In recent years, many universities develop distance learning courses that are delivered through the Web. Furthermore, some work has been done concerning the integration of the best features of Web-based learning into a conventional classroom-based model of instruction. Thus, in the Department of Chemistry a pilot project has started that integrates conventional classroom teaching and Web-based distance learning technologies to form a hybrid instruction model for a learner-centered teaching. The model refers to the chemistry topic of Molecular Symmetry, which demands an enhanced visuospatial perception from the students involved. Thus, the educational material delivered through the Web involves a variety of interactive applets in order to familiarize students with the three dimensional molecular structure and its symmetry properties. This communication presents the basic design principles of the hybrid instruction model, its main technical aspects and the results obtained from its first application.