Designing hybrid online/inclass learning programs for adults

The use of technology in learning has been a topic of lively discourse, but relatively little has been written on the essential design principles for developing programs using technology in adult learning settings. The particular focus of this paper is professional / executive education programs. The authors draw on the insights shared by a group of experts from the fields of learning and adult education who attended a workshop held at Harvard Business School in late April 2002 (Adult Learning Workshop Face-to-Face and Distributed). The paper highlights key differences that exist between in-class and online learning environments and identifies seven essential design principles to consider when developing learning programs with an online component.