Hybrid Learning, yay or nay?

I perused the Oregon State University site regarding their Hybrid Course Initiative. This more or less has resources for students and faculty, explaining effective and ineffective tactics and practices used in relation to hybrid instruction.  Some of the literature I read resonated with me because it was seemed very similar to what we've experienced in this class this semester.  I think it was interesting that they have made this initiative though and have this open dialogue about what is and isn't working with this style of teaching.  I know that UW-Madison has jumped on the MOOC train but I guess I haven't seen or heard much about a focus on hybrid courses.  However, I also think that some level of hybrid learning has already been incorporated into classes here with the use of Moodle, Learn@UW, etc.

Truthfully I go back and forth on my feelings about hybrid course design.  In this course in particular I think the online activities themselves connected with the in-person lectures and discussions.  On the other hand, I do not think that the personal connections really traversed the online / in-person boundary.  In fact I feel like it's almost strange to read and respond to my peer's blog posts and papers online and then not really have to acknowledge that interaction when we were finally face to face.  I am a proponent of face to face interactions and felt like I best got to know my classmates when I was in discussion with them.  I think the face-to-face discussion yielded a more genuine response rather than blog posts that are essentially forced out of us so that we can get points for the class.  I do feel like I am more familiar with the blog and wikis now though which is a positive thing!

One thing that I really do not like about having access to course materials over the internet and instructors having easy access to communicating with students is that there is so much expected out of us as we have the ability to be connected all the time. I also think it damages the face-to-face time when students realize they can just read about it, look at it, hear about it, or search it later.  Students become disengaged and that essentially wastes that allotted time.

I've really enjoyed this class because it has hit the nail on the head in covering a lot of topics that I have deep interest in.  It has also definitely made me think more about my online interactions - I think about the ways that I use technology and information in a much different light now. The nature of the content of this course is really fitting to a hybrid course - likely because hybrid learning is at the heart of contemporary discussion on the information society.  I think hybrid learning works in some respects to others courses but more so ones that are qualitative rather than quantitative. I can't imagine trying to take a math course like this...sounds quite painful!