IDEAL Consortium is a community of practice for state-level staff who support digital education in WIOA-funded adult education. The IDEAL spring learning circles bring together members from IDEAL states (e.g., state office staff, professional development leaders and facilitators) to share ideas, identify solutions to challenges, and collaboratively develop resources. In 2024, the learning circles convened around these prioritized issues identified by the membership: leveraging Learning Management Systems for quality instruction, teaching hyflex courses, using digital literacy plans, and integrating Artificial Intelligence tools. This blog post is part of a series authored by the IDEAL Learning Circles facilitators, reporting on key insights that grew from them.
The HyFlex model is a relatively new way of thinking about delivering instruction, in which students get to choose how they “attend” – either in person or online and either synchronously or asynchronously. Essentially, that means that learners have three options for how they want to participate:1) in person/in class, 2) online during the synchronous class using a web conferencing app, or 3) completing asynchronous activities. Each mode of instruction is always available, except when in-person classes must be canceled because of weather or other emergencies.
Though it existed prior to the pandemic, HyFlex was popularized during that tumultuous period, as it offered maximum flexibility for learners. Several IDEAL member states have prioritized HyFlex implementation ever since, in order to sustain this flexibility. Setting up a HyFlex program is not a simple matter. To address this challenge, the IDEAL Consortium facilitated a learning circle to discuss strategies for supporting programs and educators who are implementing HyFlex. This offered participants the opportunity to share the types of professional development, resources, and financial support being provided as well as discuss common questions and challenges related to HyFlex implementation. Participants met three times in online meetings facilitated by Destiny Simpson and shared resources using a Padlet.
Goal of the Learning Circle
HyFlex Learning Circle participants continued to dig deeper into how HyFlex learning is a viable program for adult learners and how we can support programs and educators using this instructional model. Our goals were for learning participants to be able to discuss:
- what HyFlex instruction is happening in their state
- the types and formats of HyFlex support provided to educators
- Challenges and possible solutions for HyFlex implementation
We also highlighted how World Education’s HyFlex Guide and video playlist are resources that could support educators implementing this instructional method to support their learners.
Learning Circle Highlights
The Washington DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) staff that participated shared an innovative approach to providing year-long professional development using an action research approach to support programs piloting the HyFlex model with Integrated Education and Training (IET) classes.
California’s Office of Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) shared about a partnership between them and World Education to support a Sweetwater Adult School, a large school district in San Diego, in their efforts to increase HyFlex for their learners. Sweetwater Adult School is taking a year-long professional development approach where all educators receive a mix of in-person and online training in both HyFlex and technology integration.
What We Learned
We shared resources, challenges, and possible solutions on our learning circle Padlet. It includes links to World Education’s HyFlex Guide and HyFlex in Adult Education video series, as well as some initial HyFlex data from CASAS, and tools for learner engagement. Specifically, we learned that in order to succeed with HyFlex:
- Learner engagement in all three modes is critical – We discussed that educators need support to be able to effectively plan engaging instruction in all three models. We shared that the asynchronous mode doesn’t need to just be class recordings, but could be online activities that the teacher develops or identifies, online curriculum, and other activities that meet the learning objectives the synchronous learners are working towards.
- Data collection and effectiveness is an emerging focus – Now that HyFlex is becoming more rooted in adult education programs across the country, the question of data collection and effectiveness came up. We discussed a two-year study of HyFlex that CASAS completed which showed that HyFlex learners at three California classes met or exceeded California’s National Reporting System educational functioning level goals.
- Support for teachers is essential – We discussed the importance of providing initial training as well as ongoing support. This support not only includes technology training and technology support prior to beginning HyFlex teaching, but also as HyFlex classes are beginning. Educators also need additional planning time, especially as they first begin teaching in this new model.
Through the discussion, we confirmed that HyFlex continues to be an important instructional model for providing the flexibility learners need to succeed and that programs and educators implementing it need ongoing support to ensure learner success.
What’s next?
As interest and use of HyFlex in adult foundational education continues to grow and evolve, we plan to continue sharing innovative practices with others. Several of our participants hope to share their HyFlex efforts through conference presentations and blogs. In addition, HyFlex will be a topic discussed at the IDEAL Summer Institute. World Education will also be updating the HyFlex Guide. If you have HyFlex experiences you’d like to share, please contact Jen Vanek at jen_vanek@worlded.org.
IDEAL Consortium is open to any state. If you are an edtech or professional development leader in your state, we invite you to explore membership for your state to be part of this dynamic and forward-thinking community. Any educator can join our monthly EdTech Strategy Session webinars.
Read about our other Learning Circles: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy Planning
