Hybrid and Online Syllabuses

Syllabus: CIS 3700: Sustainability & IT 
Professor: Kannan Mohan
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: Blackboard (for Gradebook), Dropbox, Baruch College eReserve, One Note notebook, various online journals and databases.

Course Information: Students investigate IT’s carbon footprint, how IT can offer sustainable solutions to environmental concerns, and IT’s connection to social sustainability. Students produce case analysis reports on IT and environmental and sustainability issues, create deliverables on IT as a solution, and complete a project (including a report and presentation). Since the course is information-heavy, and the relevant content frequently updates, Professor Mohan uses two Blogs@Baruch sites: one for more interactive, comment-based participatory learning from the students and one as a course portal to convey course information and links to resources. Professor Mohan also provides an online glossary to reinforce vocabulary and key terms for students (many of whom are multilingual learners).

Syllabus Description: In Kannan Mohan’s Sustainability and IT course, class meetings alternate weekly between face-to-face and online modes. Rather than having a comprehensive syllabus, Professor Mohan uses the course website to organize and share information with students. The “Syllabus” section of the site houses important information such as instructor contact information, learning objectives, required materials and prerequisites, and grade and course policies. More detailed information about assignments and the course schedule can be found in other areas of the site, such as “Schedule” and “Assignments”. The “Resources” section contains digital material related to the course. Engaging with Professor Mohan’s site gives students an opportunity to write about their research and projects, collaborate with peers, and receive feedback from the instructor.

Syllabus: CMP 3075: Italian Cinema and Culture
Professor: Antonietta D’Amelio
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: GoogleDocs, Hulu+, Newman Library film streaming resources

Course Information: Antonietta D’Amelio’s Italian Cinema and Culture hybrid course examines the aesthetic and sociopolitical currents of 20th and 21st century Italy through an analysis of its classic films. Students study some of the major Italian filmmakers and significant works of Italian literature that have played an important role in the formation of Italian cinema. Professor D’Amelio uses the increased flexibility of the hybrid structure to help her students prepare for intense and fruitful in-person conversations about the films. She ensured that all of the films were available for watching outside of face-to-face class time and created a tutorial on the course site that instructs students on how to actively watch films online. Students take notes in an online journal (accessible to other students in the course) about films and related readings, post comments on the course site, and come into the face-to-face meetings fully prepared to engage in thoughtful discussion about the material. The course meets face-to-face once a week for 75 minutes rather than twice a week for 150 minutes.

Syllabus Description: Professor D’Amelio’s syllabus begins with a course schedule that gives students a clear overview of what to expect. The schedule demonstrates that the class will only meet once per week, and the learning objectives further emphasize the hybrid format of the course. The syllabus explains that discussions and interactions will take place online rather than in class and are meant to expand on and deepen the in-person class meetings. Professor D’Amelio’s syllabus lucidly outlines what is required of students prior to and after attending class and provides a comprehensive set of guidelines to help shape online interactions.

Syllabus: ENG 2800: Great Works of Literature I: Remixing Memory
Professor: Stephanie Hershinow
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: VOCAT, Google Docs, Turnitin.com

Course Information: Professor Hershinow uses her Blogs@Baruch course website to spark discussion between students. In lieu of meeting twice a week for 150 minutes, the course meets face-to-face once a week for 75 minutes. Time spent in class is replaced by online engagement to discuss class readings and requires students to share their ideas by creating blog posts and response comments. Professor Hershinow’s course introduces students to a range of ancient literary texts. Students learn about the historical and cultural contexts of the texts to reveal literary themes, techniques, and terminology. The class dives into the texts and uses online discussion to discern how and why the ancient texts have such an enduring legacy. Using a hybrid format gives students the opportunity to blend the old with the new. They work with new media and technology to expand their understanding of ancient texts and while also producing, publishing, and updating their own writing products in response to ongoing feedback from the instructor and fellow students.

Syllabus Description: Professor Hershinow’s syllabus is cleanly laid out and provides clear, concise information about the hybrid nature of the course. The course information, blog url, and instructor contact information is included at the beginning of the syllabus. Her course description nicely outlines the nature and content of the course and makes it clear that the course will follow a hybrid format that requires students to engage with technology. The assignment instructions provide detailed information about the nature of the online assignments including where assignments should be posted and when they are due. Since students will not be in class on certain days, the syllabus includes information about how much time students should plan to spend completing online assignments and engaging with others on the online platform. Finally, the course schedule includes important details such as dates of each class, the location of each class (either online or in person) and a clear outline of assignment due dates and times.

Syllabus: ENG 2800: Great Works of Literature I: Ancient Literature in our Modern World
Professor: Nicole Zeftel
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: Wordle, Twitter, Google Collaborate (docs, hangout), Instagram, Pinterest, and VOCAT

Course Information: Professor Zeftel’s hybrid schedule replaces one class meeting per week with online assignments and engagement. Students are required to complete an online assignment by the end of each week; online assignments consist of blog posts, collaborative writing, tweets, and online discussions. Students are also required to create a final digital project focused on the material covered throughout the semester. Students have a choice in the design of the project (creating an Instagram, Pinterest, VOCAT presentation, etc) and must write an accompanying paper that directly links the language of the chosen text to the digital project. The class uses a range of online platforms to explore both Ancient and Early Modern literature from China to ancient Greece. Professor Zeftel breaks her course into three units that cover ancient poetry, dramatic trilogies, and epic stories, respectively. In her course, students have the opportunity to use digital resources to create dynamic assignments that compliment and enrich the writing process.

