Four Tips To Increase Student Engagement In Hybrid Learning

Ankur Goel Feb 10, 2022

Ever since the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in the usage of technology amongst educational institutions in India. The doors it has opened in terms of accessibility and impact, especially in our country's tier 2 cities, have been phenomenal. While everyone is aware of the advantages of hybrid learning, such as increased accessibility, flexibility, and convenience for students and teachers, one of the biggest challenges to the hybrid education model remains – having an interactive, impactful remote learning experience. Given that today, schools and colleges are back to the online education model as the pandemic continues, they are under tremendous pressure to deliver a high-impact learning experience, regardless of the student location.

Making the most of the hybrid education setup

One of the most common complaints from teachers and parents is that it is difficult to engage with students remotely. Educators constantly worry that students’ attention will wander, and they may slack off during school hours. Therefore, it is important that the education experience is the same for all students regardless of their location, whether they are learning from the classroom or attending the lessons remotely.

Here are four tips on how educational institutes can get the most out of their hybrid education setup:

1 – Deploy suitable equipment

School budgets are often stretched, but the pandemic has demonstrated that some priorities must be readjusted. Funding for IT equipment may need to take precedence over certain other projects. With virtual classrooms and online classes, internet connection speed, audio, and video quality are paramount. Clear audio help people retain more information.

Studies have found that nearly half of virtual meetings have hardware or software technical issues, with background noise and audio quality issues frequent problems. Supplying students and staff with dedicated headsets – which can also help protect against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) needs to be prioritized.

2- Curate the best sources

Even before the move to the online education system, students have increasingly used online sources rather than libraries and textbooks for research. Students were also more likely to select learning resources based on peer recommendation rather than teaching staff.

Educators must curate a library of suggested links and online resources to help students navigate digital materials. By doing so, teachers can help provide access to the right study materials for students, and this also serves as additional research material to understand the concept much better. It is estimated that there are over 70 lakh educational videos on YouTube; this in itself acts as a vast resource.

3- Make it interactive

Educators must adapt their techniques to cater to an online audience. By assisting lessons with video tool extensions such as interactive whiteboards, videos, content sharing, Q&A, chat, polls, and other methods, the online experience can be enhanced for students; thus, increasing the overall engagement and learning experience.

4- Invest in an excellent video conferencing system for teachers

Educators who teach students from their homes want the freedom to move around just like they do in the classroom. But when they are using cameras on PCs and laptops, getting up and pointing to something on a board or a makeshift chalkboard takes them out of the frame, and their audio quickly degrades as well.

We can solve this problem by investing in a really good video conferencing device that delivers powerful audio and incredibly sharp video. While investing in this device, educators must keep in mind that it can also work with multiple cloud platforms, from Zoom to Google to Microsoft Teams. Also, if the device has features like the presenter mode tracking that lets the camera follow naturally, from a sitting position to walking about, it makes the interaction feel as real as possible.

By adopting the right technology effectively, students can stay engaged, feel connected, and remain focused, and educators can provide the best learning experiences possible.