Challenges and Affordances of Hybrid Learning: A Pilot Study from the Perspective of Teachers and Students at College Foundation Level

Authors

  • Fathimath Shifaza Villa College
  • Aminath Suha Villa College
  • Lamath Mohamed Villa College
  • Fathmath Mazna Mumthaz Villa College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55712/ijsri.v6i2.63

Keywords:

synchronous hybrid teaching and learning, college foundation studies, student engagement

Abstract

The experience of hybrid teaching presented in this paper was shaped by the emergency remote teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic, the affordances of which allowed us to redesign our program to a hybrid mode. In particular, the study highlights strengths, and weaknesses which need to be addressed in curriculum, pedagogy, and technology; to ensure students become successful learners, in hybrid learning contexts. An online survey questionnaire was administered to collect both numerical and written data. Fourteen lecturers who taught in hybrid modality in September 2021 semester at Centre for Foundation Studies at Villa College, and 132 randomly chosen out of the 508 enrolled students participated in this study. The findings of the survey highlighted various challenges faced by the lecturers such as difficulty in engaging with the students, technical issues, and poor student engagement. Similarly, the students noted that they faced various difficulties such as unaffordability of the internet and lack of confidence to interact. Thus, the results prompted a need to further train the lecturers and students on hybrid teaching and learning. Further, the institution needs to establish a mechanism to provide better internet access such as introducing affordable internet packages for the students and develop strategies to support remote students more effectively. The significance of this research is that following the suggested recommendations may aid in enhancing the current hybrid modality experience for both the lecturers and students.

Author Biographies

  • Fathimath Shifaza, Villa College

    Fathimath Shifaza works as a lecturer at the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), Villa College. She holds a master’s degree in Leadership and Management in Education from the University of Newcastle, Australia. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Fathimath Shifaza, email: fathimath.shifaza@villacollege.edu.mv

     

  • Aminath Suha, Villa College

    Aminath Suha is the Deputy Dean of CFS, Villa College. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Nottingham, UK.

     

  • Lamath Mohamed, Villa College

    Lamath Mohamed is an Associate Lecturers at CFS. She is currently completing their master’s degrees from Asia Pacific Institute of Technology, Sri Lanka and Taylor’s University, Malaysia respectively.

     

     

     

  • Fathmath Mazna Mumthaz, Villa College

    Fathmath Mazna is an Associate Lecturers at CFS. She is currently completing their master’s degrees from Asia Pacific Institute of Technology, Sri Lanka and Taylor’s University, Malaysia respectively.

     

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Published

28.12.2022

How to Cite

Challenges and Affordances of Hybrid Learning: A Pilot Study from the Perspective of Teachers and Students at College Foundation Level. (2022). International Journal of Social Research & Innovation, 6(2), 17-45. https://doi.org/10.55712/ijsri.v6i2.63