How to Create a Successful Hybrid Classroom

Has it become a must for every educational institution to offer online learning? Yes.

But is online learning flawless? No.

This fall, universities will adopt three general approaches to instruction: (1) in-person, (2) online, and (3) hybrid/blended. Instructors and students experienced quite a few benefits and disadvantages of online and offline classes during the last few years of the pandemic. This is why hybrid and blended learning started to gain popularity as they enable both the flexibility of online learning and the interactiveness of offline learning. However, switching between two different types of classroom environments is not easy for both the instructors and the students. In this blog, we would like to share some tips to help you make your hybrid and blended courses interactive using a communication-centered learning platform.

What is hybrid and blended learning?

Hybrid courses are where some students attend in person and some online simultaneously. Instructors teach remote and in-person students at the same time using technology like video conferencing. In blended learning, instructors mix in-person instruction with online learning activities. Students complete some components online and some others in person. Both types of learning involve a combination of in-person and online learning. With hybrid learning, the in-person learners and the online learners are different individuals. With blended learning, the same individuals learn both in person and online.

One of the main reasons why hybrid and blended classes are challenging is that it requires the instructor to focus on two different modes of teaching. This means that the skill sets required for competent instructors have doubled compared to when instructors were to manage only one of the two teaching modes.

How to Overcome Challenges of Hybrid or Blended Courses

Challenge #1. Increasing Engagement

In hybrid classes, it is challenging for instructors to engage both the students physically in the classroom and the students learning remotely at the same level. Instructors may prioritize the needs of one group over the other. If so, some activities may exclude online learners’ engagement, and others that work well for online learners could result in those in the classroom being disengaged. Implementing blended learning also requires additional time and effort from instructors. Learners can experience difficulty with learning on their own and getting motivated. They also may not be able to immediately ask questions if they are unsure about the coursework.

As a communication-centered learning platform, CLASSUM can bridge the communication between online and offline students. Suppose students have questions during the lecture but do not want to interrupt by asking them live. In that case, they can ask questions in the CLASSUM Community space. Students can voluntarily participate by answering the question or asking a follow-up question. Students can communicate anonymously, which provides a safe and comfortable learning environment and encourages engagement. CLASSUM’s AI assistant, DOT, also can recommend similar questions in real-time without the instructor’s intervention.

With CLASSUM, instructors can also post engaging activities that are applicable and easily accessible to students of both learning modes. For example, instructors can create surveys and quizzes and immediately obtain results. CLASSUM also allows instructors to link videos using URLs or upload their own VODs.

Challenge #2. Facilitating Collaboration

In both hybrid and blended learning settings, collaboration is more difficult to facilitate. Fortunately, effective use of technology can help to lower these barriers. CLASSUM is a hub for learning which can integrate various tools to facilitate collaboration. For example, students can complete group work using the designated metaverse space in CLASSUM. Students can also create and present their group artifacts using a digital canvas. If these technologies are accessible with one-click in a single place, there is no reason for instructors to separate remote and in-person participants, and for participants to have difficulties in transitioning between two different modes for collaborative activities.

Challenge #3. Organizing Materials

Regardless of remote, hybrid, or in-person class, files, learning materials, and other learning content are shared between devices. Having all these learning materials, instructors may juggle organizing these resources and collecting student assignments online and offline, which can cause heavier workloads. Learners may be unable to find the materials and have difficulty sharing them. In CLASSUM, instructors can customize categories, share learning materials, and export students’ files in a single place. Learners can easily upload images, share links, and attach files either with the whole group or only with instructors.

Challenge #4. Monitoring Participation

One of the main issues of hybrid and blended learning is that it can be hard to monitor learners’ participation and learning progression. To be up to date with learners’ progress, it requires the instructor’s active attention to the different needs of remote and in-person learners.

CLASSUM accumulates and analyzes learning data simultaneously as teaching and learning are in progress. It provides data analytics for courses and learners, such as the most interesting Q&As, interaction rates, and the number of posts and comments. Instructors can track learners’ participation using all of the conversations that learners have had in the CLASSUM Community space, which can be saved and exported as a file. They can also check which members read specific posts and send reminders to only those who have not read the post. This allows instructors to encourage less-engaged learners online and offline and improve course quality.

Summary

Hybrid and blended learning is a growing concept, and it can potentially expand access to education while meeting different learning needs. It would be best if we could integrate only the benefits of online and in-person learning, yet there are some key challenges to be aware of. The good news is that good communication-based learning platforms like CLASSUM can help increase engagement, facilitate collaboration, organize materials, and monitor participation. It will make a difference in helping institutions, instructors, and students progress through the upcoming years.

Learn more about CLASSUM 👉 www.classum.com

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