Decentralized Education in Hybrid Classrooms
Structure for creating inclusive and well-planned lessons in hybrid classrooms to ensure both in-person and online participants receive an equitable learning experience.
To successfully conduct decentralized education with high quality, it's important to be aware that the distribution method during teaching may require certain guidelines and structure to ensure it functions properly.
Before your teaching session, it may be helpful to consider the following:
1. Planning and Lesson Structure:
- Lessons should be planned to include both physical and virtual participants.
- If any materials are to be distributed, they should be shared online so all students can access them equally.
- Test technical equipment (cameras, microphones, speakers) before the lesson begins.
- Plan breaks (preferably together with the students at the start of the lesson). Keep in mind that students at the decentralized location are viewing the session on a screen, which can be more tiring than being physically present in the classroom.
- Set the camera to capture both the teacher and the students in the room so that participants at the decentralized location can see everyone.
2. Interaction
All teaching requires planning, but decentralized teaching may require a bit more structure to ensure all participants have an equal experience:
- Encourage and create opportunities for interaction between physical and decentralized students, but with structure. Inform students how you expect interaction to take place. Should they raise their hands, or how should each participant be given the floor? Otherwise, there’s a risk that participants at the decentralized location will become passive observers.
- Stick to the schedule and agenda – this creates a sense of security for all involved, as digital teaching can create a "gap" even when everyone has access.
- Do not mute the microphones in any of the classrooms – muting creates a lack of interaction and may foster an "us versus them" mentality.
- Inform students about the microphones in the room – that the microphones can pick up whispers, etc.
- Engage with the decentralized location and address everyone.
- Use digital tools like digital whiteboards and collaboration platforms to facilitate interaction.