The events of the past two years have made learners and teachers engage with online technology. Online learning became the go-to solution to continue learning despite the challenging times. This gave birth to what people now refer to as hybrid learning.
Despite the loose usage of the term, what does hybrid learning mean? What are the benefits of this learning model that you can’t find in the typical face-to-face learning environment? This article will discuss all the essential information about hybrid learning and whether it benefits university students.
What is Hybrid Learning?
Hybrid learning is the combination of on-site or synchronous learning with online sessions. This teaching method presents certain parts of the course curriculum online, leaving the rest for classroom discussion.
This learning method encourages students to be accountable for their learning while allowing them more flexibility. The students can talk to their teachers and classmates through face-to-face meetings. It provides a communal learning environment that enables them to communicate openly and ask for help.
With the availability of technology, teachers can use tools like the Kami App to implement a hybrid learning approach. This makes it easier for teachers looking for a broader student range. According to the College Crisis Initiative, 21% of colleges use hybrid learning.
This blended learning method sparks student engagement thanks to modern learning tools like Kami, video conferencing, learning management systems and many others. Meeting teachers whether online or in person has never been this easy.
Why Should You Go for Hybrid Learning?
There are many advantages to going hybrid, and these include the following:
Improved Student Engagement
In traditional teaching, students become passive recipients of information, leaving them bored, disengaged and uninterested. Students are more engaged with hybrid learning because they can collaborate and apply what they learn.
Immediate application of concepts makes them feel invested in their education. It can help them process information, including its connection to actual scenarios.
More Options on Learning Resources
Hybrid learning allows students to use various tools to learn new concepts and expand their understanding. Students can create a study plan based on their needs and preferences. They can also use the tools to work toward that plan. By exploring different sources of information, students can understand concepts more effectively.
Flexible Environment for Teachers and Students
Educational institutions can set up hybrid learning in various settings, including at home, in the workplace or at school. This setting makes learning and teaching flexible for students and teachers. It allows teachers to use multiple modes of communication with their students.
Students can choose from several different modes of learning. These include online lectures, videos and presentations, group discussions, and hands-on projects. They also have access to textbooks, workbooks and other materials available in print or digitally.
Teachers can also use the same technology as students to provide valuable feedback on assignments and coursework. This allows teachers to help students reach their full potential by giving them immediate feedback. Through this, students can improve their performance and output.
Students Can Build a More Personalized Connection
Hybrid learners connect with their teachers and classmates in various ways, including online and offline interactions (and there are plenty of templates and resources teachers can find online to facilitate this, like this one provided by Kami). Students can build stronger relationships with their teachers and peers through these interactions. These relationships help students feel more comfortable in the classroom, encouraging them to ask questions or seek clarification.
Hybrid learning also opens opportunities to discuss coursework outside the class through group projects or assignments. This helps them relate coursework to real-world situations, making learning more personalized.
Tips to Make Hybrid Courses More Effective
Hybrid learning can be a great way to improve student engagement and retention. But there are some challenges with implementing these courses. These include the need for a dedicated space for in-person learning and a teacher for both online and offline settings. Here are some tips teachers can follow to make hybrid courses more effective:
Make Sure You Have the Right Technology in Place
Hybrid courses require students to interact with their instructors and each other through different types of technology. You’ll need chat rooms, video conferencing systems, and other tools that allow students to communicate face-to-face with their peers.
It will be hard if you don’t have the right tools before your course begins. You’ll waste valuable time trying to install them during the first week of class.
Choose Teaching Methods that Work Best for Your Subject Matter
You must choose a format that works well for your subject matter. Suppose you’re teaching history or literature classes. It’s best to use flip charts or overhead projectors during lectures. This can improve student engagement.
Provide Ample Support When Students Need It
While you don’t want students to become completely reliant on you, you’d still like to provide them with enough support. The least you want your students to feel is they can’t do anything without you. Too much assistance can make them feel like there’s nothing left to do once they’ve got everything figured out.
Make sure that you are available to answer questions and provide feedback on assignments. Also, ensure that students have plenty of time to complete tasks. Otherwise, they’ll feel rushed or stressed out.
Hybrid Learning Is the Way to Go
The hybrid learning environment offers many benefits to college students. The ability to work in groups and receive individualized feedback from professors is something students need now more than ever. With technology, they can connect with other students and teachers at home or on the go.
Students can also get help from their peers if they need it. This learning environment can be beneficial because it gives them more options when trying to learn something new.
These benefits are why schools offer more and more online college courses. With this, you can say that the hybrid learning environment will become more prevalent in higher education in the years to come.
