Teaching Across Modalities: Exploring Instructor Presence in HyFlex Environments

• In Event: Revolutionizing Instructional Technology

Abstract

HyFlex environments simultaneously combine face-to-face and online learning to offer students flexibility with how they participate. HyFlex learning experiences are increasingly being offered. Using a case study-mixed methods approach, we share the instructional approaches and perspectives of three instructors teaching the same introductory undergraduate design-thinking course. Additionally, we compare student Community of Inquiry survey responses, to explore whether differences in instructor presence associated with measurable differences in students’ perceptions. Results highlight several ways that instructors establish and maintain their presence in HyFlex environments. Although key differences existed across individual instructor’s approaches, these differences did not appear to significantly impact students’ perceptions. A commonality across each case was how each leveraged technology affordances to create presence.

Authors

• Adrie A. Koehler, Purdue University

• Lakshmy Mohandas, Purdue University

• Nathan Mentzer, Purdue University

• Shawn Farrington, Purdue University

• Elnara Mammadova, Purdue University