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Hello, HyFlex Learning Community members!
Welcome to Spring 2022 in the northern hemisphere, and Fall 2022 in the south. No matter where you are located, the educational adventure continues, doesn't it? For most of us, the pandemic restrictions on in-person learning are being lifted, some quickly, some more slowly, but unless (until) a COVID resurgence occurs, it looks more and more likely that the classroom of the past may be more achievable in the near term for those who want it. And many do. But perhaps not all. HyFlex is an approach that allows us to serve both online and in-class students with the same resources when there is a need to support students in both paths. Is this need going away? For some, maybe, but certainly not for all. These news stories highlight this clearly.
HyFlex "In the News"
This month we highlight several recent News stories that address this very issue of the return to a different normalcy, not the classroom-only normal some are wistfully looking for. We are clearly pivoting from the pandemic-response mode to the long-term investment in serving students with more high-quality access to learning opportunities mode.
1. From Lehman College (CUNY) February 3, 2022. "When HyFlex Works" https://lehman.edu/news/2022/An-Investment-in-Our-Future.php
This blog post explains the HyFlex implementation in progress at Lehman College as part of the larger CUNY (City University of New York) effort. University faculty involved are reporting positive experiences, even as they address challenges common to HyFlex teaching. In Fall 21, 34% of classes were offered in HyFlex mode, serving more than 12,000 students! What an opportunity to learn some lessons? :)
2. From the Philippines, some news about the recent government approval for some high schools to begin using HyFlex classes to serve students in the classroom and online. https://www.xs.edu.ph/index.php/deped-approves-hyflex-pilot-classes-at-xavier-school/
You might also be interested in this brief article from Times Higher Education about efforts in higher education in the Philipines: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/blackboard/p/looking-future-flexible-learning-philippines
Two more news items from the region, this first one from PhilStar Global about the Malayan Colleges Laguna offering Hybrid Flexible courses: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2022/03/04/2164439/malayan-colleges-laguna-offers-hybrid-flexible-courses and another article from SunStar about the Malayan Colleges Mindanao doing the same: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1922217/davao/feature/malayan-colleges-mindanao-introduces-hyflex-courses-in-midanao
3. And this from Ed Tech Magazine explaining the difference between hybrid and HyFlex teaching: https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2022/03/hyflex-hybrid-teaching-models-whats-the-difference-eperfcon You'll notice their emphasis on classroom technology when there are synchronous paths in the classroom and online simultaneously. This additional technology need is true in this situation, but the article doesn't acknowledge here are effective ways to offer HyFlex without the synchronous online path. In fact, I (and many others) started HyFlex this way. If you don't have "good enough" classroom AV tech to make the synchronous experience valuable, then it's best to focus on only two paths: in the room and online asynchronously. That is still HyFlex!
Wondering what the research says about HyFlex efficacy and other measures? You can find about 120 publications (2007-2022) about HyFlex design, implementation, and evaluation at https://www.hyflexlearning.org/bibliography
ActiveClass Online Engagement Tools
One of the difficult challenges for HyFlex and online education is encouraging active student participation in the online mode. We started using ActiveClass tools in our HyFlex Learning Community workshops this winter with synchronous and asynchronous online participants, and we've been impressed by the richer and overall higher levels of participant engagement we've seen. More on ActiveClass:
"ActiveClass is an edtech company offering simple social experiences from within learning management systems. Featuring a modern, social-media-inspired UI, ActiveClass encourages conversation, supports various learning models including HyFlex, facilitates diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and helps address institutions’ top engagement and retention challenges. To learn more about ActiveClass or get a demo, visit www.activeclass.com/hyflex"
Mailing List Feature
To subscribe to our email list, visit Join our Mailing List to enter your name and email address. If you sign up for the list you can send messages to all the other subscribers anytime from anywhere. If you're looking for more communication with others in the HyFlex community, this may be for you.
Next Gathering in the planning stages
Our next webinar is still in the planning stages - we'll send a special notice out to members once it has been scheduled - likely in early April 2022.
HyFlex Course Design Workshop March 21-25, 2022 - still open for registration and asynchronous completion
Our next HyFlex Course Design workshop is happening March 21-25, 2022. This fully online workshop is hosted in our own LMS site, is facilitated by several members of the HLC team, and consists of five 90-minute synchronous sessions throughout the week, supported by online resources and asynchronous discussion activities each day. Fully asynchronous participation is also supported. Participants can earn up to two HyFlex Learning badges for workshop activities and the completion of all assignments.
For a full description and the opportunity to enroll, visit https://www.hyflexlearning.org/workshops/ If you'd like information on how to register groups or pay for registration other than with a credit card, please contact us at hyflexlearning@gmail.com
HyFlex Learning Blog Posts
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