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. 

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