The hybrid learning approach combines new-age techniques of learning with the traditional education methodologies. In easier words, this model is a combination of both in-person and virtual education, where the learner makes use of both physical and digital infrastructure.
The impact of technology can be felt in every sphere of our life. And education is no exception to this. With the growing popularity of educational technology, our teaching and learning processes have changed forever. And in this post-Covid world, technology-based education is gradually becoming the first choice of our Indian students.
The most common terms related to educational technology are blended, online, or hybrid learning. And this article aims at explaining the details of the hybrid-learning model in a comprehensive manner. And most of us have seen it being implemented during and after the pandemic. Till date, several institutions are using this model. Because it has a striking advantage of creating provision for students to attend an offline class, or participate in the same through an online mode.
Here’s a bit more about this model:
The hybrid learning approach aims at creating a balance of offline and online learning opportunities. And in this way, it helps in supporting traditional instructional delivery through the advantages of online learning.
Why Do We Need This Model in Our Education System?
Our National policy of Education 2020 encourages alternative models of education. And this approach is one of the most futuristic moves for a country like ours. This combination of in-campus and virtual learning perfectly supports the academic and non-academic needs of our Indian students. Because it helps in creating more personalized learning opportunities without interfering with our existing systems.
NPE 2020 has a target to achieve 100% gross enrollment ratio by the year 2030. And we need the support of new-age models like hybrid, blended, 100% digital schooling, etc. to meet these long-term goals.
Before we explore some more aspects of this model, let’s take a quick look at some of its advantages:
- Helps to boost student engagement through a mix of pedagogies.
- Creates the perfect support required in a virtual learning environment.
- Meets the learning needs of students across all the identified learning styles and intelligence types.
- Supports the right framework of instructional delivery through diverse delivery methods.
- Reduces challenges such as infrastructure, and inequalities within physical classrooms.
- Materializes the idea of universal inclusion.
- Brings down the cost of education considerably.
An Online Space Can Bring Down the Overall Cost of Education
In general, new-age models seamlessly reduce the dependence on face-to-face instructions. And this considerably reduces the cost of textbooks, supplementary reading material and even writing utensils. This models also bring down the mindless use of paper. And in this way, it reduces the hazardous effects of paper wastage on the environment.
According to a news journal, parents in urban India end up spending somewhere between Rs.14509 to 23832 for school education in a year (pre-primary to higher secondary cost range). And 12 to 13.8% of this amount is spent just on transportation. Another 20.1 to 25.9% is the cost of books, stationery, and uniforms. And there can be an additional 5.2 to 6.3% levied as numerous miscellaneous/hidden expenses.
It is evident that students can save a big amount that gets wasted just in the name of transportation or other expenses. And all this amount can be better used for several other purposes.
Hybrid Learning is a Well-crafted Solution for Several Challenges
With models like hybrid making inroads into our system, there is finally a ray of hope to overcome our existing challenges. This approach is a perfect answer for issues like inequitable educational opportunities. And in a country like India, where 70% of the total population resides in rural areas, it is definitely a sigh of relief.
Other than this, it can also bring down issues like teacher quality, class size, infrastructure, maintenance costs, and academic support, etc. And eventually, adds the missing dimension of ‘QUALITY’ in our overall teaching and learning processes.
For teachers:
For teachers, it is equally useful. Because they can use it effectively to break down information in a sequential manner. This helps in their lesson planning and in a way; it also simplifies the overall learning designs. This model is equally effective in creating more student-centric settings. Because it allows students to make use of technological tools/aids to improve their learning process.
By including in-person and remote students in the same learning environment we can also boost interpersonal communications. And these opportunities are proved to enrich the final learning outcomes. All in all, this online teaching approach helps teachers to engage students better.
The future of this model in India:
In a densely populated country like India, advanced online schooling and hybrid learning can serve as a bridge to connect the metro cities with the rural areas. Because this model has an unmatched benefit of aligning online and offline classes simultaneously.
We can bank upon this approach to provide the best quality education in the nook and corner of our country. And all this is possible without increasing the count of our trained teachers. India can now break free from the barriers of traditional schooling. And with affordable and accessible hybrid learning solutions, it has a credible framework to beat the deficits of its existing system.
An approach that suits all!
Creative solutions like this model are suitable for all types of learners. Because it incorporates gifted, slow, differently-abled, and marginalized learners seamlessly within its structure. With the added advantages of these new-age learning patterns, students need not depend on a physical campus. Instead, they can avail the benefits of skill-based learning and improve their career prospects.
For all types of learners, this model of teaching and learning has the potential to simplify complex concepts. Hence, comes out as a perfect resolution for issues pertaining to the understanding and retention of the subject matter.
Parting Thoughts:
The Indian educational landscape needs to match the pace of the global leaders!
And models like hybrid are a great support in realizing this goal. Fortunately, our stakeholders have already acknowledged the utility of technology-based solutions to meet the challenges of our existing systems. And models like hybrid are already raising the bar of our Indian education system.
With more and more students embracing options like hybrid learning and virtual schooling, the roadmap to success is already visible.
And now, it’s for us to prepare our young generations for the ‘FUTURE WORK’ that awaits them!
