Shann McGrail always thought about upgrading her skills by taking a continuing education course, but one thing kept her from taking the plunge: time.
"I just set up a business over the course of the past year, so I needed to prioritize my business and my clients," says the 46-year-old Oakville resident. "I needed flexibility and a schedule where I didn't have to go to class every Tuesday night to a physical classroom, because I had other priorities and couldn't always manage that on a consistent basis."
But then Ms. McGrail discovered the "hybrid" course, an innovative learning option offered by the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. In the hybrid format, students take some of their instruction in classrooms on campus and the rest of the course material is completed through online learning.
"When I realized it was a hybrid model, I wanted to try it because I thought, I can finally do this and work this into my schedule," she says.
Ms. McGrail's signed up for the hybrid version of Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy and Social Media, which included three in-class Saturday sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as well as an online component where students access video and PowerPoint materials through a learning management system (LMS). The instructor was available by email and also set up "virtual" office hours to interact with students though a group video chat. Assignments were a mix of in-class and online, including setting up a blog and putting together a video with other classmates in one afternoon.
"We were also graded on class participation, so we had a lot of online areas where we could participate with our classmates, reading and commenting on classmates' blogs, participating in the online community that had been set up through Twitter and other platforms," she says.
Ms. McGrail said the hybrid format was the perfect fit for her. "For me, I needed the flexibility and I did want some interaction with the other students, because I do enjoy working with other people and getting to know other people and hearing what they have to say."
Cindy Bettcher, director of academic programs at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, says that the School is committed to providing learning options that will work for the broadest possible audience. "We introduced online courses many years ago that people could complete anytime, anywhere, and in the last couple of years we added hybrid courses to the mix, which combine the best of in-class and online," she says.
Ms. Bettcher points out that the School's most recent research – a poll conducted by Environics this past spring – showed that the number one barrier to taking a course was time. In fact, when asked to name a reason why they were unable to take a course, 42 per cent of respondents responded, "I don't have time right now."
To help student overcome these time challenges, the School of Continuing Studies offers students the choice of in-class, online and hybrid courses, says Ms. Bettcher. While in-class courses are good for people who perhaps aren't as comfortable with technology or prefer a regular, consistent schedule, the online or hybrid option might be a better fit for people who have full-time jobs, have responsibilities at home, frequent business travel, or simply just require courses that make learning even more accessible.
"If I like the convenience of logging at 11:00 after my family has gone to bed, I have that option," says Ms. Bettcher. "It's really about trying to meet the diversity of our learner's needs."
Donna Papacosta is an instructor at the School of Continuing Studies (and the instructor for Ms. McGrail's course). She's taught both in-class and hybrid versions of the class and says students have responded to the hybrid format because of the combination of independent and face-to-face learning.
"They really liked that you're together all day Saturday," says Ms. Papacosta. "We would have lunch together and on afternoon break have discussions, so you really get to know each other. And then that conversation continues online because you've had that personal interaction."
Today, The School offers more than 600 courses and 80 certificates in business and professional studies, arts and science, creative writing and languages and translations. Currently, 1 in 5 courses are offered online and the School has tripled its hybrid course offerings since 2014.
"While most of our online or hybrid learners live within the GTA [Greater Toronto Area], we are also reaching a global audience through both the hybrid and online," says Ms. Bettcher. "More than 65 countries are represented by the students who participate in our courses."
Recognizing that some students would like to accelerate their learning, the School has also developed a unique three-course certificate structure that allows motivated learners the opportunity to complete a program, part-time, in one year. In addition, many of the courses are offered in multiple formats where learners can start in-class and then switch to an online format in subsequent courses if that format turns out to be more convenient for them.
Ms. Bettcher says they will continue to respond to the diverse needs of the learners by offering even more options and approaches.
"We're attracting a unique market, and so we've prioritized investing in converting more of our classroom-based courses to online and hybrid and experimenting with different schedules."
The School also has staff on-hand to respond to inquiries and help learners choose the right option that will fit with their life, she adds.
"Part of their focus is to help understand the motivations of the student, help understand what circumstances they are dealing with. We're trying to make it as easy as possible to select the right course in the right format that makes the most sense for them.
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