assignments, requirements and teaching standards remain the same.
Brookman echoes those sentiments.
"If anything, I think the quality of the instruction was enhanced as a hybrid class," Brookman explained. "The real learning was taking place when you were doing the reading and the writing and getting a response from the teacher. You have more time to do that when you don't necessarily have to be in the class every day. "
For students without their own computer, South's campus is fully furnished with three open computer labs that house over 100 computers. The majority of these computers are in the library building, open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM and on Fridays from 8 AM - 4 PM and is also open on the weekends. (Click here for the full schedule.)
South is offering 34 different hybrid classes with subjects ranging from Art to Biology this Fall. To see the complete listing of hybrid classes visit South's online class schedule page here. Once you are there, you can use the filter – on the left hand side of the page – and select "Hybrid" from the "Course type" drop down menu.
For additional information on hybrid classes, contact an Advisor by email at advisorsouth@seattlecolleges.edu, by phone at 206 934-5387, or just stop by their new location in the Robert Smith Building room 11 Monday –Friday.