Are hybrid classes here to stay?

Hybrid classes have become more of a thing ever since Unis realized they can’t only offer online classes. This might now turn out to be a blessing as disguise as I think that hybrid classes are here to stay — even once the pandemic is history.

The benefits of hybrid classes, if set-up in a beneficial manner, could reach far beyond only giving students access to a class while they stay home due to health reasons.

Some of my most interesting realizations when conducting hybrid classes were that students actually worked incredibly well together no matter where they physically were. Most teams that worked on group assignments consisted of students that were in class as well as students that would attend class from home. As Gen Z is a highly tech native generation students didn’t even have to think twice about how to interact with each other and how to make their team work…work.

Hybrid classes give you the best of both worlds.

Hybrid classes have a lot to offer students. You can attend live lectures, and then study online. You might even interact with the instructor, who will answer your questions via email or video chat.

Tests are taken online as well — a big advantage for busy college students who don’t have time to take tests in person.

You can more easily keep your priorities in check.

One of the biggest benefits of hybrid classes is that you can more easily keep your priorities in check. If you have children, school, and work obligations that are constantly tugging at your time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything on your plate. But when you have a hybrid course, you can prioritize these things as needed — whether it’s taking an all-day trip up to campus for class or staying home with the kids while taking an online course.

It’s also important to consider what’s happening in your personal life and how this might affect your ability (or inability) to succeed in a hybrid course. If working full-time means that commuting back and forth from home each day isn’t feasible for you or if caring for loved ones requires additional attention from time to time, then choosing an online option might be worth looking into!

You’re using two pedagogical styles, which allows you to meet more students’ needs.

Hybrid classes mean that you’re using two pedagogical styles, which allows you to meet more students’ needs. Asynchronous learning is great for students who are self-motivated or have things going on in their lives that don’t allow them to dedicate a lot of time to the course. Synchronous learning, on the other hand, is ideal for those who want to get together with their classmates and work through problems as they arise during discussion.

You can also use your class time flexibly: it may be used for lecture or discussion; lectures might be recorded so that students can watch them at home if they missed class due to an illness or some other reason (this is known as a “blended course”). You could even use hybrid technology like Google Hangouts where students participate in synchronous discussions while watching video recordings posted by their peers at another location (this would be considered “ad hoc distance education”).

Flexibility can be a good thing when you need it.

The benefits of hybrid classes are obvious, but they’re not always easy to pull off. In order to make a hybrid class successful, it’s important to have a team that can work together effectively. This means that you need faculty who have the skills and interests necessary for research and teaching.

The best teachers don’t always have these skills — but they should be able to find someone who does. You’ll also need an administration that is willing to support your efforts by allowing flexibility in scheduling and assignments so you can make them work with your students’ needs as well as yours.

With good partners up front, making the most out of a hybrid class is possible!

Hybrid teaching benefits students and faculty.

The benefits of hybrid classes are not just for students. Faculty members also benefit, as they are able to differentiate instruction and adapt their teaching strategies depending on the individual needs of students in the class. For instance, in a traditional lecture setting, you may find yourself spending a lot of time lecturing to students who don’t need your explanation because they have already mastered it (a phenomenon I have experienced on more than one occasion). However, if you can post an assignment that allows these students to demonstrate their understanding through writing or video submissions, then this will allow them more opportunities for engagement while also freeing up more class time for struggling learners.

Hybrid teaching allows faculty members’ expertise in their field to shine through by providing timely feedback on written assignments or videos. This helps build student confidence and mastery over difficult concepts and skills so that when it comes time for exams or final projects, everyone feels confident about what they know — regardless of how much time has passed since those early weeks spent learning about learning theory!

So I don’t only think hybrid classes are here to stay, I. sincerely hope so and am definitely advocating for it.