7 tips that will make your hybrid teaching more effective
If you want your student to be active, engaged, learn better, and enjoy their course in a mix of a virtual and traditional classroom.
1.Fully integrate online learning with face to face lectures
Do not think of hybrid teaching as just moving traditional classrooms online and supplementing your face to face classes with online tools; try to integrate it fully.
Build the hybrid teaching around your course’s objectives, think of your delivery of the material, technology that you might use and assessment methods that will allow your students to learn the content. Information on how to adapt classes can be found here.
2.Good teaching practices
Based on your teaching experiences on-campus and online, consider any good practices you might use when moving forward with hybrid learning.
Evaluate what worked well in class and online, in real-time or when students were given flexibility, and which tools/resources and teaching practices became most effective.
On a personal note: Using break-out rooms is a good idea to meet and chat with classmates in smaller groups. A Chat Box feature in Microsoft Teams encourages students to ask their questions and continue discussing the topic without disrupting classes. This is a great tool, and I have used it a lot!
3. Flipping your classroom
“Flipped classroom” is a hybrid learning model where lectures are delivered online followed by face-to-face classes. Students access learning materials in their own time and put their knowledge into practice in socially distant classrooms.
They share their findings by discussing them with peers and continuing their projects in the classroom. Also, this would be a great time for a tutor to circle around and ask students about their experiences.
Having pre-recorded lectures was quite convenient, and it gave me flexibility in accessing learning material whenever I wanted. Still, I had to be prepared and complete directed study before coming to face to face classes. In an offline lecture, I could talk to people with whom I did not interact previously.
4.Experiment with rotating between stations
Students alternate between a classroom or a set of classrooms, in the rotation model of learning, completing different tasks at the assigned time.
These might include:
- Online lectures
- Small-group work: challenges or problem-solving activities
- Online or offline discussions in break-out rooms
- Individual work or pen and paper activities
Remember to set the time for specific tasks and let students know when they need to rotate to another station. Also, check on learners and help those who struggle. Khan Academy can help out with it.
5. Students feedback
Listening to their experiences and their needs is essential to improve online teaching.
Students would like to be engaged and participate in lectures, so by asking them about their feedback; you might find out what they enjoy and dislike in online learning. Also, what else can be done to support their studies.
Throughout the course, make sure that everyone can meet and talk to their course leader and other students.
6. “Online buddy”
Some students might decide to study from home. What about their engagement and interaction with instructors and classmates?
Apart from providing a different form of assessments such as group work to improve class communication, lecturers can experiment with an “online buddy system.”
In the online buddy system, students team up with one or two other learners. Together, they interact with course material and tools but also support each other. Check- in- buddy would motivate learners and provide peer feedback. Research shows that it also helps with developing friendships.
On a personal note: This might be a good idea for learners who study in different cities or countries, enabling them to interact with their classmates. It could be used whilst having classroom discussion by pairing people from the classroom with online students.
7. Smaller groups more favourable
Research showed that whether in an online or face to face class, smaller groups’ work was more favourable. Teamwork encourages learners to interact with each other, share their knowledge and challenge each other’s ideas.
Small — group work might include:
- Analysing and discussing confusing concepts,
- Jigsaw activity (students independently become expert in a topic and share it with another group of students)
- Gallery walks (discussion technique),
- Data collection and analysis or polling
Students should assign a person who will summarize and speak about their findings to others. But they need to be given a deadline to finish the task.
From my own experience as a student, smaller groups worked pretty well in an online class. Everyone was engaged and had a chance to express their opinions; some of us were more likely to put our cameras on. However, it is a good idea to change the break-out rooms, so learners have the opportunity to meet other peers with whom they have never interacted.
Have more tips? Please share them with me in the comment below.
