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HOW to get Back into the classroom

The COVID-19 pandemic created an immediate demand for distance learning models of education. Over 400 million educators and students were forced to quickly transition from a traditional, in-person model of teaching to remote learning. Educators spent countless hours creating and developing remote and hybrid learning environments for their students. In the process, they forever reinvented what K-12 instruction looks like.

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Administrators, educators, and parents are all getting more familiar with the new educational lexicon: in-person learning, distance learning, remote learning, hybrid learning, blended learning, and  hyflex learning. Read here what the different models entail:

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In person learning

In-person learning is any form of instructional interaction that occurs “in person” and in real time between teachers and students or among colleagues and peers.

Distance learning

Distance Learning is a way of educating students online. Lectures and learning materials are distributed over the internet.  Students work from home, not in the classroom.  Remote learning provides an opportunity for students and teachers to remain connected and engaged with the content while working from their homes. Distance learning falls into two main categories: synchronous and asynchronous:

  • Synchronous means “at the same time.” It refers to a method of education delivery that happens in real-time. It requires live communication online. It uses technology, such as teleconferencing, to achieve this

  • Asynchronous distance education refers to a method of education delivery  in which students receive clusters of weekly deadlines. They have the freedom to work at their own speed.

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Hybrid and Hyflex learning

Hybrid Learning  was born out of the desire to capitalize on the benefits of both in-person and distance learning.  Sometimes referred to as blended learning,  hybrid learning combines face-to-face instruction with online learning. It blends the intimacy and immediacy of traditional face-to-face instruction with the flexibility of asynchronous and synchronous online learning.  Hybrid learning lends itself to individualized learning, collaboration via online discussions, and several modes of interacting with course content for different learning styles.

HyFlex is a course design model that presents the components of hybrid learning in a flexible course structure that gives students the option of attending sessions in the classroom, participating online, or doing both. Students can change their mode of attendance weekly or by topic, according to need or preference.

Going Forward:

Many of the flexible learning models which became necessary during the pandemic will remain an existing part of education system.  At the very least, schools  and teachers are now equipped to shift between remote and in-person instruction seamlessly, possibly making snow days and other learning interruptions a thing of the past.

As one superintendent told Education Week, “There’s no going back now.” Being able to learn remotely makes education more convenient for some students, such as those who have health problems or those who feel threatened while at school.

In a survey by the RAND Corporation last fall, 10% of K-12 leaders said they were thinking of continuing to offer a blended or hybrid learning model even after the pandemic is over, and 20% said they would consider offering a fully remote option for students.

LightWerks Supports ALL Teaching and Learning Models

As schools pivoted from in-person to remote and hybrid learning this past year, technology solutions were key to delivering quality, continuous learning. LightWerks partnered with several educational institutions to ensure that they were set up for success as they pioneered remote models.  As restrictions lifted, and in-person schooling began resuming, schools started looking to technology to help them meet these emerging needs. Our team has worked with numerous schools to transition to hybrid and in-person instruction.

Through the integration of the right tools, teachers can bridge the gap between students learning online and those physically in school. LightWerks specializes in equipping schools with technologies and strategies that empower successful learning.  We strive to drive participation and collaboration among students by ensuring that every student can be seen and heard regardless of his or her learning location.

Ask us about how we can integrate video conferencing, audio solutions, interactive touch panels, high definition projection, document cameras, video walls, and more into your learning environment!

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