Hybrid learning

Hybrid learning

Is Hybrid learning and Blended learning the same? Not really.  In fact, they are more frequently and mistakenly interchangeably used with each other and the confusion is understandably so. Both take the advantage of traditional face-to-face in-person analog learning as well as the modern virtual digital learning methods.    The difference is in the manner in which they are used.  In blended learning, the same students are learning in both face-to-face in-person classrooms and online virtual remote learning.  In other words, they attend lectures in person and refer to assignments, study materials, and class recordings remotely online.  In contrast, in the case of Hybrid Learning, the students attending the in-person classrooms, and the students attending the virtual online live sessions are different sets of students.  In other words, learners are in Regular and Distance modes of education.   Educators teach in-person and remote students at the same time by live streaming through video conferencing while conducting in-class sessions.

Remote learning models can be both synchronous and asynchronous.  In synchronous learning, students attend live virtual classroom sessions via Zoom or Google Meetings.  In asynchronous learning, students access learning material, video recordings, and other resources online at their convenient time and place.

Essentially, Blended learning is an education model designed to give in-person classroom students an advantage, by providing study materials and resources online and complementing their in-person training.  But, Hybrid Learning is designed to maintain equilibrium between online students and in-person students by providing opportunities for different modes of students. In other words, it combines face-to-face and virtual learning methodologies together.  For eg, In a hybrid learning environment, the teacher will give a live, face-to-face lecture to the students which is simultaneously streamed live through video conferencing to remote students. Class activities like discussions, quizzes and brainstorming sessions, feedback, etc can all be held simultaneously at the same time.

The investment you make in hybrid and Blended Learning depends on the geographical location, demographic details, skills of the learners, accessibility, etc The online component of hybrid learning is designed to replace face-to-face classrooms without losing the effectiveness and appeal of in-person learning.  Remote students should have the opportunity to discuss with their teachers and interact with other students, and the design of Hybrid Learning enables them to do just that. Therefore, Hybrid Learning is a synchronous type of learning that teaches both in-person and virtual learners simultaneously.

The E-learning industry has grown by 900% since the year 2000.  The future of corporate training and education seems to lie in the learning technologies and the newer modes of learning such as Hybrid Learning and Blended Learning.  Concepts like eLearning, Hybrid Learning and Blended Learning have opened new gateways for training and education.  Consequently, many organizations have started utilizing Hybrid learning LMS solutions to tackle remote working challenges.

 

Benefits of Hybrid Learning:

  1. 1. Hybrid Learning can help scale up the bench strength: While there are limitations in the number of students attending classroom sessions, Hybrid Learning can enable scaling up the classroom size. That’s not to say that Hybrid learning is a substitute for Face-to-Face learning or Blended learning.
  2. It creates a more accessible and affordable learning environment: It extends the global reach of education by providing learners in remote areas with educational opportunities which would have been impossible otherwise. Hybrid education tends to be cheaper than its traditional counterpart. In Hybrid learning most of the activities and materials are online, hence reducing educational and training costs.
  3. It provides a personalized learning experience: LMS and other eLearning tools support customization. LMS offers the ability to accommodate different learning styles by supporting a variety of course materials formats that includes videos, PDF slides, etc. There are also social media platforms, forums, gamification, polls, newsfeeds, etc for better interaction.  It focuses on areas where students need more focused attention.
  4. Flexible training schedules: The Flexibility for self-paced teaching and learning schedules help to meet the ever-growing learning challenges
  5. Access to previous lectures. If the student misses any class due to health issues, they can always access them online.
  6. Can alleviate teacher shortages by accommodating more students online.
  7. Use technology to your advantage. Various innovative tools and resources, strategies, and solutions are available that can facilitate a good learning experience.  You can use Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR)  to drive engagement in in-person classrooms and virtual online classrooms.
  8. 8. Facilitates collaboration: Interact and share your thought and ideas with others. It provides an online white board, breakout rooms, and better interactive opportunities for better learning engagement
  9. Manage your time efficiently.
  10. Reduced student absenteeism.
  11. 11. Facilitate different modes of learning.
  12. Better Student performance
  13. 13. Economic growth potential
  14. Thorough metrics to access performances and identify weaknesses.
  15. 15. Boost knowledge retention

If you are interested in incorporating Hybrid and/or Blending Learning in your organization, our technical team from Edujournal (www.edujournal.com) will be happy to assist you to implement the right strategy to get your systems in place.  Contact Edujournal to find out more.

In-person and remote learning methodologies each offer numerous educational benefits and challenges.  While, fully In-Person learning students (face-to-face classroom learning) can face potential complications around accessibility issues, especially for busy working professionals, and expenses incurred during the learning process,   the fully remote virtual learning students may lack social and emotional connection, in-person networking opportunities, and access to campus resources and facility.  Therefore, in this era of rapid technological advancements, there is a need for hybrid and Blended learning in educational institutions and other schools of learning.  Newer technologies provide pedagogical methods that are applicable in traditional classrooms being conducive to Hybrid learning.  For instance, discussions take place both in-person and in virtual learning classrooms.  Similarly, students can submit their assignments online and in person and receive feedback from teachers. Technological advancement has enabled instructors to not only add the traditional classroom experience to virtual online learning but also to transform virtual online learning completely and get it at par with regular learning. This can only be achieved by adopting some new innovations and technologies while teaching.   While it is too early to predict the extent to which Hybrid learning will be part of regular education features,  there are trends suggesting that they are moving in that direction.     In all probability, Hybrid learning will continue to be part of a holistic educational approach, and the educational best practices will continue to grow and evolve. We should plan and prepare to make Hybrid learning a part of a regular educational delivery system in the years to come.

 

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