Enhancement of traditional and distance learning through hybrid e-learning approach

The usefulness of hybrid delivery in education has long been realized and with the advancement of computer and communication technologies and the introduction of Web based authoring tools its effectiveness has been further extended. In this work we focus of hybrid e-learning. We refer to hybrid e-learning as those works that utilize courseware modules with an e-learning approach and a mixed delivery system. The main characteristic of a hybrid e-learning delivery model is a reduced face-to-face traditional delivery model complemented by e-lectures. Hybrid e-learning comes in two formats, one with reduced traditional lectures and the other one with virtual face-to-face delivery. Our focus in this paper is hybrid e-learning with virtual faceto-face delivery and will be referred to as hybrid e-learning. Furthermore, a variation of hybrid e-learning where students are given the choice of attending a class via a synchronous online delivery system, as well as traditional face-to-face, will be referred to as flexible delivery. The recommendations given in our work can enhance both traditional and distance learning schemes and can be used as an effective communication model for collaborative research-projects where participants are not from the same geographical area.