Benefits and Considerations of Flexible and HyFlex Learning

What are the benefits of teaching flexibly? How can this delivery mode support student learning?

Asking these questions is important to establish a moral purpose to guide flexible delivery. At the heart of flexible delivery is student choice. This choice makes space for the reality of learner variability. Part of teaching in a flexible mode is to believe that flexible delivery has the potential to reduce barriers for students.

For example, a student may be bound to an electronic wheelchair that malfunctions in damp weather, or a student may be suffering from severe anxiety. Without flexible options, both students would be denied access to learning experiences. Thus, flexible teaching has the potential to increase equity among students.

For Students

Benefits and Considerations for Students

Flexible learning has many benefits for students. However, there are also some drawbacks that students might experience in flexible delivery.

Below is an interview with Gustavo Campos, a graduate student who has experienced flexible delivery. Watch this video and consider the questions that appear as he describes his experience in this unique delivery mode.

The table below outlines the benefits and considerations students must navigate in flexible delivery. Review these lists and think about the following question:

How might I structure the learning experience to offset the unique flexible delivery considerations to provide a greater potential of successful learning within my class?

Flexible Learning for Students
Benefits Considerations
  • Greater control over their schedules – flexibility to manage other responsibilities such as jobs and families
  • Less time spent in commuting - without the commute a greater time can be spent on learning

  • Digital by design - flexible courses require all artifacts and elements to be digital by design which means that these courses can be more inclusive
  • The demands of flexible delivery require students to engage in greater executive functioning skills such as time management, personal management, metacognition (deciding which way to participate), and more. This could increase the cognitive load required for successful completion of the course.

  • Increased personal and technical resources are needed to participate synchronously online. These can range from hardware, network, and software needs to the ability to learn through a mediated experience such as synchronously online. This can put some students at a disadvantage

Embedded in flexible delivery must be the belief that all participation modes provide equally valuable learning experiences. Students who may lack self-awareness may choose a delivery mode that does not benefit them; we can support our students in guiding their decision making by building their self-reflection skills.

For Faculty

Benefits and Considerations for Faculty

Flexible teaching provides faculty with some wonderful opportunities. However, there are also drawbacks to flexible delivery for faculty, particularly as they begin.

Flexible Learning for Faculty
Benefits Considerations
  • Providing students with the opportunity to experience learning from various locations means that faculty can serve a greater number of students
  • Flexible delivery also allows faculty to hone their teaching acumen through the adaptability and critical thinking required in this delivery mode
  • If events occur (ex. poor weather conditions) which might prevent the possibility of gathering on campus, an alternative is already built into the learning routine and students can make the transition more fluidly
  • Faculty are required to manage the technical aspects of this flexible delivery mode which can create stress
  • Designing and developing courses that take into consideration the various participation modalities can be time consuming
  • Tracking and monitoring students can be more challenging when students are working in multiple participation modes
References

Beatty, B. J. (2019). Designing a Hybrid-Flexible Course: Creating an Effective Learning Environment for All Students. In B. J. Beatty, Hybrid-Flexible Course Design: Implementing student-directed hybrid classes. EdTech Books. Retrieved from https://edtechbooks.org/hyflex/hyflex_design