Hybrid Learning: What It Is and How To Set It Up!

The pandemic has brought about a significant shift in the learning landscape. Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in the prevalence of online learning and new educational tools which offer numerous advantages to learners. However, the benefits of online learning come with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to consistent interaction and engagement.

The hybrid learning model offers an ideal solution to bridge this gap, combining the features and benefits of both in-person and virtual learning to create a flexible yet personalized student experience.

But what does hybrid learning mean? Is it really the future? And how can you successfully implement this educational model? Our comprehensive guide on hybrid learning will answer all your questions and many more.

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What is hybrid learning?

Hybrid learning refers to an educational model where teachers simultaneously instruct students both in-person and online. In a hybrid classroom, some students attend class physically, while others do so remotely, and the teacher engages them all at the same time.

In the hybrid classroom setup, educators use technology aids to effectively teach and involve remote learners. This could include a webcam setup, live screen sharing, interactive whiteboard and online resources such as shared multimedia, digital activities and exercises and online quizzes and assessments.

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What does hybrid learning mean for educators?

Educators, tutors and teaching and learning academies can benefit immensely from the hybrid learning model because of the flexibility and inclusivity it offers to both learners and instructors.

• Hybrid teaching enables educators and institutions to reach a broader audience, accommodating students who may have scheduling conflicts or geographical constraints.

• Teachers can create a flexible class schedule which reduces burnout for both themselves and their students.

• Classes can be optimized with the smart use of digital tools. Students can engage in discussions and group projects in a collaborative environment, regardless of their physical location, promoting a sense of community and shared learning objectives as felt during in-person classes.

While synchronous teaching can be quite overwhelming, class scheduling software like Classcard can help educators support hybrid education by simplifying administrative tasks such as class scheduling and booking, communication, payment and attendance tracking, and more. With the right support, you can focus more on teaching and less on repetitive, time-consuming tasks.

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Benefits of hybrid learning

Hybrid education combines the best of both worlds—online and in-person teaching, and offers students and teachers the features and advantages of both the systems.

Here are the key benefits of hybrid learning for students, educators and learning businesses:

1. Flexibility and Accessibility

Students may face geographical and financial barriers when seeking educational opportunities. Many feel compelled to relocate, sometimes even internationally, to access quality education.

But thanks to hybrid learning, students can now access the same quality learning modules online as well as offline, as per their convenience. Moreover, as a teacher, your students and classes aren’t limited by locality anymore, since courses can be accessed remotely from anywhere.

Learning can continue uninterrupted, regardless of external circumstances such as geographical constraints, busy schedules, adverse weather conditions or sickness. Flexibility is a huge selling point for learners, and the option to learn either in-person or virtually can attract working professionals, parents, and even international students.

This helps you gain a broader student base and in turn, generate more revenue.

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2. Improved Engagement

The instant gratification and personal connection of in-person classes and meetings are rarely replaceable. However, hybrid learning enables this even for those not physically present, by allowing real-time engagement with the educator and their classmates. Digital educational tools like polls, breakout rooms for discussions, and digital whiteboards keep all students—in the room and on Zoom—involved in lessons, guaranteeing not only a broader client base, but a happy one as well!

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3. Effective Use of Resources

Effective management of time and resources is crucial for any educational business. Running in-person classes involves a significant amount of work and costs, including facility maintenance, utilities such as electricity and water, and expenses for furniture and classroom essentials like whiteboards and stationery. Over and above facility costs, you also have to deal with challenges like space limitations and rigid class timings.

Luckily, hybrid learning reduces unnecessary overhead expenses while ensuring optimal classroom use.

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Hybrid Learning vs. Blended Learning?

Both the hybrid learning and blended learning models combine traditional in-person learning and online components. However, while they share similarities, they differ significantly in class structure.

• Blended learning involves face-to-face classroom sessions and supplements these with online learning materials. It combines in-person (synchronous) teaching and asynchronous learning methods, allowing students to participate in offline classes and work on supplementary online study material at their own pace. This also creates a personalized learning experience which caters to the unique learning styles and needs of each student.

• Hybrid education includes teaching in-person and online at the same time, offering students the flexibility to participate in physical classes or join virtually. The virtual learners do not watch recordings or learn at their own pace, they attend the class along with the in-person learners, just from different locations. Educators may provide online asynchronous study material, only to support class learning.

• Blended learning suits students who prefer greater flexibility and a self-paced approach, while the hybrid classes cater to those who benefit from real-time interaction with instructors and peers.

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How to set up a hybrid learning model

Now that we know how hybrid education works, we move on to the next step: planning and implementing hybrid classes. As an educator, it’s important to keep in mind the features, benefits and challenges of hybrid learning so you can set up an effective and engaging learning environment for your students. Here are a few useful tips to set up a successful hybrid classroom.

Step 1: Set your goals

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

• To start with, map out what you want to achieve with your hybrid classes. Set long-term and short-term goals for yourself and for the class. Ask yourself:

- What are the learning outcomes you wish to achieve by the end of the course?

- How do you plan to achieve these educational objectives?

