Information Technology Services (ITS) at the University of T recently hybrid hubis a web page with information for educators about available services and support for hybrid work. Hybrid work includes both in-person and remote components.
The purpose of the Hybrid Hub is to provide the necessary support for effective hybrid work by acknowledging the services already available to the T University community.
The decision to return to face-to-face learning for the Winter 2022 term has received a lot of reaction. backlash From the University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA), students and professors. After the announcement, many students used social media to request it. More hybrid learning options from university.
For the remainder of the winter semester, some professors adopted a hybrid teaching model that sought to accommodate student demands for a safe learning environment and the university’s decision to return to face-to-face course instruction.
However, many members of the U of T community expressed technical and pedagogical concerns regarding the transition to hybrid education.
previous statement To Varsity, UTFA President Terezia Zorić, pointed out the additional workload imposed on instructors by facilitating hybrid courses. She added that professors may lack the necessary resources to accommodate both virtual and in-person classes. Tasks that acquire resources increase the workload.
Hybrid hubs try to alleviate this problem by compiling all available resources into a single web page.
The Hybrid Hub also outlines technical support for running efficient hybrid meetings.Web page overview AV guidelines for meeting rooms, video conferencing solutionWhen Tips for facilitating hybrid meetings.
The platform has connect + learn Information session as a resource. Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration (EASI) — part of ITS and responsible for managing the computer systems of the U of T — offers these Connect + Learn sessions to allow staff and faculty to integrate their hybrid his Make sure your meetings run effectively. The session will discuss methods and equipment for improving engagement and room setup. In addition, sessions will provide training on the online platforms Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and VPN technology.
On the web page, ITS has EASI’s “Return to Work” Report, to provide recommendations to universities on how to facilitate a gradual return to campus through the implementation of hybrid work elements. EASI released the report in December 2021. Increase face-to-face activity February 2022.
The hub also addresses the importance of information security when working in remote or hybrid environments.This web page provides a series of Information Security Guidelines Tips for staying safe online and Maintain security and privacy in Microsoft 365.
In a statement to Varsity, Franco TavernaAssociate Professor in the Human Biology Program outlines the benefits of online learning: He continued, “It’s always nice to meet students in person, but I’ve never had the opportunity to meet so many students in my career in the last two years. It’s been great.”
But Taverna ultimately sees hybrid learning as a challenge, explaining:[students] Online in session not so good experience [as those in-person]”
“It’s easy to broadcast a lecture online with something like Zoom, but it’s very difficult to maintain a good relationship with online students when you’re in the classroom,” Taverna wrote. .
Sherri Helwig, chair of UTFA’s Teaching Stream Committee, also shared her views on hybrid education in a statement. Varsity.
“The resources available to faculty and librarians are not the same across universities,” Helwig said, noting that “learning environments differ … pedagogical approaches and learning outcomes can require very different resources. There is.”
She further explained, “While online resources that inform hybrid education are certainly beneficial, they are only part of a larger and more complex puzzle.” Helwig suggests that it would be very difficult for professors to design each class in such a way that the audience is fully engaged in different kinds of settings. Some faculty may not have access to the appropriate technology and resources to facilitate hybrid courses.
According to Helwig, UTFA believes that “faculties should be able to make decisions about how best to deliver the courses they teach.” However, the Society does not believe this is currently the case for the U of T.
When asked about the hybrid hub, she said the site appears to be more focused on providing resources relevant to staff rather than faculty and librarians. She explained more local resources such as “Information from”. UTSC Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Also UTM Teaching and Learning Collaboration (TLC)‘ can be a valuable addition to your web page.