March 1, 2013

Hedwige Meyer: Hybrid language classes let students pause, rewind at home, and practice more in class

Ms. Meyer is a senior lecturer in French and the 100-level French Language Coordinator at UW Seattle. She expanded access to her French classes through a hybrid format — shifting from five days a week in the classroom to a 3x (classroom) + 2x (online) model using Moodle, a learning management system. In structuring the class, she says, “I have designed activities so that the vast majority of the language input is done online and class time is reserved for practicing the newly acquired skills.”

Benefits for students: “The advantage of these online lessons is that students can pause, rewind, or replay the lesson as many times as they wish. Of course, you cannot pause your instructor in class or ask him or her to repeat the same thing five times; therefore, students have commented positively on this part of the course.”

Student reactions: “Students are happy with it and their progress is definitely satisfying.”

Increasing access: “The hybrid course allows French instructors to teach two sections of 18 students instead of just one section of 24.”

Improving classes: “It is important to use the fantastic technology that is available to us to try to improve our classes. The material covered in French 100 does not change, even if you change textbooks (French grammar and vocab is always pretty much the same!), but the way we present it can change and improve.”

Learn More

Read the full Provost report on how UW faculty are enhancing teaching with technology.