Hybrid models of higher education: Features and advantages

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that one of the most effective ways to ensure access to education, maintain social interaction and student engagement, despite geographical separation, is hybrid learning. A review of Russian and foreign literature revealed a common mistake of identifying it with mixed learning, which necessitated a thorough study of the issue. The conducted research allowed us to establish that hybrid learning is characterized by a number of problems, including personal incompatibility with the learning format, technical difficulties, the level of digital, informational, methodological and psychological preparedness of both teachers and students. The practical significance of the research is to contribute to solving the pedagogical problem of developing effective learning scenarios by forming the right approach to determining the essence of hybrid learning.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the features, problems and advantages of using hybrid learning models in higher education.

Materials and methods. In the course of the study, using methods of comparative analysis and synthesis, the authors identified key aspects of the category "hybrid learning", formulated its own interpretation. The most common models of hybrid education in universities are considered. Within the framework of the study, the authors pay special attention to the advantages and difficulties of the transition to hybrid learning models: through the methods of scientific generalization, deduction and decomposition, both common aspects characteristic of all forms of learning using distance learning technologies and those peculiar only to the hybrid format are revealed.

Results. It is established that its effectiveness is determined primarily by two groups of limiting factors: the technical equipment of the educational process and the willingness of teachers to significantly transform the learning scenario and increase the complexity of conducting classes due to the need for special training and simultaneous work with full-time and remote audiences.