HyFlex is a hybrid course that permits flexible learner attendance. Learners may attend along a spectrum from fully online through full in-person (face-to-face). There are 4 pillars of HyFlex.
HyFlex Pillars
- Learner Choice: Learners, not the instructor determines when and how they will participate within guidelines. Often, participation options may change by topic, week, module, lesson, etc.
- Equivalency: Learning activities regardless of delivery mode support the same learning outcome(s).
- Reusability: is the use of the same learning objects (artifacts) for all students in all participation modes.
- Accessibility: Learners need the technology and skills to use the technology to access course materials. The instructor ensures that the learner has access to the required technology, skills training and support to be successful.
Learner Choice and Activity Equivalence
It is often the choice and equivalency pillars that determine whether a course is truly delivered as HyFlex. Who determines how and when the learner participates? The instructor or the learner? For example, a hybrid or blended course in which learners attend part of the time in-person (on Mondays, for example) and part of the time online (on Wednesdays, for example) is not flexible. However, if the learner may opt-in to participate online rather than in-person, the course may be considered HyFlex. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, I shifted the traditional HyFlex description differentiation of place to differentiation by time. Previously the description (not rigid) was that a HyFlex course was offered face-to-face or online (asynchronously or synchronously). In COVID-19 times, there may be fewer options. Therefore, I define HyFlex courses as delivered synchronously (in-person or online) or asynchronously online. The main consideration is flexible option and learner choice.
Multimodal Course Design and HyFlex Course Delivery
In addition, I separate the course design process from the course delivery. I am an advocate of multimodal course design and HyFlex course delivery. The difference is nuanced. For me, a multimodal design is designing for all delivery potential modes at the same time. Equivalency should be part of the design criteria. Multimodal design can be delivered in any mode including HyFlex. HyFlex delivery permits learner participation choice whereas blended or hybrid delivered courses may not and usually do not.