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Welcome to our September newsletter, and to the start of another term (for many of us). This newsletter highlights another major report supporting the need for flexible learning in higher education, reviews recent news associated with HyFlex implementation, and introduces upcoming events: the next HyFlex Collaborative Conference in June 2024, the next HyFlex Learning Community webinar on September 21, and the next HyFlex Course Design workshop in early January 2024.
Upcoming Events:
1. HyFlex Learning Community Gathering (webinar)
Our next webinar is happening on September 21, 2023, from 9:00 am PT - 10:30 am PT. Our topic is a discussion of recent EDUCAUSE reports supporting the need for flexible learning and the principles of HyFlex course design. In this webinar, we will discuss two recent EDUCAUSE reports that highlight HyFlex teaching and learning.
- EDUCAUSE Horizon report, Teaching and Learning edition, released in May 2023 (EDUCAUSE Report page)
- EDUCAUSE Student Survey report, the 2023 Students and Technology Report: Flexibility, Choice, and Equity in the Student Experience, released in August 2023 (EDUCAUSE Report page)
In the webinar, we will review the main findings from each report and discuss the implications for our HyFlex strategies and practices. Register at Eventbrite to receive the webinar link: https://bit.ly/HLCgatheringSep23
2. HyFlex Course Design Workshop
Our next HyFlex Course Design workshop is scheduled for January 8-12, 2024. More information and the registration link is available at https://www.hyflexlearning.org/workshops/
3. Second Annual HyFlex Collaborative Conference
Our first HyFlex Collaborative held in June this past summer was a resounding success. We expect to have our next webinar focus on reports from organizers and participants. We have already scheduled the Second Annual HyFlex Collaborative Conference for June 27, 2024. We are happy to be partnering with AACE for this conference, and more information will soon be available at https://aatlased.org/hyflex-collaborative/hyflex-collaborative-conference/. Expect the Call for Proposals to be released in a few weeks.
Please plan to join us next summer on June 27, 2024!
EDUCAUSE 2023 Students and Technology Report Released
We're excited to share the EDUCAUSE 2023 Students and Technology Report: Flexibility, Choice, and Equity in the Student Experience. (https://library.educause.edu/resources/2023/8/2023-students-and-technology-report-flexibility-choice-and-equity-in-the-student-experience )
The newly released report explores findings across three main areas, each representing a key challenge (and opportunity) institutions are going to face now and in the future:
- Supporting students on and off campus
- The role of students as consumers in the educational marketplace
- Accessibility in teaching and learning
A recent HyFlex Learning Community blog post (linked below in this newsletter) describes the main findings and implications of the student survey results.
Related, the EDUCAUSE 2023 Horizon Report, Teaching and Learning Edition report released in spring also highlights the importance of flexible approaches to teaching and learning, such as HyFlex. It lists HyFlex as one of its "Key Technologies and Practices" for 2023. Related to HyFlex, "Blurring the Boundaries Between Learning Modalities" is also listed as a key practice. Both sections explain several examples (cases) of HyFlex teaching and learning in practice. Read more at https://library.educause.edu/resources/2023/5/2023-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition
Another recent HyFlex Learning Community blog post (linked below in this newsletter) discusses the main recommendations associated with HyFlex in the Horizons report.
HyFlex in the News:
1. Explore the Technology Used at UNC Chapel Hill School of Education to support HyFlex Learning - The Future of Education is Present (Systems Contractor News).
The UNC Chapel Hill School of Education is expanding its reach with HyFlex courses supported by new technology-rich classrooms. Read more about their approach at https://www.avnetwork.com/news/the-future-of-education-is-present
2. California State University Northridge (CSUN) - The Future of Education is Present (Systems Contractor News).
“The new classrooms promote active learning among students. With a focus on flexibility and comfort, the classrooms allow students to reorganize furniture to facilitate breakout sessions. CSUN filled these classrooms with technology, including HyFlex and smart screens, that improves the academic experience for students and teachers alike." Read more about their approach at https://sundial.csun.edu/175254/news/csun-constructs-first-new-building-in-13-years/
3. Classroom Modernization Projects Support HyFlex Learning - EdTech Magazine
More colleges and universities are upgrading their classrooms to support the increased demand for flexible learning options. Technology supporting remote and in-person participation was quickly adopted during the pandemic years of 2020-2022 to get through those challenging times. Now, more than three years after that initial shock to our systems, many institutions have discovered that students want the flexibility (see https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2022/11/survey-student-preference-online-learning-growing) and convenience of these different learning modalities to become permanent fixtures, prompting schools to further invest in new classroom technology. Read more at: https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2023/08/classroom-modernization-projects-support-hyflex-learning
4. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College introduced its HyFlex Course Offerings beginning this fall. Coal Valley News, Williamson Daily News
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College explained its HyFlex course offerings to the local community through this short news article. It may be interesting to read how they approached this communication challenge. Read more at: https://www.coalvalleynews.com/news/southern-offers-new-approach-to-learning-with-hyflex-classes/article_307065ca-b566-50be-9b1b-a77efa9aea42.html or at https://www.williamsondailynews.com/news/southern-offers-new-approach-to-learning-with-hyflex-classes/article_2dcd1b38-8808-541f-b0eb-7d7867f116b8.html
5. HyFlex Learning Faces a "chasm" Between Supply and Demand - AV Magazine
This article calls out the gap between the demand in Europe for flexible learning (71% of students want this) and the perception of AV professionals in Europe on their ability to meet this demand. 67% of the AV professionals surveyed said they needed "technological advances" in order to implement HyFlex courses. (Survey research sponsored by a major AV vendor.) After reading this, one might wonder how we've been able to offer high-quality HyFlex courses for more than 15 years in some places! The article does raise several important points about the challenge, notably that technology alone is not the only factor needing improvement. Faculty preparation to teach with the technology in multiple modes is also a critical need. I have no argument with that! To read the report referenced in the article, visit: https://eu.info.pro.sony/WC-PDS-SED-State-of-Learning-2023-Report-Registration-EN.html?cmp=scl-f23-pse-90222. To read the AV magazine article: https://www.avinteractive.com/markets-news/education/hyflex-learning-faces-chasm-between-demand-and-supply-06-07-2023/
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