The Challenges of Hybrid Learning and the Benefits of Online School
byConnections Academy
7 min to read
Not that long ago, the vast majority of K–12 learning happened in brick-and-mortar public schools. But the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic has ignited a nationwide shift. Already, traditional public schools have lost at least 1.2 million students to brick-and-mortar alternatives and every day more students and parents decide it’s time to make the move.
In many cases, parents are seeking educational opportunities that allow them to be more involved in their children’s learning while giving their children more flexibility. One option is hybrid learning, which many families have already experienced due to the way traditional public schools responded to the pandemic.
Hybrid learning—also called blended learning—combines time in a physical classroom with time learning at home online. Since parents and students tend to know the benefits and challenges of blended learning quite well, moving to a school dedicated to hybrid learning might make sense. However, it may not always be the best option for everyone.
Fully online schools offer many of the same benefits while addressing the most common challenges of hybrid learning. Here are the top four challenges of hybrid learning and how the benefits of online learning provide a solution:
Learning Schedules
Challenge:
While hybrid learning gives students more flexibility in their daily schedules than a 100% in-person school does, that flexibility is limited. Hybrid learning still requires students to regularly go to a physical school and attend class at a specific time.
Hybrid learning’s lack of a consistent, daily routine can throw off some students and make it hard for them to stay on track with assignments. Likewise, working parents can struggle to manage the back-and-forth schedule—particularly the transportation needs. And then there are students who simply can’t attend physical school, whether that’s due to health reasons or because they’re a young athlete or performer who frequently travels.
Solution:
Online school offers the level of flexibility many students and parents are seeking. Instead of going back-and-forth between locations, online school students can complete all their schoolwork from home or from wherever else they need to be.
Most classes allow students to complete their lessons at the daily and weekly pace that works best for them. If a student would rather focus on math in the morning and English in the afternoon—or vice versa—that is often possible. If they need to spend more time on math and need less time with English, that is also possible thanks to online school’s flexibility.
However, online public schools still include real-time learning, just like hybrid schools do. For example, students at Connections Academy® attend a variety of LiveLesson® sessions held at specific times on specific days. The difference is that the real-time classes are virtual so students don’t have to travel to attend them.
The benefits of online learning also make online school more manageable for working parents. They—with the guidance of teachers and staff—can help their children set their schedules in a way that works for everyone in the family.
Curriculum Delivery
Challenge:
Because hybrid learning relies on spending time in a physical classroom, the curriculum tends to favor the “teacher-lectures-to-the-class” model of education. This is fine when the students are in the classroom. But one of the challenges of hybrid learning is figuring out how to translate that model to an online environment.
Studies have shown that live streams of a teacher conducting a traditional class have the lowest level of engagement out of all the different presentation styles of online educational content. This method of delivering a curriculum simply doesn’t engage enough students enough of the time.
Solution:
Quality online schools deliver their curriculum in ways that are designed by experts to be interactive and effective. For example, Connections Academy has spent more than 20 years perfecting online public school and provides a comprehensive curriculum that keeps students motivated and leads them forward.
Students who attend Connections Academy experience the best of real-time and anytime learning led by certified teachers trained in online education. Rather than staring at a screen and watching a class unfold, students explore every lesson, engaging fully with the material and applying what they learn to projects.
This method of learning helps students build their critical-thinking skills along with life skills like adaptability and responsibility. And it’s not just about building their minds and character. Online schools also provide students with opportunities to pursue whatever physical education they enjoy most.
However, students are never on their own. Whenever they need assistance, their teachers are readily available. Plus, they can turn to a parent serving as their Learning Coach and/or collaborate with peers if they need extra help. Delivering a curriculum in a way that lets students actively learn is one of the primary benefits of online learning and helps ensure that students have what they need to succeed in the classroom and the world ahead.
Learning Environment
Challenge:
For students and parents seeking an alternative to traditional, in-person school, hybrid learning has one major drawback: it’s not entirely an alternative. The fact that students still have to go to a physical classroom is one of the main challenges of hybrid learning for any student who can’t—or would prefer not to—spend time in a traditional school environment.
Some students have health concerns that make face-to-face learning worrisome or even dangerous. Others face social concerns and challenges. Some simply want a learning environment that’s more welcoming and secure. In all of these cases, hybrid learning may not be a great option.
Solution:
Whatever a student’s specific challenges, strengths, or needs, a quality online school can help them thrive. That’s because online school has the ability to deliver different learning experiences to different types of learners.
Many students benefit greatly from the simple fact that online school lets them learn from the controlled environment of their home. But the benefits of online school go well beyond location.
At an online school like Connections Academy, students work with parents, teachers, and staff to put together an individualized learning plan focused on their unique needs and specific goals. Those who need additional help can find specialized courses and support from counselors and teachers. Those who want to accelerate their learning can move at a faster pace and take advanced courses. And those who want to go into college or start a career right out of high school can find the courses and support they need as well.
There’s also plenty of socialization opportunities. Online student clubs give students the chance to meet peers virtually and explore their interests together. And, for those who are comfortable meeting peers in-person, field trips allow students to gather and learn in their hometown.
Parental Support
Challenge:
Most children learning outside of a traditional, physical classroom rely on their parents or guardians for support. While the level of support they need varies by student, it’s unusual for students to learn online without at least some parental assistance. And yet many hybrid learning experiences provide little to no support for those parents.
Even hybrid schools that are addressing this particular challenge of hybrid learning are typically just beginning to formulate a plan. That leaves many parents uncertain how to be the resource their child needs.
Solution:
Quality online schools know that learning is a collaboration between the school and parents. That’s why a school like Connections Academy considers parents to be more than simply parents; they’re Learning Coaches.
As a Learning Coach, you can be there for your child and help them learn in the way that works best for them. For many parents, spending more time with their child and being involved in their learning is an extraordinary opportunity. Best of all, at an online school like Connections Academy, Learning Coaches are appreciated and well-supported along the way.
Connections Academy provides Learning Coaches with a wide range of resources designed to answer questions and supply expert guidance. Support starts with an online orientation that Learning Coaches attend before school even begins and continues with a large database of resources along with parent groups that exchange tips and strategies.
Learning Coaches can also reach out to the school at any time. Whether their child is struggling with a specific assignment or is facing a larger challenge, teachers, staff, and counselors are there to helpboth the student and their Learning Coach.
Choosing what school to send your child to is a difficult decision. If the challenges of hybrid learning give you pause, online school could be the solution you and your child need. See how you can make the change with our article on transferring to online school.
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