Self and society in virtual contexts/Teaching notes for instructors

Teaching Notes
Flow of the Hybrid Week and the In-class Session. Instructors should reinforce the structure and flow of the hybrid format to students with regard to their own class and due dates. Remind them frequently in the early weeks that Week One consists only of an in-class session, and that all other weeks BEGIN with online, digital classwork and the week’s readings, and END with the in-class session. The in-class session ENDS every “week,” and then, the next week begins.

It may take two or three weeks for all to adapt to the flow of the week in each given course. Keep in mind that students may be taking two or more DCIM classes at a time, and should be assisted in keeping due dates straight (and encouraged to keep a planner). Use the one in-class session a week to “navigate” the course for the student.

Please go over syllabi and course rules and policies during Week One and repeat briefly for newcomers on Week Two. Be sure to explain how the online portion of your hybrid class will “flow” with your in-class sessions and why it is important for students to consider the online and in-class portions to be integrated as one class. Inform them that online activities actually “replace” a second in-class meeting one day of the week, but that there will still be additional homework, projects, and studying to do in addition. Let them know exactly what kinds of activities will be part of the online, hybrid learning in your class, and how those activities will complement the in-class sessions. Help them see the class as one seamless, unified, but innovatively designed, whole.

Because your class has been designed in this way, you will not need to do excessive lecturing in the classroom. Do think about how to best use your one class session per week.


 * It is suggested that instructors begin each class with attendance, and then review the online portion of the week and any just-concluded discussions and work.
 * Then, do a short (20-minute?) in-class lecture and discussion, in any format you like, being sure to respond to any student questions about the material.
 * Follow that with some kind of in-class activity or project work (much of this will be provided for you in the Canvas site under the Modules weekly schedule).
 * Finally, with 10 or 15 minutes to go, preview the next week’s topic, reading, and online work.