Students, professors balance online learning and traditional classes

By Braden Weinel//

Professors have been working all summer to prepare for online and hybrid operations this semester. Marisel Torres-Crespo, Coordinator of Online Learning Instruction and member of the Online Transition Team (OTT) was in charge of creating a plan for this unique school year. 

At Hood, 470 classes are being held in the traditional fashion, but professors have also given students the option to attend via Zoom. 154 courses are completely online, while the remaining 220 courses offered this semester are considered hybrid classes. 

“As we defined ‘online’, that’s a fully asynchronous experience for the student and the faculty member… the course material is provided online through blackboard and the student can come and access that information on their own time frame”, Provost Debbie Ricker said in an interview Wednesday. 

Some students see this as a benefit to their learning, while others find it as an obstacle. Out of the 1,195 undergraduate students enrolled at Hood, 319 of those students are choosing to attend classes remotely. 

Aden Sievert, a freshman communications arts major living on campus, is currently taking four online classes. However, he prefers traditional classes because he likes the structure that comes with in-person classes.

With no in-person classes for Sievert, he’s had to adapt to a new style of learning. 

“This is the first time I’ve had to use an agenda and really map out everything I have to do,” said Sievert.

Jacob Schiller, a freshman business administration major, feels the same way when it comes to traditional classes. Schiller, who has three in-person classes, believes it is easier to gain understanding of material and ask questions in a traditional setting.

“I like the effect of being able to talk to a teacher and have a schedule,” said Schiller. 

From a teaching perspective, Torres-Crespo believes it is easier to create a learning community when the class is in-person. With online learning, Torres-Crespo, as well as many other professors are trying to replicate that community in a Zoom setting. 

Some students find Zoom to be beneficial. Sievert and Schiller look at the hybrid class setting to be a great alternative for traditional class periods. 

“Zoom essentially emulates the feeling of a classroom,” Torres-Crespo said in an interview Monday. 

For students who don’t find many benefits in the online learning instruction they can access the online learning success toolkit that the OTT put together this summer.