Hyflex

Hyflex, short for Hybrid-Flexible, is a mode of teaching and learning that merges online and in-person students into a single learning environment. It has many forms and definitions based on the learning locations available to students and the flexibility afforded to students to move between them. While there are many definitions of hyflex delivery in post secondary  institutions, the Digital Learning Framework provides this definition of Hyflex Learning as a mode of delivery at Capilano University:

Classes take place simultaneously in-person and synchronous online. Students may choose, or their location may dictate, to attend in-person or online (p. 5).

In practical terms, this means that you will have both in person and online students in synchronous class sessions and you will need to clearly define for your students when or if they can move between these delivery modes during your course. If there are studio or lab components of your course you will need to ensure that online students have the support, materials and tools to meet the learning outcomes in their own environment. 

Many institutions define hyflex as a course that includes in person and online synchronous class participation as well as a parallel asynchronous stream. Students are often permitted to move freely between these three modes of learning. At CapU, we do not include this parallel asynchronous stream in our definition. However, asynchronous learning is a part of every course and provides opportunities outside of the classroom for online and in person students to interact in the same learning space. 

If you are new to teaching in Hyflex at CapU or are curious about this modality and how it might fit in your discipline, we can help acquaint you with the room technology and some strategies for creating a rich learning environment for both online and in-person students. Book a consultation with a Learning and Instructional Design Specialist or send an email to marywatt2@capilanou.ca.