Designing for HyFlex/Hybrid Spaces: A Strategic Priority

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, I often wondered whether hybrid learning was a temporary fix—a stopgap measure for a world in crisis. But years later, the data tells a different story: Gen Z isn't going back. They're wired for digital-first education.^Footnote1

One of my college professors postulated that Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion was wrong—at least when it comes to cultural and technological trends. While in science it's true that, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction," that is far from the observed truth when it comes to cultural or technological trends. My professor argued instead, "For every action, there is an overreaction."

During the pandemic, there was an action to quickly adjust nearly all learning to remote, socially distanced in-person, or hybrid learning. Once the pandemic subsided, there was an overreaction to revert to traditional in-person learning, with some institutions wanting a full return to the classroom. But this overreaction dismissed the benefits of hybrid learning methods realized during that period. Furthermore, it exposed the fact that 21st-century students resisted the return to in-person experiences only—even at institutions that pride themselves on the in-person experiences they offer. While there has been an increase in the preference for in-person experiences, the statistics are beginning to reflect that student demand for convenient learning methods and flexibility may never revert to pre-pandemic levels.^Footnote2

Data on Hybrid Learning

The EDUCAUSE 2025 Students and Technology Report found that between 2023 and 2025, the number of students who reported taking hybrid courses at their institutions increased.^Footnote3 Of those students who took hybrid courses, about 94 percent said they had taken between one and six of them since enrolling.

With this new normal in mind, the discussion of technology requirements to match the learning methods has become much more important and considerably more nuanced. For example, hybrid and HyFlex models offer the following benefits to students:

• Easier access to class content
• More personalized learning
• Greater scheduling flexibility
• Stronger skill development for the modern workforce

Hybrid models also bring several benefits to the institution:

• More efficient use of resources and campus spaces
• Wider reach for students located in various geographical locations
• More convenient online platforms for content delivery
• More time for in-person activities, such as problem-solving and discussions

Overcoming Challenges with Technology

It is also important to acknowledge some of the challenges associated with hybrid learning.

Challenges for Students

• Need for self-discipline and time-management skills
• Struggle with balancing in-person and online assignments
• Reduced social interaction
• Technical issues

Challenges for Colleges and Universities

• Increased time needed for core course planning
• Proficiency with digital tools and hybrid instructional methods
• Split attention between in-person students and online attendees
• Tracking engagement of online learners

Reduced social interaction and difficulty tracking student engagement in hybrid courses are two of the most significant challenges. When used correctly, modern audiovisual (AV) technology can mitigate these challenges. For hybrid and HyFlex courses, providing a natural viewing experience by utilizing automated camera framing techniques is key to increasing engagement and interaction. In the past, many institutions used a wide shot of the front of the classroom for remote students. This wide shot attempted to frame the lectern and anywhere the instructor might move, including in front of whiteboards or chalkboards (see figure 1).

With this viewing experience, remote students could miss important information or content and feel like they do not have the same experience as in-person participants. Engagement suffers dramatically.

By using camera technology that intelligently and automatically provides the best view of the classroom, institutions can deliver dramatically better learning experiences for remote students and focus on scalable solutions for different types of spaces across campus. Features such as presenter tracking, preset zones, group framing, and Q&A mode provide simple ways to increase engagement while improving remote students' sense of social interaction (see figure 2).

Top Considerations for HyFlex/Hybrid Technology

It's understandable that some administrators might push back on using more technology in every learning environment on campus. Therefore, a measured, prioritized approach is advisable when implementing new technology into learning environments. Sometimes, the costs can be prohibitive, and there is no need to install technology that won't be fully utilized. When evaluating whether your hybrid or HyFlex space needs to use intelligent camera technology, consider the following tips to increase interaction and engagement:

5 Tips to Provide the Best HyFlex/Hybrid Experience

1. Avoid a wide shot that captures the entire front of the room; this often places the instructor too far away. Make sure remote students can see the instructor clearly and at a comfortable distance.
2. Ensure concepts and notes written on a whiteboard are legible and easy for remote students to see.
3. Make sure instructors aren't worried about where they can move or stand. Use intelligent video technology that adapts to whatever the instructor is doing.
4. Use a close enough camera shot for remote students to feel included. Engagement and social connection suffer when remote students do not feel like the instructor is speaking to them.
5. Save camera presets for each configuration if the furniture in the learning space can be configured in different ways.

I love having discussions with institutions about hybrid and HyFlex solutions. It's fulfilling to see those "aha moments" when I talk through Crestron's automated multicamera solutions or share our ready-made HyFlex room designs.

Now is the time to start exploring these systems to boost student engagement and enrollment for the upcoming project season. Download our HyFlex room design or browse the full index of room designs for technology inspiration across all of your campus spaces.

John Hulen is Vertical Marketing Director at Crestron Electronics.

Notes

1. John A. Huss, "Gen Z Students Are Filling Our Online Classrooms: Do Our Teaching Methods Need a Reboot,"InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching 18 (2023): 101–112; Francis Thaise A. Cimene et al., "Generation Alpha Students' Behavior as Digital Natives and Their Learning Engagement,"Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal 27, no. 2 (October 2024): 258–273. Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.↩
2. Nicole Muscanell and Kristen Gay, 2025 Students and Technology Report: Shaping the Future of Higher Education Through Technology, Flexibility, and Well-Being, (EDUCAUSE, April 2025). Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.↩
3. Muscanell and Gay, 2025 Students and Technology Report. Jump back to footnote 3 in the text.↩