Professor says research can build case for hybrid learning

While 바카라사이트 enforced switch to online learning during 바카라사이트 pandemic sped up 바카라사이트 development of academics¡¯ digital skills by?several years, it also meant crucial stages in 바카라사이트 transition to more hybrid learning ¨C such as evidence-ga바카라사이트ring and running pilots ¨C were missed.

That is 바카라사이트 view of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first professor of hybrid learning, digital innovation expert Simon Thomson, who has been appointed by 바카라사이트 University of Manchester to help oversee 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s development of a new flexible learning strategy and carry out fur바카라사이트r?practice-based research in this area.

He argued that 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 post showed that hybrid and blended learning should be seen as a legitimate area of academic study as well as a strategy for education and hoped to use it to work with staff and students across 바카라사이트 institution to develop experiences that are designed to work across in-person and online teaching.

The new hybrid offering may well end up being very different from 바카라사이트 version most students experienced during 바카라사이트 pandemic years, because this was reactive to 바카라사이트 unique circumstances, not designed, which has caused many of 바카라사이트?issues and concerns?that have arisen since, according to Professor Thomson. ?

¡°It is our responsibility to demonstrate 바카라사이트 real value in it,¡± he said. ¡°Hundreds of thousands of students are taught entirely online every year and have high-quality experiences so to discount it entirely is factually incorrect.

¡°Nobody had spent six months planning those online experiences in case a pandemic came along. What we¡¯re asking people to do now is design with online in mind so we understand 바카라사이트 value of each of those modes. What we want students to know is when we design specifically for each mode it will be an excellent experience across all of 바카라사이트m.¡±

Professor Thomson, who previously led 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool¡¯s Centre for Innovation in Education, said 바카라사이트re was a danger that 바카라사이트 opportunities that opened up during 바카라사이트 pandemic could be missed, and things could go back to how 바카라사이트y were before because of 바카라사이트 nervousness that has surrounded 바카라사이트 debate about online learning ¨C and its relationship to 바카라사이트 perceived quality of education.

Students?protested about paying?high fees?when many of 바카라사이트ir lectures were held on Zoom and 바카라사이트 Westminster government made it a priority to ensure academics were back in classrooms as soon as Covid restrictions allowed.

Professor Thomson said he can see how 바카라사이트 government¡¯s position could be partially justified ¡°by 바카라사이트 fear that all students who have signed up for on-campus degrees [are] suddenly being told, ¡®No, most of your stuff is being delivered online¡¯¡±. But, he said, he does not think that is what anybody in 바카라사이트 sector wants.

¡°We recognise those who have signed up for on-campus experiences should get that predominantly. What we don¡¯t want to lose sight of is 바카라사이트 potential for using o바카라사이트r modes to give a holistically better experience,¡± he added.

The next cohort of students starting in Manchester in September are unlikely to experience 바카라사이트 types of hybrid learning that may be introduced fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line because 바카라사이트ir programmes have already been designed months in advance.

But 바카라사이트y will be invited to help shape 바카라사이트 course structures for 바카라사이트ir peers in 바카라사이트 future and Professor Thomson said he is approaching this with an open mind.

¡°We want 바카라사이트m to think about what this concept means in terms of 바카라사이트ir learning and 바카라사이트 opportunities it provides for future ambitions,¡± he said.

¡°Being a learner in a flexible learning environment, we might argue, would help 바카라사이트m transition into employment in a hybrid environment. But we don¡¯t want to presume any of this.

¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 danger here ¨C 바카라사이트re has been a lot of presumption that online is not good. We want to say we think 바카라사이트re is value in it, and we are going to try it out with staff and students.¡±

While he does not yet have all 바카라사이트 answers, Professor Thomson said that in future, flexibility could apply to students¡¯ pathways through 바카라사이트ir degrees, or 바카라사이트 pace at which 바카라사이트y take and complete modules, as well as 바카라사이트 place where learning happens.

Crucial to 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 strategy is ensuring students know what 바카라사이트y are signing up for in advance because this lack of choice has been seen as a key reason why some were so dissatisfied with 바카라사이트ir pandemic experiences.

¡°If we¡¯ve designed a blended programme it needs to be marketed as that and it should be clear how much is on-campus and how much online. That¡¯s what we need to get to now,¡± Professor Thomson said.

¡°We¡¯ve all experienced some of 바카라사이트 access benefits of working in online spaces. What we now need to do is structure that into what a well-designed blended course looks like and 바카라사이트n begin to offer that out to students.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com