Kimberly Clifford, Assistant Professor of American Sign Language
University of Cincinnati, Clermont College

In a previous article, I shared how I began the journey into the new modality of HyFlex, in which in-person and online students join class simultaneously. At the onset of this experience, I envisioned this to be a temporary season to get us through the time period when students were not coming to campus as before, and then after a time, things would get back to normal. However, we have discovered on our regional college campus that normal has shifted into a more multifaceted picture. Sometimes things do not go as we want or expect, but they help us learn and grow. It is all part of life’s journey… even an unexpected one.  

I cannot say that teaching HyFlex is my top preference. I would much rather have a classroom full of students, which all language teachers know provides vital interactive learning. HyFlex allows a partially full classroom on campus with some students choosing to join virtually.  

I have asked students along this journey why HyFlex is an effective choice for them, and I have heard real stories. In some cases, if not for the HyFlex option, they may drop the class or even drop out of school altogether. Many students would not be able to maintain a full on-campus schedule with their other responsibilities and simply would not take a language if in-person was the only modality offered.

And so, HyFlex continues on. As with any new skill that is difficult at first, more ease comes with practice and trials. Through these last four years, I have gained more comfort in using technology to join those in the room and those on Zoom. I have also gained insight that HyFlex has proven to be a valuable learning option for students.

The stories of my students are the fuel that keep me moving along. Here are some representative examples of how the HyFlex choice has empowered students to enroll in and complete their classes.

Take, for example, a family with an aging grandparent who decided to split up caregiving responsibilities among themselves to allow the family member to stay at home. The college student took the day shift while others were away at jobs. He had a mix of online asynchronous and online synchronous classes in his course load. After making sure Grandpa had access to a drink and a snack, he would sit down at the desk to prepare for class. Joining our class via Zoom gave him the chance to connect with other students, visibly see the lessons, practice in breakout rooms, and still be nearby in case something was needed.

Or the scenario of a student with a long commute from a rural area in a class that meets twice a week. That student knows she benefits from face-to-face learning but is juggling family responsibilities, her job at a local restaurant, the rising costs of gas, and finding time to do homework. Having the option of HyFlex empowers her to decide to attend class once a week in the classroom and once a week virtually, which, in her opinion, is the best of both worlds.

I have heard stories of the son whose mother needs a ride to her cancer treatment, who joins class from a quiet corner of the hospital cafeteria; the spouse who waits in the breakroom until her husband’s shift ends since they share a car; and the family member who takes a break from the family fun for class in the hotel room rather than missing the vacation entirely. Consider a student recovering from illness or surgery, a nursing mother, a student from another state, a CCP student balancing sports, high school classes, and a part-time job, or someone with a car in the shop for a few days. This is real life for some students. It is for their benefit that I will continue to move forward with multi-modal learning like HyFlex classes, which gives more scheduling options, allows students to take classes at other university campuses, and increases enrollments.

What began as an effort of necessity in an unforeseen season has become a tool that has empowered and profited students in my classes and has grown and nourished me, both professionally and personally, in surprising ways.