Tips and knacks for hybrid teaching

Hybrid teaching can take many forms, but there are a couple of things that are always worth bearing in mind. Here you will find tips on technology, educational approach and communication to help you when planning hybrid teaching.

Technology

Good sound quality is key to successful hybrid teaching and this sometimes requires a little preparatory work. Can all students hear each other, and can all the students hear you? A common problem is that the students who are attending online cannot hear the students on campus, in which case portable microphones can be a solution. Otherwise the lecturer must compensate for this, for example by repeating all the questions asked so that everyone can hear. 

Consider the camera’s position in the room. It is important to ensure that the lecturer is always visible on camera, so if you want to move around the room the camera must follow you.

You need to check the technology in advance in the room where you will be giving the lecture. If the technology is available in the room, you need to make sure in advance that you know how to use it. When testing the technology, it is advisable to check both the sending side and the receiving side, so that you know what it looks like. It is a good idea to set aside a little time at the start of the session to enable everyone to test the technology. 

If you are going to bring portable technology, it (usually) needs to be booked and, there too, you need to learn how it works. Check with your department what devices are available.

As a teaching staff member, you need to know how to schedule a Zoom meeting with the correct settings:

• Read the Zoom guide in Canvas: Creating safe meeting spaces for you and your students

Educational approach

A common problem in hybrid teaching is that campus participants have greater opportunity for active participation than online students, so plan for how you will involve the online group. One possibility is to use interactive tools such as the chat function in Zoom, Mentimeter and Padlet so that all those attending the session can contribute on an equal footing.

• Time to vote – Now we have Mentimeter
• Padlet now available at LU

One risk in hybrid teaching is that all technology in the form of cameras and microphones can scare the students off participating actively in the lecture. Try to plan your teaching in such a way that interactivity is not based only on oral communication. 

If you want to use small groups, the simplest way is to keep campus students and online students separate, as this reduces the risk of technical problems within the groups.  

Communication

The students need to be informed about how the teaching will be structured and what applies for participation online and on site. They also need to know what to expect if they participate online; are there opportunities to ask questions during the lecture and, if so, how? Can they get access to the material shown? 

Some students will have problems getting connected via Zoom. There is a section on this in the student guide in Canvas to be sent out to all students to enable them to log in and join the meeting without problems. Share this link with them well in advance: 

• Logging into Zoom

 Take part of the complete guide for students in Canvas: 

• Student guide