A new report from a University of Houston researcher found that students in hybrid classes (classes that combine in-class learning with online learning) are more successful than traditional students. The research studied 658 students over a six month period of time. Those who had access to the hybrid class format scored an average of one letter grade above their traditional counterparts. Campus Technology reports:

"Students who attended the hybrid course received final grades that were 10% higher than those who attended the traditional class, which translated to a full letter grade increase.

"Presumably, this increase is due to the fact that students were able to increase their exposure to course content via access to material on WebCT," McFarlin writes in his report, which was published in Advances in physiology Education...

McFarlin said he was surprised by the dramatic increase in student grades "I personally think that the hybrid format is the wave of the future," he said."

Although this report was limited in scope, it does seem to indicate that hybrid programs are moving in the right direction.