ActiveFlex Learning: Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide in Higher Education Access Through Flexible, Engaged Pedagogical Innovation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Rural Students Reimagined: Identity, Belonging, and Access in Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines the development and implementation of ActiveFlex learning as a pedagogical innovation designed to enhance college access and success for rural students. Building on the foundation of hyflex learning, ActiveFlex incorporates active learning principles and collaborative engagement to address the unique challenges faced by rural students in accessing higher education. Through a mixed-methods approach analyzing pilot implementations at {university name redacted}, this practitioner research demonstrates how ActiveFlex learning can provide equivalent educational experiences across multiple modalities while specifically addressing barriers that disproportionately affect rural student populations. Results indicate significant improvements in student satisfaction, engagement, and persistence, with particular benefits for students unable to consistently attend traditional face-to-face classes due to geographic, economic, or social constraints common in rural communities.

Authors

• Katherine R. Kandalec Holm, Athens State University

• Mark Gale, Athens State University