Dubai, 2nd Feb. 2010 (WAM): Hybrid learning, which combines traditional face- to- face instruction with online learning, has the power to revolutionize the higher education scenario in the UAE, According to Dr. Paul J. Giguere, Director of Distance Learning at the prestigious Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Speaking after co-presenting a paper at the 3rd Forum on e-Learning Excellence in Middle East 2010 in Dubai today, Dr. Giguere said, "Hybrid learning would allow foreign universities to offer their programmes in a cost effective and feasible way.""There is so much interest in the UAE and the Middle East for setting up physical campuses of foreign universities which often turn out to be extremely expensive. Given the current state of the global economy and the rising costs of maintaining foreign varsity campuses, I think hybrid learning would provide a new model for the UAE and the Middle East as they continue their pursuit to attract more foreign universities," Dr. Giguere added. He said that the Master's degree in Nutrition Science and Policy (MNSP) launched by the Tufts University in partnership with the Government of Ras Al Khaimah in hybrid format last year has been a great success with its first cohort set to graduate over the next few months. "The one- year intensive Master's degree programme in Ras Al Khaimah required the students to come together in the emirate for three 10- day residencies for face- to- face classes taught by the Tufts faculty. Much of the remaining course work was done online via interactive learning management software and other instructional tools. The programme went on extremely well and we hold the RAK degree programme in same academic standing as the other programmes offered in our Boston campus," he added. Dr. Giguere said that hybrid learning would especially meet the needs of the student community in the Middle East as it would offer them access to world-class education right in the comfort of their homes with short residencies in regional host cities. Universities can even think of using shared facilities to host the residencies. "Hybrid learning is in perfect sync with the digitally connected and networked youth of today. Using the latest learning management software, students of the Tufts Master's programme in RAK were able to access the recorded lectures from the Boston campus, stay in touch with the faculty round the clock in real-time voice, chat or through email, and even watch the weekly guest lecture series streamed live from Boston." The first cohort of the Tufts RAK programme has attracted students from several countries, including Egypt, Morocco and Qatar. Citing a 12- year meta- analysis conducted by the US Department of Education, Dr. Giguere said that the study revealed that students who took a hybrid programme had better learning outcomes than students who learned the same course in traditional face- to- face instruction. "Hybrid learning also has an edge over online learning as it allows for increased human interaction in the learning environment," he added. Earlier, Dr. Paul Giguere and Heather McMorrow, Senior Instructional Designer at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, co-presented a paper titled `International Hybrid Distance Learning- Addressing 21st century needs for the Middle East and Beyond' at the e-learning conference organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU).Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
