Hybrid Learning: The Future of Education

The notion of blended learning, often known as a "hybrid" form of learning, has been around for over a decade. Still, it has gotten a lot of attention in recent months due to the pandemic's unprecedented worldwide catastrophe. It would have seemed far-fetched last year if someone had said that all learning in the months ahead would take place online, with students (and professors) not attending any classrooms at all.

Covid-19 achieved the unthinkable. It prompted educational institutions and instructors to experiment with using the internet to deliver education. Various online learning models were investigated and found to be very effective. Hybrid learning is one such approach.

Hybrid learning is a method of teaching and learning that incorporates both face-to-face and online activities. Although the terms 'hybrid learning' and 'blended learning' are frequently used interchangeably, there is a slight but significant distinction between the two. In a blended learning setting, online learning is supposed to supplement in-person classroom learning by providing additional materials such as videos, articles, and other tools to enhance the learning experience. Online learning is used to increase an in-person class in a hybrid learning setting. The online content is intended to serve as a supplement to the printed material.

A carefully prepared curriculum that uses a different set of tactics than those used in a physical classroom is required for the hybrid learning environment to be productive. It is safe to say that all forms of teaching and learning, including in-person, online, and hybrid learning, will continue to increase in the future. However, it is difficult to deny that hybrid learning has a bright future. Hybrid learning effectively combines the benefits of personalization and convenience to provide a learning environment that is best adapted to meet students' changing demands in today's world. The hybrid learning paradigm has several distinct advantages, which are listed below:

Personalized Learning: The hybrid approach to learning allows each student to learn at their own pace, enhancing retention. Students can engage in various synchronous and asynchronous learning activities that are tailored to their learning styles, allowing them to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the subject. Because there are fewer students, teacher-student interactions can be more individualized and successful.

Increased flexibility: A hybrid method allows students more control over when, where, and how fast they learn. Increased attendance and participation in classes are often the results of this flexibility.

Complex assessments and reporting: The Hybrid learning paradigm make it possible to conduct comprehensive student evaluations, peer benchmarking, and granular reporting through technology.

Instant Feedback: Customized tests, participation in live lectures, and live conversations with lecturers are examples of ways to provide students with immediate feedback that is highly beneficial to their learning.

Use of technology to broaden the scope of personalization and engagement: Artificial intelligence will aid in the customization of learning to suit various learning styles, resulting in improved learning results. Technology can assist make the hybrid learning environment more efficient in multiple ways, including gamification, self-paced learning, and short movies with interleaved exercises.

Saves time, money, and energy wasted on long-distance commuting.

Students become self-directed learners: In a hybrid learning approach, the student bears a significant amount of responsibility for completing the learning task. This allows the learner to gradually transition to a self-directed learning style, which is beneficial in the long run, especially for higher education.

Undoubtedly, Hybrid learning isn't going away anytime soon.

By: Aditri Priya, DQ Channels