The University of Texas at Tyler has adopted a class format that allows for both online and in-person instruction. How does this format impact academic outcomes and costs to both students and educators? How can this format be improved? This research delves into the impact of the hybrid class format and offers recommendations for its continued implementation.

Using Technology to Promote Postsecondary Success and Savings

An Evaluation of the University of Texas at Tyler's PATSS Initiative

Trey Miller, Jesse M. Cunha, Julie A. Delello, Rafiq Dossani, Thomas S. Marzilli

ResearchPublished Dec 13, 2018

In 2013, the University of Texas at Tyler (UTT) began the implementation of the PATSS (Patriots Accessing Technology for Savings and Success) program, an initiative that seeks to increase the use of online technologies for instruction. A portion of a course's classes — a third, half, or two-thirds, depending on the course — is held face-to-face, while the remaining portion is provided online. UTT faculty members who teach PATSS courses are required to attend an extensive training program on how to create effective online material and have access to professional instructional designers to help develop hybrid courses.

This research evaluates the implementation of the PATSS program, looking at student academic performance, course evaluations, and cost savings to students, educators, and the university. The authors found that while PATSS had a slightly negative impact on ratings given in student course evaluations, it had no effect on academic performance and provided a monetizable benefit of $80 per student per year. The research itself has already driven improvements to the PATSS program, resulting in clearer and better communication to students, as well as more-refined training for educators. The authors recommend that the PATSS system continue under a more centralized authority and note that faculty would benefit from continued professional development.

Key Takeaways

Hybrid instruction courses provide near-identical student outcomes, cost savings

  • There was little discernible impact of hybrid instruction PATSS courses on student academic outcomes relative to non-PATSS courses.
  • PATSS had a slightly negative impact on student course evaluations.
  • PATSS provided a net monetizable benefit to all stakeholders of approximately $225,000 annually, or $80 per student per year.

Research results in data-driven improvements to hybrid instruction format

  • UTT developed a process to ensure that accurate information on course format is included in the course schedule at the time of registration.
  • Courses shifted toward professionally produced video lectures broken into digestible pieces.
  • Administrators adapted PATSS training and professional development opportunities to provide more technical training.

Overall findings show that hybrid courses can produce savings, but coordination is key

  • Shifting toward hybrid courses can produce savings without harming student performance.
  • Reducing commuting needs can produce significant savings for both students and faculty.
  • Coordinating course schedules to allow students and faculty to benefit from reduced commuting needs is challenging.
  • Coordinating facilities and classroom space to capitalize on reduced needs can be challenging.
  • Achieving faculty buy-in is difficult but crucial.
  • The extent of implementation of PATSS varied considerably across academic departments and colleges at UTT, and the administration had little control over whether and to what extent faculty engaged with the program.

Recommendations

  • Develop a process to ensure that accurate information on course format is included in the course schedule at the time of registration.
  • For hybrid or online-only courses, use professionally produced video lectures broken into digestible pieces.
  • Adapt training and professional development opportunities to provide more technical training on how to use particular technology and develop pedagogy.
  • More-centralized authority could be useful for future institution-wide reform efforts on the implementation of online-learning initiatives.
  • Faculty could benefit from continued professional development opportunities.

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Miller, Trey, Jesse M. Cunha, Julie A. Delello, Rafiq Dossani, and Thomas S. Marzilli, Using Technology to Promote Postsecondary Success and Savings: An Evaluation of the University of Texas at Tyler's PATSS Initiative. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2817.html.
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The research described in this report was funded by the University of Texas at Tyler (UTT) and conducted by RAND Education and Labor.

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