Hybrid, hyflex learning models may be here to stay

Many area schools have adopted a hybrid model of learning due to COVID-19 and local educators believe at least a portion of that modality will continue even post pandemic.

The hybrid model uses a mix of classroom and online learning. It can include independent studies online where students work on their own, as well as interactive instruction with teachers in real time, such as through a virtual videoconferencing application, like Zoom.

Andrea Wade, provost and vice president of academic services at Monroe Community College, said safety was key when developing a learning model for the fall.

“The goal was to create a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff,” Wade said.

This fall, roughly 75 percent of MCC courses are being delivered via distance learning. The remaining 25 percent of courses and labs are offered in-person at the Brighton campus, downtown campus, Applied Technologies Center and Public Safety Training facility.
While the spring semester changed abruptly due to the pandemic, educators had more time to plan over the summer for the fall semester, Wade said.

They looked at the courses offered and determined which parts of those coursed required face-to-face interaction and which parts could be completed virtually.

The learning modalities were also adopted in a way that would reduce the risk of having to make changes in the middle of the term, she added.

As a result, MCC was able to decrease the number of students on campus for in-person learning by 95 percent, Wade noted.

She noted that faculty have adapted well to the different teaching modalities and the increased technology being used in the classes.

Those who may have been hesitant to use technology prior to the pandemic and had to embrace it as in-person learning was put on pause are finding it can enhance their courses, Wade said.

She expects MCC will take a conservative approach to the spring semester, with more online and virtual classes versus in-person instruction.

However, MCC will launch a pilot program for hyflex learning in the upcoming semester, which could give students more options when it comes to their learning preferences.

A hyflex course is a course that allows each individual student to choose whether they want to attend class online or in person. Students can choose their preferred method of learning on a daily basis; and they can attend some sessions online, and other sessions in the classroom.

If the pilot program is successful in the spring, MCC will likely increase hyflex learning options moving forward post COVID-19, Wade said.

She added that the learning model will not only help adult students who are working, but it could also benefit any student who may have some unforeseen challenges.

“This gives students the ability to continue to learn even if something unexpected happens,” Wade said. “I predict this modality is only going to expand.”

Our Lady of Mercy is using a hyflex learning model this school year, said principal Martin Kilbridge.

The school had a successful online program in the spring and blended that with in-person learning when classes began for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Kilbridge noted that Mercy’s top priorities for returning to school were continuing to fulfill its academic mission and protecting the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.

The school developed a hybrid model for its high school students with two student cohorts attending in-person two days in a row and learning online two days in a row.

Half of the students are attending in-person instruction, while the other half are participating online with video conferencing technology or pursuing class work in a mode designed by the teacher.

Middle schoolers are in new digs this year, with Mercy leasing space off campus to accommodate social distancing needs. The school is using the former Siena Catholic Academy on East Avenue for its sixth, seventh and eighth grade pupils.

The larger classrooms and increased square footage at the new location allow students to safely attend in-person instruction five days a week, Kilbridge said, but added it is up to families to decide if they want students to attend all five days or use virtual learning or a mix.

Moving forward, Kilbridge said the lessons learned during the pandemic, along with some of the learning modalities, may continue.

For example, distance learning could be an option to consider if students are unable to get to school, such as during a snowstorm.

“We’ve learned a lot and found new ways to approach things,” Kilbridge said.

Andrea Talentino, vice president of academic affairs at Nazareth College, says the hybrid model is working well this semester, noting it incorporated two objectives: teaching effectively and giving students some in-person classroom time.

Talentino said a recent survey conducted of students found many favored face-to-face interactions with their instructors.

Faculty at Nazareth were able to determine the best teaching modality for their classes over the summer so when the semester started it was a seamless transition, she says. Those modalities include in-person and online, as well as hybrid options.

The hybrid classes incorporate in-person classes with online modules to enhance the classroom experience, she said, noting that hybrid models can take different forms.

Some might employ methods for smaller, in-person sections. For example, half of a class might meet with the professor one day and the other half another day. In some classes, the half who are not in the room can participate remotely.

Talentino also believes hybrid learning will continue post-COVID.

“It will remain a key piece,” she says, noting the school did offer some hybrid formats pre-COVID, too.

Learning modalities such as the hybrid model can be advantageous for students, Talentino noted, including those who may be doing internships post pandemic because it allows them to take part in a range of activities while staying on track for graduation.

Like at other schools, instructors at Nazareth are embracing the technology associated with online and hybrid learning, and finding ways it can be used to enhance their classes, she said.

“It opened up a lot of doors for creativity,” Talentino said.

Andrea Deckert is a Rochester-area freelance writer.