How do you support blended and hybrid learning with your digital platform?

1 Choose a platform that suits your needs

When selecting a digital platform for blended and hybrid learning, there are a few factors to take into account. Consider the ease of use and accessibility for both you and your learners, as well as compatibility and integration with other tools and systems. Additionally, look for customization and adaptability to your curriculum and pedagogy, as well as security and privacy of data and communication. Finally, factor in cost and availability of support and training. Not all digital platforms are created equal; some are designed for specific purposes, while others offer a range of features and functions. Therefore, it is important to choose the right platform to support your goals, preferences, and resources.

2 Align your platform with your learning design

When selecting a platform for your blended and hybrid learning, it is important to ensure that it is aligned with your learning design. This means that the platform should support the learning outcomes, activities, and assessments that you have planned. For example, if you want your learners to collaborate on a project, you need a platform that allows them to communicate, share, and co-create online. If you want your learners to demonstrate their skills, you need a platform that enables them to submit and receive feedback on their work. To align your platform with your learning design, you should map out the learning sequence and identify the role of the platform in each stage. Additionally, the synchronous and asynchronous elements of the platform should be balanced to suit learners' needs and preferences. Furthermore, clear instructions and expectations should be provided for using the platform; and it should be monitored and adjusted as needed based on feedback and data.

3 Engage your learners with your platform

Maintaining learner engagement and motivation across different modes and environments can be a challenge for blended and hybrid learning. Your platform can help you create a sense of community, interaction, and relevance for your learners. For instance, you can use the platform to build rapport and trust with your learners by sharing personal stories, videos, or photos. Additionally, the platform can be used to foster social and emotional learning by creating online spaces for peer support, reflection, or feedback. Moreover, offering different types of content, activities, or assessments can provide choice and autonomy for your learners. You can also connect them with real-world contexts and issues by inviting guest speakers, experts, or mentors. Finally, you can gamify and reward your learners by using badges, points, or leaderboards.

4 Evaluate your platform and your learning

Finally, you need to evaluate your platform and your learning to measure the effectiveness and impact of your blended and hybrid learning. You can use surveys, quizzes, analytics, or portfolios to collect and analyze data and evidence from your platform. When evaluating your platform and your learning, ask yourself questions such as: How well did the platform meet your needs and expectations? How well did it align with your learning design and outcomes? Did it engage and motivate learners? Did it support learner achievement and progress? How can you improve your platform and your learning for the future? A digital platform can provide a flexible, personalized, and engaging learning experience for learners. To make the most of it for blended and hybrid learning, choose, align, engage, and evaluate it carefully to support learning goals and pedagogy.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?