10 Benefits of Hybrid Learning
Hybrid learning (and blended learning) are education buzzword that we’ve heard a lot since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In our last blog post, we explored what hybrid learning means, how it’s different from blended learning, and how educators can adopt it in their classroom. Now, to better understand how this education phenomenon became so wildly popular, we’re breaking down the top 10 benefits of adopting the hybrid learning model:
1. Hybrid learning offers continued learning during periods of disruption
Hybrid learning is flexible and convenient, enabling continued educational services during times of disruption such as during the current COVID-19 pandemic, but also during periods of sporadic student illness, inclement weather, or when travel requirements pull teachers, tutors, or students away from their standard settings.
2. Hybrid learning provides a safer learning experience during the pandemic
Hybrid learning isn’t a novel education model, but the pandemic accelerated its adoption around the world. An opportunity to conduct learning from a distance enhances the health and safety of students and educators, reducing exposure to the Coronavirus all while enabling convenient access from almost any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device via applicable video-conferencing and edtech tools like Pearl.
3. With hybrid learning, students can learn from anywhere
Such incredible access would have been considered impossible only a decade or two ago, but today, educators are harnessing the power of technology to improve the access to education for students with geographic, transportation or other barriers. The key to hybrid teaching for instructors is selecting the right educational software packed with all the handy features you need!
4. Hybrid learning is cost-effective
Operating a brick-and-mortar teaching establishment comes with a heavy price tag. From building maintenance to utilities and supply costs, it takes considerable overhead to pay for physical institutions and settings. Remote learning, even if only done part-time via hybrid learning, can help reduce such expenses.
There’s also the advantage of diminished liability in the event of on-site student mishaps, incidents, or illnesses, as well as potential hazards due to bad weather conditions.
5. Hybrid learning saves students and educators lots of time
Hybrid learning can not only save money, it also saves time in a variety of ways. The most obvious time-saver with remote learning is the elimination of back-and-forth commute time to the location where the lessons or tutoring sessions were going to take place. Educators and students also don’t need to worry about wasted time if the other party is running late. With remote lessons, the educator or student can carry on their other affairs while waiting for the other to arrive, or they can simply re-schedule, even if last-minute.
6. Hybrid learning is more eco-friendly
Less in-person teaching translates to less driving and a reduced carbon footprint! And, if enough students are learning from home, this can even decrease the number of school buses necessary for transportation which can also help lessen the negative impact on the environment.
7. Hybrid learning is better for certain topics and activities
Sometimes students who attend in-person use computers or devices in class to learn material or engage in projects, simulations, virtual experiences, virtual field trips or labs, or to review video footage.
In such cases, students don’t need to be physically present in the classroom; they can just as easily learn using a suitable online platform capable of delivering the content as needed. There are a ton of innovative ways to adapt a hybrid model to your existing curriculum or use it to launch exciting new activities.
8. With hybrid learning, students can benefit from using technology
Students, especially younger generations, have grown up with technology. They’re comfortable with and adept at using devices for entertainment as well as educational purposes. Thus, hybrid learning is natural for them because it incorporates things they’ve grown accustomed to using.
Granted, older adult students may not be as familiar with today’s devices and might not have the inherent curiosity to explore technology. Nevertheless, they’re often motivated when they discover how much they can benefit from becoming more tech-enabled.
Using technology to learn is crucial because it prepares students for the future workforce, which is continually evolving. The world is embracing the knowledge economy which is reliant on skilled workers who are proficient in using the latest technology.
9. Hybrid learning makes it easier to accommodate students with special learning needs
Schools work hard to ensure special education students have the resources to succeed. When necessary, accommodations or modifications must be made, such as presenting material differently, being flexible in how responses are accepted, allowing extra time, or changing physical settings.
This can pose a challenge to teachers and tutors responsible for ensuring all students have equitable opportunities while keeping the whole class on target each term. Hybrid learning provides educators with additional options which may ease the workload while effectively meeting certain special needs adjustments through inclusive online classrooms.
10. Hybrid learning is simple to scale up or down
What happens when a new student arrives and there are no more open desks? In a physical classroom, this might pose a problem but for online sessions, it’s easy to add a new student who can attend virtually. Hybrid learning makes scaling up your class size a breeze because it inherently allows for a greater capacity of students to participate.
By the same token, if a teacher or tutor needs to break students into small groups, many online platforms make it simple to scale down. No more chaos when asking students to get up and shuffle seats!