- What are your financial aspirations and the level of growth you wish to achieve within a certain time period?

- How can you track progress for these goals?

For instance, if you wish to focus on student engagement and participation, identify specific strategies and tools that can help you achieve this goal. You can incorporate interactive elements like live polls, Q&A sessions, and collaborative projects to make the learning experience more engaging.

• Consider the logistics of managing both online and offline students. Employ suitable video conferencing tools and other technology to concurrently instruct and assist virtual students without compromising on quality.

• Develop a robust system for tracking attendance, participation, and performance. You could utilize class management software to streamline administrative tasks, making it easier to monitor student progress and maintain accurate records.

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Step 2: Map the course out

Building a course structure is like designing a class navigation map. Once you’ve decided your learning objectives and outcomes, you must now determine what you want to teach your learners, that is, create a syllabus.

• Design core modules for all the topics you wish to include, along with the subtopics, and then begin to gather content and resources for each subtopic. Ensure that all the information is updated and compatible to both modes of learning in the hybrid classroom.

• Find and design supplementary asynchronous teaching materials such as online assessments and quizzes, educational videos, audios, worksheets and so on.

• Once you’ve compiled the modules and resources, plan your weekly goals and deliverables.

• It could also help to visualize all the modules, topics and sub-topics along with an estimated timeline in the form of a flowchart or a table. You are essentially putting down your entire course in a chronological flow here.

You can also compile this flowchart or table into a booklet and share it with your students at the beginning of the course. This sets the right expectations and provides much-needed clarity before the classes begin.

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Step 3: Choose your teaching methods

In a hybrid learning environment, you will simultaneously teach students online as well as offline.

• Determine how to balance your direct teaching efforts with supplementary resources such as online study material and assessment options to enhance the learning experience. You can actively teach some topics to your online and in-person students during class hours, while certain online activities can be used as auxiliary resources or aids to learning.

• You can undertake the following class activities for your hybrid classes:

- Conducting live lectures accompanied with slides

- Presenting information to your students via speech, or through a whiteboard.

Pro tip: To ensure an interactive and effective experience for your online students, you can invest in a whiteboard camera. Logitech’s Scribe is an artificial intelligence based whiteboard camera that detects what you write or draw on your offline whiteboard, and transcribes it onto your online whiteboard, to be shared with your online students effectively.

- Hosting guest lectures or keynote speaker sessions via video conferencing tools

- Facilitating presentations and group discussions using video breakout rooms

- Conducting peer-to-peer learning projects and feedback sessions

• You could further supplement these activities and teaching methods with online assessments and homework, shared reading resources, recorded sessions for review, and email reminders and progress updates (which can be automated using Classcard).

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Step 4: Test run!

Now that you’ve set up the works, take it for a spin!

• Ensure your online set-up works perfectly, and iron out any issues that you may detect.

• Conduct a mock hybrid class to check audio-visual quality, clarity of concurrent instruction and real-time engagement and assessment tools like chat, polls and breakout rooms.

• Have a few people step in as mock students so that you can collect feedback to refine and enhance your hybrid classes.

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Why hybrid teaching is the future

Fluid schedules, reduced academic pressure, better balance between extracurriculars and academics, and scalability for teachers: these are just some reasons why hybrid learning models are here to stay.

A case study from Ms. Montenique Woodard’s seventh-period class, which had been her hardest particularly due to one disruptive student, shows the potential of hybrid learning. Ms. Woodard noticed that the student was thriving in a remote learning setting, free from daily distractions. Many teachers have reported similar experiences, finding that students who typically struggled in the classroom were flourishing in this new environment. The flexibility of remote learning allowed students to manage their time better, reduce academic pressure, and avoid distractions and social anxieties often present in physical classrooms. This shift has prompted educators to rethink traditional school structures and consider which aspects of remote learning could be beneficial even after returning to in-person classes.

This trend is becoming increasingly common. Students who may have previously struggled in traditional settings—especially those who are shy or have active learning styles—are finding success in hybrid environments. Although access to digital resources can be uneven, and connectivity issues persist, hybrid learning effectively recreates the engagement and discourse essential for a dynamic classroom experience. As educators adapt to this new model, they are discovering innovative ways to support all students, ensuring that learning remains effective and inclusive.

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How Classcard can help

With tools like Classcard, managing both in-person and remote students becomes simple and efficient. With Classcard’s class management system, educators and teaching businesses can track attendance and payments, share resources and grades, schedule classes, and automate communication.

Additionally,  Classcard integrates seamlessly with platforms like Zoom and Lessonspace, allowing for smooth transitions between online and offline learning environments. This integration ensures that students have consistent access to course materials and live sessions, enhancing the overall learning experience.

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If there’s anything Covid-19 has taught us, it’s that teaching and learning are possible from anywhere in the world. With the right mechanisms and an inspiring teacher, hybrid learning can create a stimulating learning experience for students, in-person or online. The first-mover advantage is very real, and with how quick everything is in our fast-paced world, it is crucial to keep pace with and move with changing trends. So set up that hybrid class you’ve been thinking of and be a part of the education revolution!

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