Students may attend a lecture in-person one day, and they may participate remotely or asynchronously the next. Students attending a 16-week Flex course that meets twice a week will have 332 or almost 2 quadrillion (1.853 x 1015) different learning pathways! As an instructor, you usually do not know how students may interact with specific content until class time. This uncertainty could be uncomfortable and challenging. Knowing more about your students can be very helpful for planning the semester.
Why would students prefer F2F?
One of the major reasons students may prefer to attend Face-to-face is to maintain a connection to the school and their peers. Among the three variables of engagement, student-instructor interaction truly shines in F2F instruction. It is more personal and immediate. Students may feel they need that 'little extra' instruction. For an important or challenging course, students can ask you questions right then and there in the classroom. If the course is interesting, they may want to know more about the subject. Students may enjoy listening to your stories or examples and discussing the little things in-person with you and everyone else. Peer-to-peer communication can create a dynamic sense of community. The atmosphere of being together often makes learning more enjoyable.
Why would students prefer Sync Online?
While students may enjoy the classroom atmosphere, it may not be practical for some to attend lectures in-person. The campus location could be remote, or students may lack transportation. Especially in winter, students may want to avoid bad weather or attend courses late at night. Instead of visiting campus, they might opt for the comfort of being at home, having snacks, and working in their pajamas. Though the majority of our students are part-time, many have jobs and some have family and children. It is simply more time-efficient to increase studying time by reducing travel time. To procure the same benefits as F2F instruction, Sync Online often is their best option. Since chat is available, student-student interaction happens more frequently but is often less disruptive to the class.
Why would students prefer Online?
Flexibility is often the most important factor. When there is no requirement to be 'in class' at a specific time, it can accommodate a very diverse group of students. Some students may have to work overnight or have unpredictable schedules. They are unlikely to be attending live sessions regularly. Some students may suffer from illnesses. Even if they try, they may be unable to focus or take good notes during live sessions. Having another chance to learn later by watching the lecture recording is very beneficial.
Some students are very independent and self-disciplined. They tend to be more motivated intrinsically. Even with limited guidance, they can learn very well. Thus, they may prefer not to be sitting in-class and waiting until others finish asking questions to learn the topic. However, low-performing students need extra motivations and clear guidance. Course design plays a very important role in student-content interaction! With a diverse population, some students may experience culture shock and see themselves different from others. With limited things in common, they may not want to join a live discussion. With so many possible scenarios, it should be no surprise that Online students might be the majority of a class.
