Faculty Guide to Post-Pandemic Teaching in a Flexible Environment

In this presentation, we will share the results of our rapid review of current literature around course modalities, and best practices for selecting and applying modalities. A rapid review allows for us to create a non-bias snapshot of the research in the post-pandemic time period where we know research being published on course delivery modalities are constantly changing due to the nature of the “now normal”.  For the purposes of our research and presentation, our inclusion criteria will include blended, hybrid, hyflex, flex, online, and synchronous vs. asynchronous as course modalities to give a broad look at a narrow question: “What modality will work best for your course?”. Since flexible learning post-pandemic looks and is defined differently by many, our aim is to create an easy way for faculty to define and apply flexible learning in their teaching environment. This will include research into different blended modalities and how they are defined, how to use or apply different modalities, criteria to consider for selecting a modality including impact on students. An important component of our presentation will be the opportunity for attendees to reflect on and discuss their own modalities, decision-making around modalities, and how current practices are flexible or inflexible towards student needs. We also plan to discuss how student input or feedback might drive decision making around modality.

Our interest in this topic directly relates to our work and institutions. As presenters, we work at different institutions in instructional support positions with professional programs that seek to meet the needs of our students. Our respective institutions have adapted the course modality of programs creating more flexible learning opportunities to meet the needs of our students. As our institutions and others continue to consider creating flexible learning environments, basing the decisions on research and pointing to best practices for application will be essential. This research and case studies is not only important to faculty, but also instructional designers and administrators. We are all trying to figure out how best to meet the needs of our students post-pandemic, and this research is fundamental to how higher education moves forward. 

Many of the flexible course delivery modalities, like hyflex, have emerged and disrupted higher education in the past year. The main driver for these modalities is putting the student at the center of the class experience and the plan for scaling. As institutions and faculty are deciding which course delivery modality is the best for them, a guide to teaching flexible environments in post-pandemic is essential to helping to inform and shape the classroom of the future. 

Planned questions for discussion with peers throughout the presentation: 

1. What modalities do you use at your institution?

2. How do you make the decision on what modality to use?

3. How do you measure modality effectiveness? 

4. How do you gather input or feedback on student preferences on modality?

Takeaways:

• Best practices on course delivery modalities, and how to choose one and apply it in the most effective way possible.

• Rapid Review  of literature to support decision making.

• Opportunity for discussion with peers on modalities.

• Case studies of students in different models.