Getting Started in a Flexible Hybrid Environment

Student taking notes in classFordham has chosen a Flexible Hybrid Model for instruction in 2020-21. This approach will allow Fordham to reduce the occupancy of classrooms and observe social distancing standards, accommodate the particular needs of individual students and faculty who may not be able to be physically present in the classroom, and pivot between in-class and remote instruction as needed.

After preparing a course in the flexible hybrid framework, an instructor could find herself teaching the course under different situations over the course of a semester; if there is a transition between any of the four situations, students will encounter a consistent and familiar environment throughout the semester. Each course contains both asynchronous and synchronous components; asynchronous components stay the same regardless of the situation, but the delivery format of synchronous components changes depending on the situation.

Getting Online in a Flexible Hybrid Environment
Learn how to get your AccessIT ID, get online, and access Fordham Learning management resources.

Preparing to Teach in a Flexible Hybrid Environment
Learning how to welcome, orient, and support your students with resources. Includes links for synchronous and asynchronous teaching, as well as how to find more help (webinars and consultations).

Fordham's Flexible Hybrid Model for Course Delivery
For Fall 2020, the Provost has announced that nearly "every course at Fordham will adopt a flexible hybrid learning environment. This means that course elements that primarily involve the presentation of ideas or independent learning will be designed ahead of time and delivered asynchronously, for students to access on demand. Interactive components, such as discussions and small group meetings, will take place synchronously, in real-time, and will be taught in intensive, personalized ways."

Blackboard Learn: Key Functionality and Essential Course Elements
A Learning Management System (LMS) is your starting point for interacting with your students online. Blackboard Learn, the LMS that Fordham students are most familiar with, is used for the majority of Fordham courses and is supported by Information Technology.

Every course section taught at Fordham has a corresponding course site in Blackboard with you and your students already enrolled. For synchronous sessions, you can use the Collaborate tool within Blackboard or Zoom to meet with your students. When you teach asynchronously, you may share course materials (lectures, readings, videos, etc.), create and moderate fora for online interaction and engagement (via VoiceThread, perusal, discussion boards, or blogs), and communicate with your students through announcements and email.

Recommendations for Asynchronous Engagement
Face to face learning has always included asynchronous components in the form of readings, assignments, assessments, media, problem sets, etc.. In the flexible hybrid model, you may want to consider shifting some components that would ordinarily be part of face to face learning online. If you put lectures online, consider splitting longer lectures into 4-7 minute chunks for maximum engagement. You might also consider incorporating a strategy for online peer-to-peer engagement such as collaborating on a shared document, discussion boards, Voicethreads, or using Perusall.

Recommendations for Synchronous Engagement
Both Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom are integrated into Blackboard, so your students can find the link within the online course shell.

Blackboard Collaborate

Recommendations for Accessibility, Equity, and Policies Related to Privacy/Security
As you prepare to teach, we encourage you to consider who your students are and what challenges they may be facing.

Faculty Innovations

FAQs and Policies

Finding Help: Make an Appointment, Webinars, Consultations, and More