THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING METHODOLOGIES, POST-COVID; HYBRID VS. HI-FLEX MODELS

"COVID-19 has changed the world in so many ways, including how health, science, and politics interface; how global finances are influenced by a pandemic; and how education is delivered. Many challenges were faced when traditional brick-and-mortar colleges and universities shifted abruptly from face-to-face teaching delivery methods to online teaching. Some of those challenges were based on social inequities, including access to laptops and to internet service, as well as access to childcare or eldercare services. As instructors from these institutions have been returning to the classroom, a fresh round of challenges are being faced, including an unwillingness of many students to return to campus, and a student demand for online access, even for face-to-face courses. The motivation for this paper came from my experiences as department head, fielding ongoing questions from full time and adjunct faculty as well as students about the benefits of hybrid vs. hi-flex teaching models. My objective was to explore the research in order to provide a more definitive response, and to smooth the class modality/scheduling process. A literature review was conducted, as were interviews with online education experts. The benefits and drawbacks of hybrid vs. hi-flex teaching methods have been defined and articulated."