Hybrid Learning During Study Abroad in 2021, What To Expect?

April 2021

With the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic, educational institutions around the world shifted their courses and teaching online mediums to avoid hampering the delivery of education to students. Education abroad, at the initial phases of the pandemic, seemed bleak and uncertain. To cope with the current scenario, universities abroad conducted classes on platforms like Zoom and Google Classrooms with assignments and assessments were given to assist educators in grading students. After analysing the situation and scenarios, in certain countries, universities began adopting a new mode of instruction, hybrid learning.
So what exactly is hybrid learning? How is it different from blended learning? What are its benefits?

Here is everything you need to know about hybrid learning, the new normal in education.

What is Hybrid Learning?

The Hybrid Learning Model is a new model of teaching that universities abroad are using to deliver courses to enrolled students. In hybrid learning, synchronous teaching is substituted by asynchronous teaching. In other words, online teaching becomes the mode of teaching instead of the normal face-to-face method of instruction.

At some universities in Ireland, students alternate between online learning and on-campus classes. In this way, students attend courses abroad through online classes in place of on-campus classes. In this type of teaching model, professors instruct in-person and remote students at the same time.

How is Hybrid Learning different from Blended Learning?

Hybrid learning is often confused with Blended learning as they have similar approaches to teaching & learning. There is a fine line that separates the two. In the blended learning model, online teaching is not the sole focus of the learning and it is presented to complement classroom learning, using resources like videos, articles etc. which further compliments an enriching learning environment. In a hybrid learning model, online learning is introduced as a replacement to on-person classroom teaching. While the education abroad curriculum and syllabus is identical, the hybrid model presents flexibility to the learning experience.

Benefits of Hybrid Learning

While there are many pros and cons to in-classroom and online learning, this new learning model aims to combine these two formats to create an updated learning experience. The benefits of choosing hybrid learning are:

Flexible Learning : At the core of hybrid learning, is flexibility. Through hybrid learning, students are presented with not only a flexible learning schedule but also flexibility in teaching and how students choose to engage the learning materials. This model also presents flexible collaboration and communication between the students and by extension, the instructor. For international students who are enrolled on universities abroad, but cannot attend in-person classes due to various restrictions, hybrid learning allows them to learn remotely from their home country.

Synchronous communication : With the quick adaptive nature of hybrid learning, international students studying abroad are met with real-time engagement between peers, which are at par with the quick nature of in-person academic discussions. Hybrid learning allows students and teachers to be synchronous for group work, presentations, and conversations, thus creating a seamless learning experience.

Academic exploration : Through the flexible nature of hybrid learning, students encouraged to be independent in their academic exploration. Students also have several freedoms in this learning model. Along with the freedom to study from their respective homes, students also have the freedom to revisit study material as often as required, at any pace, and study independently to develop an in-depth asynchronous approach to their study.

Personalized Learning : An important part of this hybrid learning approach is the allowance to learn at a comfortable pace that every student is entitled to. This allowance boosts the student's retention and helps them gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. To boost personalised learning, students may also use a variety of synchronous and asynchronous learning resources aligned with their learning styles. In most cases, in this model of teaching, the study group is smaller with increased professor-student interactions which allows each student to get personalized attention.

For further assistance or queries you can contact us, Edwise International, and avail for our wide range of services for students on destinations like Universities in UK, study in USA, study in Canada, study in Australia, study in New-Zealand, Study in Ireland, study in Singapore and many other countries.