Panel: Investigating Videoconference Tools for HyFlex Courses
This panel will provide an overview of the “Tools for HyFlex Courses” project funded by the SUNY Innovative Instruction Technology Grant program in the 2022-23 academic year. HyFlex courses are student-centered course offerings that give students the option of attending the course in person, synchronously online, or asynchronously online. Students have the ability to choose their mode of attendance with flexibility each week and are not locked into the same format over the course of the semester.
The purpose of this project was to investigate and assess the efficacy of videoconference software tools in the delivery of HyFlex courses to better understand faculty use of these tools and how that impacts student experience. The 55 faculty participants from 20 different SUNY campuses were asked to select one of four video conferencing tools (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Class, or Engageli), received vendor training on their selected tool, as well as training on how to design and deliver HyFlex courses with support from a dedicated instructional designer.
The faculty participants completed pre and post surveys and participated in focus groups; the students received post-course surveys and their attendance modality and overall course grade were tracked anonymously.
This panel will provide an overview of the project parameters including the faculty training and professional development as what was learned through the surveys and focus groups. Faculty participants in the project will why they decided to teach a HyFlex course and what they learned during their experience. Session participants will leave with ideas about how to effectively incorporate videoconference tools in the design and instruction of a HyFlex course.
Moderator: Chris Price (SUNY Center for Professional Development)
- Rachael Hagerman, SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Dr. Simone Reynolds, School of Public Health SUNY Downstate
- Steven Schneider, SUNY Poly
- Mark D’Arcy, SUNY Alfred State College
- Jodilynn Greico, Rockland Community College
Tracks: Online Faculty, Online Admin/Leadership, Online Instructional Designers
DAY 1: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
11:30AM – 12:30PM
