The Acceleration of Hybrid Learning in Higher Education

Before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the education journeys of more than 1.6 billion students around the world, higher education institutions were already exploring ways to grow enrollment, reach more students, and better engage the "digital natives" of Generation Z. Though the need to move online created challenges, it also inspired solutions that will have long-lasting effects on higher education.

In an effort to better understand the impacts of the current dynamics on higher education staff, faculty, and students, Microsoft Education partnered with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on a new paper: Bridging the Digital Divide to Engage Students in Higher Education. The EIU conducted surveys and interviews with faculty and students in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, as well as with experts in the global higher education community.

The paper revealed that faculty believe the pandemic has accelerated the evolution of digital education by ten years and that this acceleration has led to challenges such as the need to adapt pedagogy for remote/hybrid learning and create opportunities for student engagement. Complicating matters, 70 percent of faculty surveyed are concerned about their ability to deliver engaging, high-value learning experiences in online settings.^Footnote1

"Some faculty members are trying to teach their lectures exactly how they did before but on videoconferencing platforms," said Douglas Harris, professor and department chair of economics at Tulane University. "However, transitioning to an online environment doesn't just mean adopting new technologies to the same education methods. It changes the entire learning process, which means faculty must adapt their teaching approaches accordingly."

Insights indicate that rather than being a short-term solution, remote and hybrid learning is likely to be a future operating model alongside on-campus programs for many higher education institutions. Though more than 80 percent of faculty members surveyed said that less than half of the courses at their institution were online prior to the pandemic, one-third of them report that their institution will permanently add online options for all or most courses moving forward.^Footnote2 The expanded availability of virtual learning will require increased investments in technology and additional training for faculty but these investments, along with more flexible learning programs, could make higher education more accessible and equitable, with learning supported by technology that addresses the needs of diverse learners and flexible programs with schedules that work for students who have additional obligations.

With the likelihood that remote and hybrid learning will persist, there is a need to address how best to engage students and help them succeed in an online learning environment.

The EIU's research found a difference in perspectives between faculty and students on preparedness for remote learning. While 85 percent of faculty members surveyed reported that they felt prepared to meet student needs effectively with the resources they had available, more than 60 percent of the students shared that they did not feel mentally or academically prepared for the 2020–2021 academic year. As well, almost half of the students claim that the pandemic has worsened their ability to remain focused and engaged (see Figure 1).^Footnote3

Education experts say that the pandemic has caused students to be stressed, anxious, financially challenged, and socially isolated. According to a study carried out by Hope College in July 2020, 60 percent of the 38,000 students surveyed reported experiencing basic needs insecurity.^Footnote4

Harris said, "The current situation is pushing faculty to realize that, at the very least, students are not going to be able to learn in their class if they're suffering in other ways."

John Hattie, professor and director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, pointed to the sense of isolation and lack of social connection that students are feeling: "One of the biggest factors that influences student engagement and performance is their sense of belonging in their higher education experience. This is what has suffered the most as a result of COVID-19. They no longer have the same sense of belonging that they used to have."

To foster a greater sense of connection, experts recommend that instructors go beyond simply delivering lectures online and instead create more opportunities for active learning and engagement. Innovative schools like St. Edward's University already use virtual anatomy classes, virtual internships, virtual counselling, and virtual student teaching, according to Rebecca Frost Davis, associate vice president of St. Edward's University. One teacher even set up a virtual crime scene using 3D cameras, allowing students to go places they couldn't normally go. "The students who had done the simulation first did better because they weren't distracted by things when they were learning," said Davis.

Leading universities like Florida State University are using a mix of technology and pedagogy to drive better student engagement. Florida State uses Microsoft Teams as its collaboration platform, with low-code custom applications built within Teams to drive engagement, such as real-time polling feedback to gauge students' understanding of the content during class lectures.^Footnote5

Social-Emotional Learning and Student Well-Being

The EIU study revealed that higher education faculty members across the board agreed that in addition to imparting knowledge and cultivating a sense of community, institutions also have a critical responsibility to provide social and emotional learning (SEL) support to help students open up about their feelings, experiences, and needs.^Footnote6

Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams with Education Insights can help instructors identify students' needs and adapt their material for maximum impact. David Kellerman of the University of New South Wales said, "Insights for classroom Teams . . . has helped me connect with struggling students on a personal level and to understand the broader trends in my classroom. Every teacher, professor, or instructor on Teams has something to learn from Insights."

Additionally, social activities such as orientations, graduations, and other traditions can be presented virtually to create more opportunities for socialization and connection. Resources like this e-book and this virtual graduation toolkit have ideas and tips for bringing events online. Beyond webcams and chat rooms, there are other creative ways to reimagine in-person gatherings, including building virtual versions of campuses in Minecraft to host in-game meetups and ceremonies.

Today's higher education students are primarily from Generation Z, a generation that is comfortable with technology and expects it to be a part of their learning experiences. Ninety-three percent believe that remote learning will benefit their education but they are also very clear about what they are looking for: they want their institutions to put their needs first by providing physical and virtual security, and they want to learn skills that will help them succeed in work and in life.^Footnote7 "There is a push for higher education in the United States particularly to show greater value and a return on investment. As a result, students are looking for the best value in terms of what they are getting from their higher education and what they will be able to do in the workforce," said Stella L. Smith, associate director of the MACH III Center at Prairie View A&M University.

Additionally, one third of students stated that a top priority for their institutions should be to provide the right tools and training for educators, a view echoed by 40 percent of all faculty.^Footnote8

As higher education leaders work with instructional designers and professors to reimagine courses and fine-tune pedagogy, students and faculty agree that the coronavirus pandemic has provided the impetus to move the pedagogical needle in higher education.

With cooperation and creativity, this accelerated evolution can enhance student experiences through the integration of emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality and create new revenue opportunities for colleges and universities as they develop innovative options for students to pursue lifelong learning with flexible course schedules or micro-masters from different institutions.

For a summary of key takeaways from the EIU report, see the Strengthening Student Engagement through Hybrid Education infographic, and for full details, read the paper.

Notes

1. Emily Wasik and Marianne Bray, Bridging the Digital Divide to Engage Students in Higher Education, research report, (London, UK: The Economist Intelligence Unit, December 2020). Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.↩
2. Ibid. Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.↩
3. Ibid. Jump back to footnote 3 in the text.↩
4. Sara Goldrick-Rab, Vanessa Coca, Gregory Kienzl, et al., #RealCollege During the Pandemic, [https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hopecenter_RealCollegeDuringthePandemic.pdf] research report, (Philadelphia, PA: The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, June 2020). Jump back to footnote 4 in the text.↩
5. Microsoft, "Florida State University Reimagines Learning with Microsoft Teams," 2020. Jump back to footnote 5 in the text.↩
6. Wasik and Bray, Bridging the Digital Divide to Engage Students in Higher Education, 2020. Jump back to footnote 6 in the text.↩
7. Ibid. Jump back to footnote 7 in the text.↩
8. Ibid. Jump back to footnote 8 in the text.↩

Barbara Holzapfel is VP, Education, at Microsoft.