Introduction
Around the world, primary-age educators and students are engaging in a hybrid learning model; teaching and learning takes place in school and virtually online through both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Primary-age children learning in a hybrid model need connection, engagement, and feedback. Educators, using lesson design concepts of backwards planning and universal design for learning, have the opportunity to create lessons that meet each student's needs through student-centered learning. A successfully organized hybrid classroom allows the learning process to continue seamlessly alternating between in-school and online learning.
Microsoft and its partners have developed tools to assist educators in developing their hybrid classrooms. Office 365 and incorporated tools such as Teams are used in a hybrid classroom for communication and collaboration. Teams is a hub for all in-person and online learning. Developing a digital classroom for use in the multimodal environment enhances the experience for both teaching and learning. Along with Teams, educators can incorporate other tools as an extension of the classroom. Simplicity and consistency from start to finish allows primary-age students to have a positive learning experience that is engaging and interactive, whether in school or at home online.