Hybrid "blended" learning is an educational model wherein some students are present in the classroom and others join from home virtually. This model is the reason why teachers were able to conduct classes semi-normally this past school year, allowing students to be in the classroom 50% of the time. I believe that this model is largely beneficial by minimizing student absence from class, as well as providing a form of differentiated instruction, allowing students to practice responsibility, and giving students the opportunity to prepare for potential online courses they take if they go to college. Due to this, I feel as though this model should be utilized to a certain degree going forward.
Giving students the option to log onto class from home allows for less student absence and tardies overall. If a student wakes up late, feels too ill to come into school, or has prior arrangements that take up part of the school day (such as a medical appointment or a funeral to attend), they have the opportunity to log onto class online so they aren't behind with lessons upon returning to school. Although full attendance is never guaranteed, a hybrid model can increase overall attendance and can help students not fall behind if not present in school.
Practicing the hybrid model of learning allows for students to practice self-discipline with their own learning. With online learning, students must be responsible for their own attendance, participation, and attentiveness. In addition to them practicing these same concepts when attending school in person, this provides a greater practice of self control by means of not subsiding to distractions at home. The model also provides another form of differentiated instruction for student education. All students have their preferred learning style, and this form of instruction might be highly beneficial to some students' schooling. Lastly, if students decide to enroll in higher education after their K-12 experience, it is highly probable that they will have to take an online class, so this model will introduce them to the all-virtual format.
Overall, continuing with some form of a hybrid format (with proper video conferencing technology) would be beneficial to students by means of improving attendance, practicing self-discipline, keeping another form of differentiated instruction, and preparing students for online college classes. In addition to these benefits, there is another positive to keeping this model post-pandemic by means of incentivizing cyber students to switch to public school with all-online education, which I will cover in the next post.
Image source: https://sd33.bc.ca/hybrid-learning
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