After exploring the literature on project management, it is interesting to think back to a project I was a large part of. Karen Young is the program coordinator for the television-broadcasting program at Humber College in Toronto. In 2017, in an attempt to integrate flexibility for students, she convinced the Associate Dean to add a hybrid learning option for some courses in the program (K. Young, personal communication, February 10, 2023). The goal was to accommodate mature students better and have an option for a winter intake. The primary stakeholders for this project were Humber College as an organization, the leaders within the broadcasting program, the faculty, and the students. Since its launch, the hybrid intake for the program has consisted of mainly mature and international students. In addition, the hybrid course delivery allows students to have jobs on the side and not have to commute to campus as often.
There were not any serious issues through the process of challenging the initial course delivery options, planning and communicating the vision, implementing the pivot to blended learning, and finally evaluating that implementation. However, Karen did feel that she could have communicated better with the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Humber College, which may have led to a smoother transition (K. Young, personal communication, February 10, 2023). Communication is an essential element in managing a change initiative. Watt (2014) states that project managers need to let their team know “what they have to do, when they have to do it, and what budget and time constraints and quality specifications they are working toward” (p. 20). In addition to communication, as one of the subject matters building a hybrid course, it would have been helpful to have some support regarding how to develop an effective digital learning environment. It is essential to note that a project manager is responsible for leading, guiding, and supporting the team (Watt, 2014). This could mean providing the team with the proper tools and resources to assist with the project. One of the main priorities of the University of Calgary’s framework for learning technologies is providing a supportive environment (University of Calgary, 2014). After reflecting on the readings and past experiences, communicating well and being supportive are two elements I see myself putting at the forefront when managing a project.
References
University of Calgary. (2014). Strategic framework for learning technologies. Learning Technologies Task Force. https://www.ucalgary.ca/provost/sites/default/files/teams/1/final_lttf_report_gfc_june_2014.pdf
Watt, A. (2014). Project Management. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/
March 7, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Hi Giulia,
The importance of communication cannot be understated! I completely agree with both you and Karen on this point. I also think getting buy-in from current students to ensure that the new mode of delivery is essential. It may be difficult for some students to understand how their learning will be impacted in a hybrid environment and how the learning activities will change.
That said, the flexibility of a hybrid program is so ideal. I can see that it would be hugely beneficial for students juggling work and other priorities. Hopefully, the new mode of delivery will be a success for your institution!
March 19, 2023 at 7:55 am
Thanks for the comment Alex! We have been hybrid for a few years now and I would say it is a huge success. The content that some these students are creating is excellent and they don’t seem to be impacted by typically hands-on material being delivered online. However, it is still a work-in-progress, especially with all the evolving technology!
March 13, 2023 at 8:33 am
Hi Giulia,
I agree the importance of communication is key in anything that we do.
Do you believe the hybrid learning model was successful, implemented to accommodate mature students and offer a winter intake? If so, what factors contributed to its success, and if not, what were the main challenges?
Thanks,
Michal
March 19, 2023 at 8:00 am
Thanks for the comment Mich! I initially was not a fan of the pivot to a hybrid delivery but am very surprised by how effective it has been. The students are submitting quality work and do not seem to be impacted by the decrease in the in-person classes. The most important aspect, I believe, is the flexibility for the students as it allows them to balance their work, families, and school.
March 21, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Hi Giulia
An interesting case study you have presented, and what a great idea to offer programming that considered learners who want a mix of on-campus and off-campus.
Curious to know whether there was enough lead time to beta test the process in-house prior to launching. Also wondered if small-scale testing could have revealed blindspots, identified technical issues, and even offered time for reflection before the official launch.
Thanks for sharing your story.
March 27, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Hi Bart,
Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately, there was no time to test the hybrid course before its delivery. Once the subject matter experts completed the content for the course (Module PDFs, video workshops, assessments, etc.) someone from the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Humber College uploaded the content and designed the course page on Blackboard (LMS). It would have been valuable to have extra time to review the LMS, as I was not satisfied with the way the course material was laid out for the students.
Thank you again for your comment!
Giulia