What Is Hybrid Learning? A Look at the Future of Learning

If you're in the education space as an administrator or HR professional, you may have already started investigating hybrid learning options. However, given the relative newness of hybrid learning, it can be hard to understand exactly what it is, how it's different from blended learning, and how it works.

Educational options need to be flexible in response to the changing needs of learners, and a hybrid learning system can give your employees more options when it comes to how, where, and when they learn.

In this explanatory guide, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about hybrid learning (a medium between virtual and traditional learning), including the benefits of this strategy, what kind of technology you need to get started, and tips for getting your school's district on board.

What is hybrid learning?

Hybrid learning is an educational strategy where classes are offered both in-person and online. In the context of this hybrid learning definition, a hybrid learning system can make it easier for more employees to learn—even if there are geographical, health, or travel limitations that would otherwise get in the way.

Hybrid education has been growing in popularity thanks to the convenience and flexibility it offers. In Software Advice's 2023 Career-Driven Learning Survey, 90% of employees surveyed believe it's important that the company they work for provides online learning opportunities.*

This desire may be driven by the fact that 40% of employees say they prefer online classes with flexible deadlines when learning at work, which was also reported as the number one advantage of learning management systems (LMS).*

How is hybrid learning different from blended learning and flipped learning?

Hybrid learning, blended learning, and flipped learning all offer flexibility, but they're very different.

Hybrid learning allows learners to learn in class or participate from home or elsewhere via an internet connection. With this model, students learn at the same time, whether they are in or outside of the classroom. For example, most of your employees might learn well in a conference room. But if a few individuals are on the road, they can log in and get the same instruction.

Blended learning involves combining traditional, in-person classroom teaching with online learning activities. With this solution, learners spend some time in a physical classroom but also engage with digital content at home or wherever they want, typically on their own time.

For example, a safety instructor may provide classes to your employees in your office. But to augment the instruction, they also get online material that reinforces or adds to what they learned in the office.

Flipped learning is different than both hybrid and blended models because it puts off-campus learning ahead of on-campus instruction. Your learners get reading assignments, videos, or other activities that they complete at home or away from the office. Then, they come in and engage in activities designed to reinforce what they've learned.

For instance, your cybersecurity team could watch a series of videos about how to configure a firewall. Then, they could come into the office and configure an on-premise firewall using the knowledge they gleaned via the videos.

So, while blended learning and flipped learning both involve students learning on their own, hybrid learning has them learning simultaneously with in-person learners, except they're connected online.

What are the benefits of a hybrid learning model?

There are many benefits to utilizing a hybrid learning model—let's take a look at some of the most important ones.

1. It creates a more accessible learning experience

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rearview mirror, it brought to light the importance of equipping students with ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom. Even though in-person instruction is likely here to stay, the value of providing remote learning options has never been greater.

For instance, hybrid learning allows students to prioritize their mental and physical health when deciding how they will attend class. It also minimizes the effect of day-to-day disruptions, such as appointments or caretaker responsibilities, by enabling students to forgo their commute and log on remotely.

In some cases, it may also extend the geographical reach of education. Individuals in remote areas gain educational opportunities they might not have otherwise had access to.

2. It can alleviate challenges that arise from teacher shortages

Even though there's a limit to the number of students who can comfortably learn in a physical classroom, hybrid learning can help by increasing class sizes. In this way, one teacher can serve many more learners simultaneously.

That's not to say that hybrid learning is a substitute (pun intended) for having a lower learner-to-teacher ratio. However, embracing this strategy will allow the instructors you can hire to educate more of your employees.

3. It provides a more personalized learning experience

Learning management systems (LMSs), as well as other e-learning tools, are often built with features that allow both students and teachers to customize the learning experience.

For example, some platforms have AI-based "tutors" that give learners hints based on their progress through a lesson. Personalized learner paths are also common in these hybrid learning tools. These enable admins to assign a sequential set of modules to individual learners, adjusting to their needs and bolstering their knowledge in areas where they may be struggling.

LMSs also offer the ability to accommodate different learning styles by supporting a variety of course material formats. For instance, as part of a hybrid learning solution, an LMS can incorporate videos, quizzes, slides, and downloadable PDFs.

Some features cater to social learning. For example, you can incorporate discussion forums, gamification elements such as leaderboards and polls, newsfeeds, and collaborative tools.

How does a hybrid learning model work?

The schedule and structure of hybrid learning classes vary significantly from one course to another (and from one school system to another), but the general idea remains the same.

In a hybrid learning environment, a teacher will typically give a live, face-to-face lesson at a set time that all students have added to their schedules. With the help of video conferencing software, that lesson is also conveyed live online so that students who are not physically present can still participate.

