What’s today’s best medium of learning?

Education around the world has experienced massive change in the last year. This transformation has birthed the Hybrid Classroom — a learning environment where the learners are split between two modes  – online and physical. Setting up a hybrid classroom is easy. Make sure you have the following things in place for an uninterrupted teaching-learning experience —  

• Check that there’s access to necessary learning devices on both sides. 

• Ensure that remote learners are using the same software as the class. 

• Convey your instructions clearly in advance to all students learning in-class and from home. 

Once you have taken care of all these things, you are all set to enjoy the hybrid teaching-learning experience.

Advantages to teachers and learners

There are many advantages to both teachers and students when this method is employed to impart knowledge. The scope of delivering information efficiently increases significantly as it conveys information in more than one way. Students need not stick to textual content alone; they can enjoy impactful learning through audio-visual media and gamified understanding of concepts. On the other hand, teachers enhance their teaching methods, avoid repeating the lectures to students learning from different modes and have better control over students’ learning in class and those learning remotely. It allows teachers to form a virtual group that makes it easy for teachers and students to communicate effectively in real-time, just like it happens in a real classroom. The same is the case with sending and receiving assignments and giving feedback.  

What does research say about hybrid classrooms?

Research says hybrid learning has more advantages than meets the eye. Researcher Michael G. Moore points out the three types of interactions facilitated by a hybrid classroom. Learner-content interaction, Learner-learner interaction and learner-instructor interaction. The first type fosters individual learning. Here, the instructor’s involvement is minimal. It is a type where the student independently explores various concepts and conveys his/her understanding to the instructor. In this type of learning, students normally develop an independent opinion about things they learn and are not influenced by the teacher’s perspective. However, this is not useful to all students; therefore, the least used learning technique in a hybrid classroom setup. 

The learner-learner interaction gives the best learning experience. Students thrive when allowed to teach and learn from their peers. This will help children come up with unique ideas. When implemented smartly, this method of learning will bring out the best results while ensuring that the classroom is not a boring place.

Micheal G. Moor’s last type of interaction is the learner-instructor interaction. This is the most popular form of interaction where the instructor plays a dominant role. He/she guides students during sessions and projects with constructive feedback. In this type of learning, the teacher needs to decide the best way to make use of the hybrid classroom. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the learners helps in giving them learning activities in which they will flourish most.

Is it as effective as the traditional classroom? Research published in the New York Times claims it is! Students learning from a hybrid classroom perform just as well as those attending in-class. So, here are some advantages the hybrid classroom brings with it.

Hybrid is the best contemporary classroom

A hybrid classroom opens up learning opportunities to all by eliminating the need to be in class to be part of it. It enables remote learning along with in-class learning by extending the benefit of both types to all the learners. A hybrid classroom facilitates learning at your own pace. It allows teachers to give attention to individual learners and cater to their specific learning needs, which in a regular classroom setup may not be possible. This is the reason why it is easier for children to focus in a hybrid classroom setup than in a traditional classroom.  

One of the many advantages of a hybrid classroom that makes it teacher and student-friendly is its cost-effectiveness. It makes learning affordable to all. A lot of travel money and time are saved. A computer/laptop with an internet connection, a whiteboard and a camera is all that is required to teach and learn in a hybrid setup. Easy, simple and cost-effective, three words best hybrid classroom. 

We, at Next Education, want to ensure that you have the best academic experience when you switch to Hybrid Classroom. So we bring you TeachNext Hybrid Classroom, which helps you smoothly transition from a physical classroom. Transform your classroom and give your students an opportunity to indulge in engaged learning. Click here to know more!