Hybrid Education in Higher Education on the Example of Academic Teachers' Experiences in Post-pandemic Reality

Abstract

The article concerns the experiences of academic teachers related to hybrid education at the end of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic. The aim of the study was to understand the lecturers' perspective on hybrid education implemented in the first semester of the 2021/2022 academic year at The Maria Grzegorzewska University and an attempt to compare it with traditional education and distance education. The subject of the research was, among others, readiness to implement hybrid teaching, university support for lecturers in the field of hybrid teaching and the diversity of experiences of academic teachers. The research used the method of diagnostic survey. The obtained results indicate that the lecturers declare their readiness to conduct hybrid teaching, especially in the case of their own or students' illness, or random factors that make it impossible to conduct full-time classes or top-down legal regulations. They appreciate the organizational support of their immediate supervisor and the opportunity to make up for classes that have not taken place in a hybrid form. The lecturers highly assess the level of their own involvement in the preparation and conduct of classes, as well as the quality of their didactic work. They see the possibility of using a hybrid approach not only in teaching but also in their self-improvement, work organization and maintaining health. At the same time, they indicate the shortcomings and difficulties related to didactics, social, technical, and organizational aspects, as well as systemic deficiencies. Based on the results, recommendations related to the use of hybrid education in post-pandemic academic education were developed. © The Author(s).