Educators and writers are throwing around educational terms
which may have no relevance to the reality of what is going on in the
educational marketplace. But let’s first define these terms so we are all talking
about the same thing.
Hybrid learning is where students go to school and
learn in a classroom. Classroom attendance is part time. They also learn
remotely watching videos and completing assigned online lessons with no
personal interaction.
Blended learning is somewhat similar to hybrid
learning with some minor changes. In the classroom the students participate in
face-to-face instruction and they receive any homework they need to complete.
The online program supplements what has been covered in the classroom
Flipped classroom learning changes the teaching
dynamic. Kids learn online from materials which have been developed for their
instruction. They learn the materials on their own. The face-to-face time is spent
discussing homework and engaging kids in discussions
Schools scrambled to put remote learning together when the
quarantine hit, with a somewhat haphazard result for children's education.
After a summer of planning, the back-to-school learning hopefully
will be more systematic but also more complex, especially for the many schools
that are diving into the hybrid learning model. This model may change as schools
opt for remote learning to begin the new year. The schools will substitute the face-to-face
learning model with ‘live’ remote instruction. But what will be the purpose of
the ‘live’ sessions? Will teachers use the time to teach new ideas or to review
what kids have already done on their own?
For this article, we will use the term hybrid learning to
include face-to-face classroom instruction or remote ‘live’ instruction.
The idea of alternating in-person learning or ‘live’ remote
online instruction with lessons students complete on their own is not new. It
has been in use in some schools for several years. It is based on the idea of
providing flexibility to accommodate different learning styles, Vanessa
Vakharia, the founder and director of The Math Guru, told the website
popsugar.com.
The hybrid model generally includes a limited amount of
so-called “live” online learning as the student, classmates, and teacher are
all participating in an online class at the same time. The remainder of at-home
work the kids watch videos of lessons or complete assignments online, without
real-time interaction.
Hybrid learning offers learning flexibility
Hybrid learning has advantages for some children, said
Vakharia. It may be preferable for kids with learning disabilities or social
anxiety, which can cause discomfort in a classroom setting. Flexibility is
available from online platforms that offer such options as discussion groups,
chat rooms, and online real-time evaluations, which may be more comfortable for
kids who are shy in person.
For children with attention span difficulties, a recorded
lesson gives them the chance to rewind if they need a concept repeated.
Hybrid learning requires lots of planning
However, a hybrid learning situation requires a lot of
planning and scheduling. On the plus side, it's an opportunity for kids to
develop organizational skills. But if your child is too young to take on
planning or just doesn't have a talent for organization, you may have to step
in and take charge of the schedule. And in the case of chronic procrastination,
assignments may pile up until kids find themselves facing a deadline with an
overwhelming number of videos to watch and lessons to finish. The hybrid model
results in some students falling behind unless parents intervene.
Computers and Wi-Fi required
Another challenge: children absolutely need a computing
device and Internet access to participate. If your household isn't equipped
with enough devices for each child to have their own, or if wifi is unavailable
or unreliable, contact your school district for help obtaining the equipment
and technology your kids need.
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