Hybrid learning has seen a rise in popularity over the last few years. It’s not hard to see why hybrid education offers multiple benefits for students and educators. Hybrid learning is essentially a mixture of in-person and online education. By combining resources, educators can design courses that suit their students’ needs and integrate new technology to make classes more interactive. This article explores hybrid education, its pros and cons, and how it could be used in UK schools.
Advantages of Hybrid Education
Hybrid education benefits students in several ways. The students who are struggling to make it to physical classes will benefit from being able to join the classes from remote locations and reduce the amount of school missed. For pupils taking part in virtual classes, it can help to teach them independence and time management skills if they are fully reliant on themselves to carry out the required tasks. The increased flexibility can benefit many students who can split their time equally between physical school and learning from a remote location.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Education
As with every type of learning, hybrid education also has its disadvantages. The main disadvantage of hybrid education is that it doesn’t cater to all learners. Hybrid courses require more student involvement and self-discipline, which can challenge students who are more passive in their learning style. Another disadvantage of hybrid education is that it is more expensive than traditional education. This is because hybrid courses require more resources, such as digital platforms, software and hardware, and individual attention to each student’s needs.
How is Hybrid Learning Used in UK Schools?
While remote and hybrid learning was commonplace during the height of the covid pandemic in the UK, since schools have returned full-time in person, the number of students able to access hybrid learning systems has dwindled. For many schools, this learning model is only used in extreme cases and on a case-by-case basis; however, it is more popular for assessments and exams to allow pupils to access their assessments online.
Schools can implement changes as technology advances, and using a survey builder for students and parents to give feedback can help educators to assess how many students would benefit from hybrid learning.
The Future of Hybrid Education
As the popularity of hybrid education continues to rise, we expect to see an increase in fully online courses and digital resources. The most significant advantage of fully online courses is that they give students the freedom to choose when and where they study. This is especially helpful for those who have demanding schedules and can’t meet their teachers face-to-face. Nowadays, online courses use artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and virtual reality (VR) technology to make the educational experience more engaging. For example, AI can help teachers identify students’ learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses. Educational apps can use AI to personalise coursework and make suggestions for improvement. VR can create virtual simulations that allow students to experience real-life situations.
Final Words
Hybrid education is an excellent way to improve the quality of education. It fosters critical thinking and helps students retain information longer. Hybrid courses also help students develop collaborative and communication skills, better preparing them for future careers. It also offers children who struggle or can not access mainstream schools a way to continue their education with minimal disruption. The reality is it can be done, and maybe in the future, UK schools will progress to accommodate hybrid learning in a mainstream way.
