Hybrid learning environments combine traditional classrooms with online learning models. As many schools shifted to remote learning as a consequence of the 2020 public health crisis, hybrid learning was widely adopted across the United States and around the world.
Unlike blended learning, which aims to teach all students through a combination of in-person and virtual material, hybrid classrooms accommodate exclusively in-person students and exclusively remote students. The digital component of a hybrid learning classroom is designed to replace in-person teaching rather than complement it.
Since a hybrid course must be accessible to remote-only students, curriculum design must take into account lessons that can be difficult to translate virtually, such as hands-on projects and lab experiments. Some schools address these issues by incorporating mandatory in-person sessions into the curriculum.
Hybrid learning can be self-paced or synchronous. In the first case, students access recorded videos and complete assignments and exercises in their own time. In-person students keep to a syllabus but may have the benefit of submitting assignments at their own pace.
In a synchronous hybrid classroom, both in-person and virtual students are required to attend lessons at the same time. This method has been employed in many K-12 school districts, where the majority of students were quarantined at home, while the children of essential workers and high-need students attended classes in person.
Implementing a successful hybrid learning model can be challenging. One of the biggest obstacles is a lack of technical knowledge, which impacts educators, students, and parents. To plan lessons effectively, teachers must become familiar with their school’s learning portals and learning management systems. Parents and students must learn to use these platforms and other tools such as email and instant communication systems.
Remote learning students may have difficulty logging into online classrooms due to slow Internet or even no Internet access. In communities where a significant number of students live in households without home Internet, school districts have provided families with mobile hotspots.
The hybrid learning approach has several advantages over traditional classrooms in flexibility and individualization. Since there are no geographical limitations to enrolling in hybrid classes, they can enable students to access courses that they would not be able to attend in person.
Further, asynchronous hybrid courses allow students to progress at their own pace and fit classes into their schedules. This is ideal for students who may have other commitments, such as work or family. When applied to elementary and middle school settings, hybrid programs can be more challenging. Younger students require adult supervision and guidance to navigate virtual classes successfully.
Educators must be able to engage in-person and online students simultaneously, which is difficult to achieve. Schools must provide teachers with the technology and training to create multimedia lessons suitable for both classroom settings.
Further, educators and school administrators must consider the social and emotional needs of their students, who have experienced severe disruptions in their lives over the past year. Incorporating opportunities for socialization in the curriculum is a key component of supporting remote students.
