Blog post written by Andrew Marshall
When you sign up for your next semester classes, you’ll most likely add at least one hybrid or fully online course to your schedule. These class formats are growing in popularity and offer a ton of great benefits for students. You may even find yourself with multiple hybrid courses or a schedule that is fully online. No matter what your next semester looks like, here are some tips for making the most of your new class schedule.
Making the most of the flexibility
Arguably, the greatest — and most obvious — benefit of a hybrid/online schedule is the flexibility. Being able to attend class once or twice a week, while completing the rest online, can help students manage their responsibilities and schedules. For some students, this means less time commuting to campus and more time focusing on work, family and personal commitments.
A hybrid schedule also gives students the flexibility to study wherever and whenever they feel most productive. At the same time, students will still have the opportunity to be in a classroom environment and meet face-to-face with instructors. This is where they can ask questions and gain a better understanding of the material provided. The balance between independent and in-person learning is really what makes the experience insightful and meaningful.
Using your commute as a golden opportunity
UM-Dearborn is primarily a commuter campus. And when it comes to commuting, it can be easy to see it as “wasted” time. But the time you spend commuting is a golden opportunity for getting caught up on notes and lectures.
In a hybrid course, some lectures will be in person, while others are uploaded online. Why not use the time you have while driving to get caught up on your online lectures? It’s kind of like listening to a podcast!
This can also be a great time to review your notes. In our digital age, there are multiple apps where you can upload your class notes to them, and they will read your writing back to you! You may not always have the time to review everything you write down, so this is a great option for re-engaging with those in-person lectures.
Take advantage of in-person days
Just because you aren’t on campus five days a week doesn’t mean you can’t get the college life experience. Let’s say you have two in-person days a week. Try looking at those days as your “social days.”
Use those days to go to your professor’s office hours, attend campus events, join student org meetings, work on group projects, etc.
Arguably, the best schedule for grad students
For grad students, many of you are balancing different responsibilities. Between work, family, and now classes, an online/hybrid schedule can be the perfect solution for juggling it all. As a grad student, the flexibility allows you to earn the degree needed to advance your career in a format that doesn’t demand all of your time.
At UM-Dearborn, we offer 66 graduate programs and specialized certificate options, with many programs offering hybrid or fully online class schedules.
Some additional benefits of a hybrid/online schedule…
- Increasing access to higher education: Not everyone has the financial ability or personal freedom to commute daily or to live on/near campus. Between transportation costs, work schedules, rent prices, and family responsibilities, attending traditional in-person classes can be difficult. Hybrid classes help reduce some of these barriers by allowing students to attend campus a few times a week while completing the remaining coursework online.
- Discipline and time management: Having a schedule where some days are in person and others are online requires students to stay organized and responsible on their own. There are plenty of hybrid classes that also require online work before coming to class, which means you really have to manage your time well. It teaches you how to stay consistent even when no one is constantly reminding you. Sometimes you might not feel like logging in or going to class, but learning how to push through that and stay on track builds habits you’ll need in a career.
- Creates opportunities for increased participation: Students may feel uncomfortable speaking up in class. So, having some of the work or discussions online gives students more time to think before responding, which can lead to better and more thoughtful participation. It also takes some of the pressure off of always having to speak out loud, which can make learning feel more comfortable and less stressful overall.