Class activities such as quizzes, discussions, and brainstorming sessions remain the same. However, features such as breakout rooms and direct chat sessions may be used to create a seamless experience for those connecting via the video conferencing software.

How can educators effectively implement hybrid learning?

Implementing any effective hybrid learning solution involves a mix of technology and optimizing teaching methods. Any trainer or educator you hire to work in a hybrid learning setup needs to be comfortable with both the tech and adjusting their pedagogy to meet the needs of all learners involved in each session.

Get the right technology

The straightest path to an effective hybrid learning environment is to use an LMS designed to support a hybrid methodology. These often come with tools you can use to:

• Design and deliver course materials

• Create assignments

• Facilitate discussions

• Administer live assessments

At a very minimum, the teacher has to be comfortable using videoconferencing software, as well as the features conducive to a hybrid learning environment.

For example, the instructor can use video conferencing software to:

• See learners' hands as they raise them

• Administer polls and get instant results

• Create breakout rooms for different groups of students

• Enable students to chat directly with each other via the platform

• Have learners send files to each other via the platform

• Enable learners to be hosts, which gives them the ability to present—to share their screens, present to the rest of the class, and manage breakout rooms if necessary

Adjust your pedagogy

It's important to give all learners equal opportunity to absorb and discuss the material for each lesson. This includes enabling them to contribute by answering questions and making comments in real-time.

You also have to make the lessons equally engaging for in-person and remote learners.

These tips may help:

• Design lessons that give remote and in-person students the chance to reflect on their learning with others. This may involve setting up breakout rooms and assigning students to them either manually or automatically.

• Record class sessions so students can review them on their own time after class. This empowers remote students who may not retain information well the first time around when learning via a screen.

• Frequently check in with all students, especially those learning remotely. This ensures they feel like they're part of the experience as opposed to feeling like their physical distance excludes them.

What are the challenges of hybrid learning?

Of course, there are downsides to hybrid learning as well, and it's important to devise strategies for overcoming these before implementing a hybrid environment.

• Remote learners may not have as much time as they feel they need. In the same Software Advice survey, 47% of employees said their primary obstacle while learning online was not having enough time to develop their skills.

• There may be bias against remote learners. In-person students may be the first the educator calls on to answer questions and may be able to interact in real-time with the teacher more easily than those who are remote.

• Remote students may feel disconnected, both from each other and those in the physical classroom. Without the ability to turn and whisper to a classmate, exchange glances, or engage in other behaviors common to an in-person learning setting, remote students may feel separated from others.

Hybrid learning tech: What you need to get started

Establishing a hybrid learning environment is fairly straightforward if you have the right software and hardware on hand.

Software tools that enable hybrid education

Learning Management Systems often come with templates and modules that can address the issues above. Teachers can use them to design inclusive activities and learning tools that engage all learners.

Video conferencing systems can also make a big difference. They typically come with features such as breakout rooms, the ability to record sessions, and file and screen sharing that provide rich, interactive experiences for all learners.

The key is to make sure the instructor establishes norms that weave in the software's capabilities. For example, they can set a norm around not choosing someone to answer a question right away, so remote learners have time to tap or click the raise-hand feature.

E-learning software is also a powerful tool because it streamlines the process of creating online learning content. Instructors can design lessons, administer quizzes and exams, collect assessments, and automatically grade students. E-learning platforms can also produce reports about how the class is progressing toward individual learning objectives using test performance.

Virtual classroom software combines features of learning management systems and student information solutions, giving users a comprehensive setting for remote and hybrid learning. In addition to facilitating classroom management and lesson delivery, these apps can also provide discussion platforms for students to exchange ideas around learning material—just as they would in a face-to-face setting. Depending on the solution, participants can use avatars to represent themselves if they prefer not to show their faces. The software can also encrypt instructors' video content for added security.

Hardware essentials to have on site

The most important hardware component to have on-site is a computer for each learner. This gives them the ability to message and share documents with those who are tying in remotely.

You also need a strong, reliable internet connection. If your organization uses SD-WAN, you may want to allocate more bandwidth to the hybrid learning session to prevent dropouts, video and audio glitches, or slow file transmissions.

You should also have a camera, either facing the instructor, the students, or both. You can see both the teacher and those in the classroom by using an additional device. In this way, you have a camera pointed in both directions.

Expand your educational possibilities with hybrid learning

In this article, we've broken down how hybrid learning works, its benefits, how it's different from blended and flipped learning, and some important considerations to keep in mind before you get started. With this info in hand, you're ready to begin incorporating hybrid learning in your organization.