A Tough Decision: Mixing Classroom and Online Instruction

Cherish Weiler
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently began conducting their introductory Spanish courses completely online. Over the past couple years, the University had offered a mixture of a classroom-based and online-based Spanish 101 course but made the decision to cut the classroom interaction component out of their course curriculum. While some may criticize the use of a completely Web-based instruction, the benefits of offering online courses to full-time students are numerous. Online courses reduce the need for universities to spend resources for classroom-based instruction and allow students the flexibility of completing a course on their own time.

The decision to switch to an online-based Spanish 101 course revolved around the University’s limited resources. Larry King, chair of the Romance Language and Literature department, states that a combination of having the department budget cut and an increased demand for Spanish instruction led to the decision. The switch saved the department from having to make personal departmental cuts and also freed up room for more students to enroll in the course. However, critics of the online-only instruction argue that using the Web to teach a language course eliminating the most important aspect of the course: face-to-face communication. They also claim that students may be less enticed to study or less inclined to continue their Spanish education. Still, department officials state that data revealed there was no significant difference in learning outcomes between the hybrid course and the traditional, classroom course. Also, students have the ability to meet with their professor at any time and move through the course at their own pace.

Many students learn under different types of instruction and should recognize the benefits and disadvantages of the courses they might consider taking. Additionally, universities should not view the option of offering online courses as a quick way to save money and resources. The tough decision to integrate online-based instruction in a traditional, classroom-based setting should be considered for universities struggling to meet the demands of students.