The pandemic caught a huge number of students and educators by surprise. As a result, schools had very little time to prepare and transit from in-class courses to remote teaching. Even though distance learning is no longer a new concept, educational institutions still need to adjust their plans accordingly.

For the post-pandemic era, schools should be prepared for a different mode of teaching, and both educators and learners are going to embrace the future of education - hybrid learning.

How can technology help with online education?

For most of the students, virtual learning means sitting before the desk, turning on a laptop, and joining a video conferencing meeting a few minutes before the session starts. However, high productive online learning requires more than this. At least three management platforms are in need: one for instructors to check and maintain students’ attention, one for visual and audio communication between two parts, and the last one for documents management, including teaching materials, recordings, course syllabus, etc. A typical online session requires the teacher’s multi-task skills, including ensuring all students are present and accounted, preparing all learning materials and activities, managing the class while giving lessons, minimizing disruptions, and last but not least, running the video conference meeting. Educators are fighting a war with technology considering the limited class time.

Video Conferencing software offers a less expensive and convenient way to stay connected with the entire class via video and voice. Sharing screens makes it popular to repace the traditional in-room whiteboard.  Each learner has a small individual space of his own to get participated as well. 

The smart video camera is crucial to run a virtual classroom session, without which your students will be at a high risk of losing interest and concentration in the lesson. To make sure your lessons stay active and high-efficient, use a camera that fosters engagement with remote learners. Smart classroom cameras like NexPod Pro N149 make distance hybrid classrooms more involved and interactive than before.

Advantages of flexible learning

Blended learning environments allow the learner to interact with peers 

A number of people have the preconception about distance learning that it can isolate students from each other and educators. However, courses have been evolving since their beginnings. During online sessions, both student-tutor and student-student interactions can be encouraged. Learners are able to participate in online discussions, upload and download the reference answer, continuously develop learning skills and receive feedback from co-learners and teachers.

Access to a more convenient and easy-to-use learning platform 

Normally, entering a learning platform only requires an easy Internet connection to access study materials. Students can still be immersed in the set tasks and course-related resources without much IT knowledge while using the most up-to-date distance learning system. Under a more flexible learning environment, students are able to learn at their own pace. A well-designed learning system is not only for course materials, but also student support services, students’ union and student advisors can be reached out to.

Allow individuals to learn where and when it suits them

Regardless of the weather, commuting conditions, and many other factors, you can attend online classes no matter where and when. Of course, it doesn’t mean you can watch TV or play computer games in the background. If a trip is inevitable, taking classes from the comfort of a tranquil cafe or hotel is possible.

Personal attention and feedback

For some online classes offered by educational institutions, personal assessment before learning is required. It will test your status and offer a clear clue of your learning strengths and weaknesses, which helps to define your own curriculum. With less distraction from other classmates, students can get clear feedback from instructors with each step of the journey. 

Record and replay

This advantage of flexible learning has been ignored by many of the learners. Taking online lessons, learners can replay the recording as many times as they want to and pause, take a break and re-watch at their own pace. If students can make the most of this feature, their learning effects will be highly improved undoubtedly. 

Future of education: hybrid learning

Hybrid learning has been a hot topic since schools are forced to reformat and restructure by the pandemic. In many parts of the world, students are on their way back to the classroom in fall 2021. When decision-makers consider how to safely and effectively return to campus, they often turn to the hybrid model, where instructors can deliver the hybrid learning: a blend of in-person and distance courses.

Hybrid learning allows students to once again restart valuable face-to-face lectures, but meanwhile, a certain amount of online classes would be kept. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Education, measuring the effectiveness of online, hybrid, and in-person learning, students found hybrid learning to be the most effective form of learning. 

Here are few tips for the effective hybrid learning experience

Create a positive relationship between students and instructors

Building positive relationships with teachers will help students to improve their learning efficiency, even though extra time and effort should be taken. 

Communicate regularly to increase family engagement

Hybrid learning requires more effort in increasing family engagement. Teachers should arrange regular calls, messages, or emails to send to parents to keep them up to date with their kids’ weekly schedules and assignments.

Improve technological skills 

Different methods of teaching call for the improvement of the instructor’s IT skills. They are required to prepare the learning materials and strategies in a new way. It is truly a challenge, especially for those more aged teachers. 

Hybrid learning helps to change the way the public sees education and to remove a number of barriers existing traditionally. There’s no other way that can provide students a greater degree of learning flexibility and freedom, and at the same time, increase the equality of access to excellent educational resources. In addition, its ability to minimize the chance and the negativity of absence, which does help to encourage and ensure more students make the most of their study possible.