Hybrid Course Planning

Get Familiar with the Hybrid Curriculum Models for the Fall

By this time, you may have some idea of which hybrid curriculum model is best for the delivery of your courses. You have two options: Hybrid-Asynchronous or Hybrid Simulcasting.

The hybrid curriculum models are primarily in place to apply social distancing as a strategy. The university aims to maintain a high-quality learning experience for students and retain those active and collaborative learning experiences that are most important for student learning while meeting current recommendations for social distancing.

Resources from the provost office:

• Fall 2020 Curriculum Models Document
• Planning for Fall 2020 Reopening
• FAQs on Fall reopening

Planning with a Course Blueprint

As you redesign your course from face to face to hybrid, it is helpful to sketch a course blueprint.

A course blueprint outlines a carefully thought out weekly learning pattern for each week of your Hybrid course. It is essentially your “grand plan” that you can refer to as you build your Hybrid course.

A course blueprint should show:

• what types of activities will take place (whether pre-class, in-class, or post-class)
• when (what day) activities will take place (depending on student groups)
• where activities will take place (whether online and in-class)

Sketching a Course Blueprint for the Hybrid-Asynchronous Model

Look at some examples of how you might sketch out a Hybrid – Asynchronous blueprint.

In Table 1:

• All students are assigned the same asynchronous pre-class and post-class activities to work on online.
• The class is split into two groups. One group meets face-to-face on M/T and the other group meets face-to-face on W/R.
• Face-to-face activities are repeated for each face-to-face class session.

Table 1. Simple Blueprint for Hybrid – Asynchronous (M/W or T/R Schedule)

In Table 2:

• All students are assigned the same asynchronous pre-class and post-class activities to work on online.
• The class is split into three groups. One group meets M, another on W, and the last on F.
• Face-to-face activities are repeated for each face-to-face class session.

Table 2. Simple Blueprint for Hybrid – Asynchronous (MWF Schedule)

Sketching a Course Blueprint for the Hybrid-Simulcasting Model

Look at some examples of how you might sketch out a Hybrid – Simulcasting blueprint. This model closely resembles face-to-face classes where each class session is unique and follows a regular progression.

In Table 3:

• All students are assigned the same asynchronous pre-class and post-class activities to work on online.
• The class is split into two groups. Group 1 and 2 both attend the lecture session scheduled per day. Group 1 attends in person, while Group 2 joins the live broadcast via WebEx or Zoom.
• In-class lectures are recorded and uploaded to Canvas after the class session.

Table 3. Simple Blueprint for Hybrid – Simulcast (M/W or T/R Schedule)

In Table 4:

• All students are assigned the same asynchronous pre-class and post-class activities to work on online.
• The class is split into three groups.
  • Group 1 and 2 both attend the lecture session scheduled per day. Group 1 attends in person, while Group 2 joins the live broadcast via WebEx or Zoom.
  • Group 3 may be reserved for students who failed to login in due to personal or technical reasons. These students have to catch up by watching the recorded lecture (post-class).
• In-class lectures are recorded and uploaded to Canvas after the class session.

Table 4. Simple Blueprint for Hybrid – Simulcast (MWF Schedule)

Course Blueprint Templates and Samples

Fill in the blueprint templates with activity sequences for each week of your course (Table 5).

Table 5. Simple Blueprint for Hybrid-Simulcasting (2 groups)

For an added challenge, you might sketch a more detailed blueprint that lists the resources, activities, supports, and evaluations (RASE Elements) that students will engage in per week (Table 6).

Table 6. Detailed Blueprint Template for Hybrid-Simulcasting

Try it yourself:

1. Download the Blank Hybrid Course Blueprint Template
2. Select any template and customize a blueprint for each week of your hybrid course. You may also refer to samples in this Filled-In Hybrid Course Blueprint Document

Need help? Submit a ticket to schedule a 1-1 consultation with an instructional designer from the Center for Teaching and Learning.