Syllabus Description: Professor Zeftel’s syllabus clearly identifies the hybrid format of the course by indicating it several times in the beginning of the document. Professor Zeftel also provides helpful information about requirements for online learning and details about how in-person meetings  will be supplemented by online homework. The syllabus delineates how much time students should be spending completing online assignments and is clear about when and where the assignments are due. The course schedule includes essential details such as dates and locations of each class (online or in person) and a clear outline of assignment information.

Syllabus: PAF 9103: Communication in Public Settings
Professor: David Hoffman
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: Blackboard, streaming films through Amazon, videos and slides on Google Drive.

Course Information: Professor Hoffman utilizes the hybrid schedule to maintain the rhythm of weekly meetings, but supplements one hour of the scheduled weekly three-hour class with an hour of online work that can be achieved asynchronously. Professor Hoffman pinpointed times of inefficiency in face-to-face classes (for example, when students sign up for an oral presentation) and uses the course site on Blogs@Baruch to accomplish tasks that may otherwise detract from important face-to-face class time. InProfessor Hoffman’s Communication in Public Settings course, students seek to understand the norms, rules, and procedures that give deliberating groups the best chance of arriving at good decisions in a variety of contexts. Students read academic scholarship and research on deliberation, and observe and enact various forms of deliberation. The course aims to equip students with the conceptual tools of critical thinking that will further their engagement in public deliberation. To achieve this goal, students construct and deliver various forms of public communication, while receiving meaningful feedback to improve their performances.Professor Hoffman utilizes the hybrid schedule to leverage the camaraderie that comes with weekly meetings while also seeking to limit unused time in the third hour of a long class when students are most likely to disengage and become tired. The hybrid format allows Professor Hoffman to promote a signature assignment sequence, in which each weekly task scaffolds into a semester-length project.

Syllabus Description: Professor Hoffman’s syllabus is up front about the hybrid nature and requirements of the course. He uses the syllabus to create a course policy for blog posts, giving students guidelines for how to engage with the material and each other online. In the course schedule he provides links to more detailed topic and assignment information housed on the course’s Blogs@Barcuh site. The course schedule includes dates for both when the class meets in person and when assignments are due online.

Syllabus: PSY 1001: Introduction to Psychology
Professor: Erin Eatough Cooley
Mode of Instruction: Fully Online (FO)
Main Platform: Launchpad (textbook publisher’s course site), Blackboard

Course Information: Professor Cooley’s Introduction to Psychology course runs fully online in an asynchronous format with no in-person meetings. Students complete asynchronous assignments using the textbook and the eplatform provided by the publisher and also engage with customized videos and podcasts provided by Professor Cooley. Weekly tasks included watching online lectures, reading, participating in the online discussion board, and submitting assignments. Synchronous, live on- and off-line office hours and meetings are available but not required.

Syllabus Description: Professor Cooley’s Introduction to Psychology syllabus indicates that the course will take place online and includes requirements for online access and communication. The “Requirements and Evaluations” section provides students with a comprehensive overview of the course requirements, expectations, and assignments. There is also detailed information pertaining to how and when these assignments need to be completed and turned in. Professor Cooley includes a “Netiquette” section that provides students with guidelines for online etiquette and communication. The first schedule outlines weekly reading topics and exams and the second schedule provides assignment schedule details. By breaking it down in this way, students can better discern the difference between reading and assignment due dates.

Syllabus: THE 1041: Introduction to Theatre Arts
Professor: Debra Caplan
Mode of Instruction: Hybrid (H)
Main Platform: Blogs@Baruch
Other Technology: Twitter, Skype, VOCAT, digital photos and images

Course Information: Debra Caplan uses the flexibility of the hybrid schedule to increase students’ interactions with the NYC theater community. The course meets face-to-face once a week for 75 minutes rather than twice a week for 150 minutes. In Professor Caplan’s introductory theatre course, students examine how theatrical productions are developed via artistic collaborations between writers, actors, directors, designers, producers, and audience members. Students read plays and theater reviews, attend theatrical productions, and participate in workshops and conversations with guest artists. Since attendance at professional performances in New York City outside of class is a required part of the course, Professor Caplan designed hybrid online/in-person activities and assignments to allow students to connect with performers and other theater professionals and to interact with New York’s theater scene. Professor Caplan also uses social media as a tool to connect students to the theater community. The course leverages the increased flexibility of a hybrid schedule through creative assignments: for example, students visit a theater space and blog about the experience (augmenting the writing with photographs), and Skype or chat in person with a theater professional. Additionally, Professor Caplan has recorded mini-lectures detailing basic information about reading, analyzing, and viewing theater that students can watch or listen to at their convenience. Since the course portal is a Blogs@Baruch site, Professor Caplan has uploaded helpful information about taking a hybrid course, all relevant information about her course such as assignments, readings, and the syllabus to the site, and students use the site to post comments and reply to peer’s posts.

Syllabus Description: The course syllabus indicates the course’s hybrid nature and provides detailed information about online assignments. The syllabus lucidly outlines the course expectations and assignment requirements. The course schedule delineates whether the class meets in-person or online and includes information about when online assignments are due.