Hybrid and Distance-Enhanced Courses

Learn tips and time-management skills to keep you on track when taking hybrid or distance-enhanced courses.

What to expect

In hybrid and distance-enhanced courses, you can expect to have both in-person and online instruction. In hybrid courses, you'll attend class in person one or more times per week about half the time. For distanced-enhanced courses, most of your classwork will be done online but will be enhanced with some in-person experiences throughout the semester.

For a 3-credit hour semester course, you should expect to attend class in person or online (synchronous in CarmenZoom, asynchronous in CarmenCanvas, or a mix of both) for roughly three hours a week. Additionally, you should spend an average of six hours preparing for class (this may include readings, homework, or other assigned activities).

Quick tips

Hybrid courses

Record tasks that need to be completed before in-person classes by setting one-time or recurring reminders using your device calendar tool or the Reminders app (native on iPad).
Form study groups and plan group assignments. Chat with classmates using Teams or schedule collaborative meetings in Outlook.
Keep track of the many things that you need to get done. Make a to-do list with Microsoft To Do (log in with your lastname.#@osu.edu). Access your list from your computer, iPad, or mobile device.

Distance-enhanced courses

Use a calendar to keep track of class times, student organization meetings, work hours, study sessions, and social plans. This will help you understand when you’re free and when you need to focus. Outlook has a great calendar that is accessible on mobile devices.

Ask follow-up questions by contacting your professor outside of class using their preferred method (check the syllabus or ask during class). Many will prefer that you use Outlook for email or the messaging feature in Carmen.

Time blocking

Time blocking is a proven method to help you focus and accomplish the things you need to achieve in a set amount of time.

Whether you're taking a hybrid or distance-enhanced course, make sure you know when you have to be on campus for in-person activities and account for travel time on these occasions. Check with your instructor if you are unsure.

As an example, for a single 3-credit hour hybrid course, build approximately six hours of homework and preparation time into your schedule around any on-campus activities and synchronous class sessions on Zoom. You could plan homework time on the days when you do not meet with your class.

For a distance-enhanced course, after blocking off time for any on-campus class activities, plan to spend a bit of time each day working through Carmen course modules and activities before moving on to homework or projects for that class. This will help you stay on top of asynchronous learning activities and spread your workload throughout the week.

Hybrid with Zoom weekly schedule: 1 day in-person; 1 day on Zoom; 3 days homework — *Example #1 of how your time may be allocated for a hybrid or distance-enhanced course*

Traditonal Hybrid weekly schedule: 1 day in person; 4 online learning — *Example #2 of how your time may be allocated for a hybrid or distance-enhanced course*

Sample daily schedule of a student taking hybrid or distance-enhanced courses

TIME	ACTIVITY
7:00 a.m.	Wake up and get out of bed
7:15 a.m.	Take some time for self-care (stretch, meditate, or drink a big glass of water)
7:30 a.m.	Eat breakfast and engage brain
8:30 a.m.	Travel to campus
9:30 a.m.	First class of the day (in-person)
10:30 a.m.	Head to a drop-in space to study and work on assignments during a break
11:15 a.m.	Second class of the day (online) from the drop-in space
12:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:30 p.m.	Head back to the drop-in space to study and work on assignments
3:15 p.m.	Travel to next class
3:30 p.m.	Third class of the day (in-person)
4:30 p.m.	Travel home
5:30 p.m.	Get exercise for at least 30 minutes at an on-campus recreation facility or by exercising off-campus (try setting an exercise goal in the Wellness app)
6:30 p.m.	Eat dinner
7:00 p.m.	Review notes from the day's classes and tie up loose ends before tomorrow’s classes
8:00 p.m.	Meet with club or socialize with friends
9:30 p.m.	Take some personal time to rejuvenate—read, watch TV, or play video games (this might be a good time to unplug and practice healthy tech habits)
10:30 p.m.	Get ready for bed and read for fun or listen to a calming podcast
11:00 p.m.	Go to bed in order to get 8 hours of sleep