HOUSTON -- Some students at the University of Houston are learning and earning class credit while logging on the Internet, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Wednesday.

Dr. Brian McFarlin teaches about half of his Kinesiology 3306 Physiology of Human Performance class online. The other half of the class is taught in the classroom.

Students must log in for half of the instruction.

UH junior Amy Van Natta said, "If I had to choose between this class and a normal class where you're just staring in class listening to the teacher talk, scribbling as fast as you can, trying to comprehend everything you can, definitely, definitely, (I prefer) this class."

With some expert help, McFarlin created a cartoon character of himself. McFarlin can record audio for messages and lectures, which his cartoon character will speak.

He said about half of his three-hour, weekly class is delivered in lectures. The other half is available online.

"I wanted to be able to engage the students and help them in the learning process and help them in their career development," said McFarlin. "Not only did the students report that they enjoyed using the technology, the technology actually translated into them earning approximately half a letter grade higher than they did in just a traditional lecture format."

The online section has lectures, more information and quizzes.

UH senior Crystal Audas prefers the hybrid course.

"It was 3 o'clock in the morning and if I was trying to study and had a question, I could write it in and within a few hours the next morning, I'd have a response and a really good explanation of the material and better understanding it," she said.

McFarlin said that he hopes the students retain the information longer.

He can track who checks in for the online lessons and how students perform. While he gives online quizzes, they do not determine a student's grade.