Hybrid and Online College Learning Tips
Accessible Academics is here to help!
By Anne Showers
If you are a high school or college student who is struggling with online or hybrid learning, Accessible Academics’ team of academic coaches and tutors can help you succeed. This spring all of our students completed their online courses with a “B” average!
Online and hybrid classes require independent learning. For college, that means doubling the number of hours you must work for each credit hour. This means three credit hours requires six hours of homework. Then, adding three hours of in-class time to your homework, requires devoting nine hours a week for each three-credit online course.
For three-credit hybrid courses with one hour of in-person instruction, expect at least eight hours of homework per week. This means treating your hybrid class more like an online class, since most of the learning happens remotely. In high school, expect to devote at least one hour of studying to each hour of online lecture. You’ll need to take your classes more seriously than you may have before because you’ll be responsible for teaching some of the material to yourself.
Colleges may offer online tutoring and advising resources. If you have a disability and receive accommodations, many of these can be adapted to online classes. While special education services are offered in high school, the amount of available support has been significantly reduced. Accessible Academics helps with these gaps in services with academic coaches and tutors who offer face-to-face in-person or Zoom support.
The best way to manage online or hybrid classes is to pretend you are going to class. Check your school email and online Learning Management System (LMS) — which may be Blackboard, Angel, or another system — several times a week. Your instructor will post your assignments, materials, and syllabus in this system. Use the course outline to follow along. You may need to watch videos, review slides, and read independently. There may be discussion board assignments, group projects, and presentations — which can all be done remotely. Try submitting your assignments early to avoid last-minute glitches. Think about creating a home office or schoolwork zone. The Forest App helps block your phone distractions and set break time.
Finally, don’t be afraid to email your instructor when issues arise. Instructors care about students and understand if you encounter a problem. However, remember that this is your instructor’s job, and they will probably not be online at 3 a.m. or on weekends to help you. Don’t be surprised if it takes 48 hours to receive a reply. This is also where Accessible Academics can make a difference. Our coaches provide feedback and guidance on assignments to assist students in communicating with instructors. We understand what college instructors and teachers are looking for and can guide you every step of the way.
As everyone faces the same uncertainty, Accessible Academics can help you succeed in online and hybrid learning wherever you are!
Anne Showers is founder and CEO of Accessible Academics. Call 492-8656 today to learn more and visit www.accessibleacademics.org.
