Camera with microphone on tripod recording instructor in classroom for live streaming

HyFlex teaching: A flexible alternative

What is HyFlex?

HyFlex is a course model that allows students a flexible course structure. Students can attend class sessions in the physical classroom, participate online by viewing the class session’s live streaming, or both. With this model, students can adjust their attendance mode (face-to-face or virtual) from week to week, based on the session topic, or according to personal preferences or needs.


What are the challenges?

Empty university classroom chairsThe primary challenge to HyFlex course delivery is the availability of necessary technology. Each HyFlex course must have a physical classroom with technology capable of video streaming the session to students at home. One classroom management challenge lies in the instructor’s ability to stream the class live online while conducting class in person. HyFlex requires providing the means for students both in the physical classroom and attending virtually to engage in active learning and have an equitable learning experience. In other words, the faculty member would need to plan for two learning modalities for the same course at the same time.


What are the benefits?

Young black woman using laptop while sitting on blue sofa at home

Benefits of the HyFlex model include attendance flexibility for an increasingly non-traditional student body and accommodations for individual students’ personal circumstances. Additionally, this model would (ideally) provide an equal opportunity for students to interact with their classmates and the instructor regardless of the modality the students use to attend class. Moreover, HyFlex allows for increased flexibility in delivering classes online temporarily in the case of emergency situations such as natural disasters, pandemics, and weather events.


Is HyFlex right for me?

Whether HyFlex will work for you and your courses will depend on a number of factors. What is your personal comfort with technology and classroom management challenges? Do your courses lend themselves to the course delivery model? Which campus classroom will you use for the face-to-face delivery? Is it equipped to handle HyFlex? For more information on classroom technology available, visit Division of IT’s (DoIT) Classrooms page.

To discuss technology options, contact DoIT or CITL, and for strategies on teaching in the HyFlex model, contact CITL.


Resources

Visit CITL’s HyFlex Course Model webpage for links to resources on HyFlex course design and delivery.

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