What is the student experience like in Online or Hybrid format?

“On-ground” learning is a term that refers to the traditional college campus, where students come to and in many cases reside on campus in dormitories.  That is a great experience, but one that is increasingly not an option for students with jobs or students who cannot afford the high costs associated with living on campus.  In recent decades, schools like Northeastern have pioneered the sophisticated use of online learning.  While in the old days this involved setting up a camera in front of the professor, online learning today can involve high quality programs, far more student interaction with their teacher, much more student-to-student group interaction, and a richer use of media and technology to educate students in a compelling and effective way.

Asynchronous online learning means taking the course at a time the student wants, as opposed to a fixed time.  This form of online learning is not only flexible and accessible, but the research confirms that it is as effective for student mastery of the topic and competencies as on-ground learning

“Hybrid” learning takes the best of online and on-ground approaches.  For those hybrid classes taught here at Northeastern-Seattle, for example, students use online for a component of their learning the content.  They then come onto campus, usually at night or on the weekend, with their fellow students and their faculty member. If they have the choice many students, but not all, prefer a hybrid approach, as they place value on the in-person interaction.

All the degree programs and certificates offered at Northeastern-Seattle are either in the hybrid or online platform, usually depending on class size.

I explain these different approaches in the attached video from a recent interview with Steve Scher.

Dean Washburn