Introduction

  • 5 minutes

An effective hybrid learning environment incorporates best learning practices for adolescent learners, while leveraging the power of the latest technology to ensure secondary students have the tools they need to succeed. To successfully implement a hybrid model, secondary educators should: 

  • Internalize Organization and Time Management Skills: Adolescence is a time of rapid cognitive, emotional, and physical growth with many opportunities to enhance students' executive functioning skills. The hybrid framework must provide a structure that models exemplary organization and communication structures, particularly as students adapt to managing their learning across multiple hybrid courses and in-person and online environments. The learning environment must also provide students with opportunities to enhance their time-management skills and create organizational systems that meet their individual needs. Read more about the adolescent brain and organization in "Brain Development and Adolescent Growth Spurts" 

  • Enhance Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Students are best served when they are actively constructing and applying their knowledge. Hybrid learning must support cultivating innovation and provide opportunities for students to apply their critical thinking skills while solving real-world, meaningful problems. 

  • Collaborate Effectively: Strong collaborators know the power of leveraging multiple perspectives to determine and implement meaningful solutions. The hybrid learning environment must provide space for students to work together in both formal and informal ways. 

  • Explore their Role as Global Citizens: Coursework must provide students with a global-lens to develop compassionate and inquisitive citizens of a global community. An effective hybrid course can foster more frequent and meaningful global learning experiences for learners.

How do educators accomplish these goals in a constantly changing environment?

Microsoft 365 is a dynamic system that provides all the digital tools for current academic success and future college and career readiness. This module highlights how to use Office 365 tools like Teams and other applications to achieve the goals above through the following focus areas: 

  • Learning environment
  • Class community
  • Lesson design
  • Engagement and interactivity
  • Assessment and feedback