A hybrid-blended class refers to a model of course design that combines traditional classroom learning with online or out-of-class coursework activities. At MSMC, a hybrid course is defined as a course where a portion, but not all, of traditional face-to-face class time is replaced with online or out-of-class coursework that is planned and scheduled on a regularly occurring basis.

Hybrid-Blended Courses (30-80% online)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Easier for instructors to know their students A wider range of learning opportunities to make the best use of each modality More opportunities to document student learning Student authentication easier to establish — instructors have the chance to interact with students both face-to-face and online Technological problems handled in both the face-to-face and online environments	Less convenient for out-of-state students Decreased face-to-face class meetings might be mistaken for a lessened course workload Continued use of on-campus physical resources (classroom space, office hours, lab time)

Source: Faculty Reference Manual for Online and Distance Education

The Flipped Classroom

According to the University of Texas at Austin, a flipped class is one that inverts the typical cycle of content acquisition and application, so that students gain necessary knowledge independently before class, and during class instructors guide students to actively and interactively clarify and apply that knowledge.

Hybrid-Flexible (Hy-Flex) Classroom

At Mount Saint Mary College (MSMC), Hybrid-Flexible (Hy-Flex) courses require both face-to-face and virtual (synchronous or asynchronous) learning. This might mean only a few face-to-face sessions are required, or the course may require weekly on-campus meetings. Likewise, Hy-Flex courses may only include a few online requirements, or most activities may occur online. The balance is set by the instructor through the Syllabus and Course Calendar, but students can expect to both visit the physical campus and learn virtually. Online activities, assignments, and resources are offered through eClass (Moodle), the college’s learning management system and/or virtually through Zoom.

Resources

• Hybrid-Flexible Course Design, Brian Beatty, ebook, 2019
• “COVID-19 Planning for Fall 2020: A Closer Look at Hybrid-Flexible Course Design,” Kevin Kelly, blog post on Phil on Ed Tech, May 2020
• “Considering Hybrid (Flexible) Models,” Mindwires podcast, 2020
• “Hyflex Learning,” Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, May 2020
• Discussion About Hy-Flex, POD Network Listserv, 2020
• 7 Things You Should Know About HyFlex, primer from Educause, 2010
• “Introducing a New(-ish) Learning Mode: Blendflex/Hyflex,” Inside Higher Ed article, 2018
• SAMPLE Flexible Physical Classroom Arrangement

Additional Resources
Articles Mount Saint Mary College, Four Ways to Hybridize Your Course Vanderbilt University, Flipping the Classroom Faculty Focus, 7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Classrooms University at Waterloo, Course Design: Planning a Flipped Classroom Harvard University, Flipped Classrooms edutopia, Flipped Classroom	Video Resources  Designing Mobile Friendly Online Courses – Lunch and Learn Webinars 2016 Posting to Forums using Poodll Audio and Video Digital Toolkit for Instructors 2017 – Online Presentations: From PowerPoint to YouTube to Moodle Recording a Lecture Using PowerPoint	Recommended Tools EdPuzzle: Main Website G Suite: G Suite Learning Center Course Videos (Asynchronous)* Video Conference (Synchronous)* *Both can be achieved with Zoom