Coming by way of COVID and having efficiently managed the strain faculties and universities skilled, establishments have discovered worth in versatile course fashions.  

The bimodal versatile course mannequin has not been researched or carried out as extensively because the trimodal mannequin, generally known as HyFlex. There are lots of articles and experiments performed with HyFlex course design, and at present, it’s the most versatile possibility obtainable for college kids because it presents college students 3 ways to attend and take part in every class session all through the length of a course. “HyFlex programs present the capability for applications to serve distant college students along with offering comfort and options to regional college students” (Beatty, 2019a). 

With that stated, the trimodal course mannequin does have some inherent challenges.  “These advantages come at a value; prices borne by college students, prices borne by instructors and designers, and prices borne by directors at establishments selecting to implement HyFlex approaches” (Beatty, 2019b). Educators face a problem in delivering content material as a result of abundance of expertise, coupled with the expectation to concurrently instruct two distinct units of learners (these on-line and people current in particular person). Moreover, instructors want to make sure asynchronous learners are receiving the training assets inside the studying administration system (LMS) and the assist they should succeed. “HyFlex programs place an excessive amount of strain on instructors to cater as much as three completely different studying environments without delay” (Leboff, 2020). Establishments could discover it expensive to undertake, uphold, and handle this method. Moreover, there is perhaps a requirement to supply coaching for educators on the utilization of latest applied sciences. Lastly, when providing three selections to college students for every class session, it could imply that college students are unfold throughout codecs, with just a few attending the in-person periods (or the synchronous on-line periods). 

The bimodal versatile course mannequin is a straightforward idea. It combines present processes and assets in new methods to supply versatile choices for pupil attendance and participation in programs.   

What’s bimodal versatile (ByFlex) course design? 

Bimodal versatile (or ByFlex) course design presents college students two choices for attending and collaborating, on-line or on campus, after which presents two extra choices, synchronous or asynchronous. It gives college students with flexibility in how they like to attend and take part in programs from session to session all through the course length. This permits college students to customise a school-work-life steadiness that works for his or her particular state of affairs and wishes. See choices and Determine 1 under. 

1. On campus (in-person) on the time the course is scheduled, concurrently the educator, or asynchronously on-line at a time the scholar prefers. 

2. On-line synchronously on the time the course is scheduled, concurrently the educator, or asynchronously on-line at a time the scholar prefers. 

The bimodal course mannequin makes use of present lecture rooms with no pressing want to change or replace applied sciences. Delivering programs on this method is extra easy for educators in comparison with a trimodal strategy. They concentrate on instructing one group of synchronous learners at a time, both on-line or within the classroom, however not each concurrently. Educators make sure the asynchronous learners are receiving the training assets inside the LMS and the assist they should succeed. “Mixing synchronous and asynchronous permits us to achieve the distinctive advantages from every modality whereas overcoming the distinctive limitations” (Shank, 2020).   

Versatile programs could assist establishments improve total course enrollment by providing further schedule and placement flexibility to college students (Beatty, 2019b). Versatile programs could assist establishments of their retention efforts by decreasing course withdrawal charges as a result of college students will higher be capable to handle their time to be able to meet course targets (Beatty, 2019b). Via a number of modes of participation, college students profit from enhanced entry to programs, larger management over their schedules, and a wealth of studying assets. A number of modes of participation usually require extra sturdy educational supplies, enabling richer instruction and offering further alternatives for studying (Beatty, 2019b). College students could really feel much less stress by having management over their schedules. 

Some bimodal versatile programs are designed with two synchronous choices (Concordia, n.d.).  College students could attend in-person, within the classroom, or they could attend on-line synchronously, however both possibility requires college students to attend on the time the category is scheduled with the professor and, subsequently, will not be versatile sufficient to fulfill college students’ wants. This mannequin additionally requires the professor to handle two teams of synchronous learners in two completely different supply modes on the identical time, thus, having related challenges as trimodal supply. 

The web course designed with bimodal flexibility gives college students with choices for attending on-line both synchronously or asynchronously.  Introducing the selection for asynchronous pupil attendance and engagement may need been a response to cut back the prevalence of “Zoom fatigue.” “Anybody who has ever suffered from ‘Zoom fatigue’ can also attest to the inherent challenges of studying solely in synchronous on-line periods” (Martin, 2021).   

Primarily, the ByFlex course design provides an asynchronous choice to both a web based synchronous course or an on campus, within the classroom, course. This bimodal versatile course mannequin provides college students the flexibleness to be taught at their very own tempo whereas  additionally offering them the chance for instant suggestions and interplay. The distinction within the elevated quantity of flexibility college students expertise between a trimodal and a bimodal course is negligible, however the prices, time, and energy required to design, implement, and preserve a trimodal course are much more substantial than that required to design a bimodal course. 

The subsequent time your establishment is planning or growing versatile programs for college kids, ask your self the next questions earlier than you determine on a course mannequin:

• What are the explanations we’re doing this?
• Are trimodal programs actually well worth the quantity of funding, coaching, and assist required?
• Does the bimodal course mannequin provide college students the quantity of flexibility they worth?
• Can the establishment and educators assist the bimodal versatile course mannequin higher than the trimodal mannequin? 

Kerri Shields has been a school professor for 20+ years and has taught many programs in enterprise, administration, advertising, and knowledge techniques.  She has designed programs for hybrid, in-classroom, and on-line supply, and has noticed the professionals and cons of every supply technique. She enjoys studying as a lot as she does educating and understands that college students have assorted studying kinds and wishes. Shields has additionally revealed a e book on bimodal versatile supply: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/byflex/ 

References 

Beatty, B. (2019a). Hybrid-flexible course design. (ch 1.1) https://edtechbooks.org/hyflex  

Beatty, B. (2019b). Hybrid-flexible course design. (ch 1.2) https://edtechbooks.org/hyflex  

Concordia College. (n.d.) Bimodal lecture rooms. https://www.concordia.ca/ctl/educating/bimodal-classrooms.html  

Leboff, D. (2020, June 12). What it’s good to learn about Hyflex programs. https://tophat.com/weblog/what-you-need-to-know-about-hyflex-courses/  

Martin, F. (2021, Might 27). Bichronous on-line studying: Is mixing asynchronous & synchronous the most effective strategy? https://interactions.aect.org/bichronous-online-learning-is-blending-asynchronous-and-synchronous-the-best-approach/  

Shank, P. (2020, July 24). (The correct) studying modalities to ship digital studying: Half 5. https://elearningindustry.com/blending-asynchronous-and-synchronous-digital-learning-modalities-part-5