From guides to jugglers, from audience to outsiders: a metaphor analysis of synchronous hybrid learning.

Synchronous hybrid learning (SHL) is a new instructional approach that allows on-site and remote students to participate in learning activities simultaneously. Investigating metaphorical perceptions about new learning environments may offer insights into the ways in which they are perceived by various stakeholders. Yet, research is missing a thorough investigation into metaphorical perceptions about hybrid learning environments. Hence, our goal was to determine and compare the metaphorical perceptions of higher education instructors and students regarding their roles in face-to-face versus SHL environments. When asked about SHL, participants were asked to refer separately to the on-site and remote student roles. Following the mixed-methods research design, data were obtained from 210 higher education instructors and students who responded to an online questionnaire during the 2021 academic year. Findings showed that both groups perceived their roles differently in face-to-face versus SHL. For instructors, the "guide" metaphor was replaced with the "juggler" and the "counselor" metaphors. For students, the "audience" metaphor was replaced with different metaphors for each cohort of learners. The on-site students were described as an active audience, while the remote students were described as outsiders or observers. The meaning of these metaphors will be discussed in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning in contemporary higher education.

From data to actions: Instructors' decision making based on learners' data in online emergency remote teaching

The outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic has changed education dramatically, with the sudden shift from face‐to‐face to emergency remote teaching. Online learning environments may facilitate data‐driven instructional process;yet, our understanding regarding data‐driven decisions is still limited. This quantitative study examined types of learners' data that higher education instructors have access to, are interested in, and decisions they would consider making upon exposure to, while comparing emergency remote teaching with traditional teaching. Data were collected via an online questionnaire distributed among higher education instructors during the first COVID‐19 outbreak (<italic>N</italic> = 195, affiliated with 108 different academic institutions in 35 countries). Instructors were requested to refer to a face‐to‐face course that was shifted under these emergency circumstances to online teaching. Findings indicated a broader access to learners' data while teaching the course face‐to‐face and a slightly greater interest in learners' data while teaching the course in an emergency remote teaching mode. These complimentary findings depict a situation in which instructors lack face‐to‐face cues about their students without accessing alternative sources of data. Moreover, when teaching online versus face‐to‐face, instructors showed more interest and higher intention to make decisions based on data about learners' collaborative learning and social and emotional support, which highlights instructors' interest in aspects of learning that are less visible during online teaching. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic Evidence regarding the vital role of the instructor in online courses. Online learning environments collect digital traces of learners. Learners' data may assist in the improvement of teaching by implementing data‐driven decision making. Evidence that the COVID‐19 pandemic revealed a major liability in preparation and training for online teaching. The understanding of instructors' perspectives regarding the process of data‐driven decisions, especially in times of ERT, is still limited. What this paper adds We highlight instructors' perceived access to, interest in, and willingness to make decisions based on learners' data. We take a within‐subject approach for determining instructors' perceptions of learners' data during ERT compared with face‐to‐face teaching. We bring evidence to instructors' lesser access to (despite learners' digital traces), and greater interest in, learners' data during ERT. We bring evidence to instructors' higher inclination towards making data‐driven decisions during ERT, due to lack of F2F evidence. We bring evidence to a strong correlation between instructors' interest in learners' data and willingness to make data‐driven decisions. Implications for practice and/or policy Instructors should be trained for socio‐emotional support for students in times of ERT. Higher education institutions should collect data on learners' socio‐emotional status in times of ERT. Policies of data collection in educational institutions should be formed jointly with instructors. Hectic times of ERT force higher education policymakers to rethink their academic paradigm regarding online as well as F2F pedagogical practices. What is already known about this topic Evidence regarding the vital role of the instructor in online courses. Online learning environments collect digital traces of learners. Learners' data may assist in the improvement of teaching by implementing data‐driven decision making. Evidence that the COVID‐19 pandemic revealed a major liability in preparation and training for online teaching. The understanding of instructors' perspectives regarding the process of data‐driven decisions, especially in times of ERT, is still limited. What this paper adds We highlight instructors' perceived access to, interest in, and willingness to make decisions based on learners' data. We take a within‐subject approach f r determining instructors' perceptions of learners' data during ERT compared with face‐to‐face teaching. We bring evidence to instructors' lesser access to (despite learners' digital traces), and greater interest in, learners' data during ERT. We bring evidence to instructors' higher inclination towards making data‐driven decisions during ERT, due to lack of F2F evidence. We bring evidence to a strong correlation between instructors' interest in learners' data and willingness to make data‐driven decisions. Implications for practice and/or policy Instructors should be trained for socio‐emotional support for students in times of ERT. Higher education institutions should collect data on learners' socio‐emotional status in times of ERT. Policies of data collection in educational institutions should be formed jointly with instructors. Hectic times of ERT force higher education policymakers to rethink their academic paradigm regarding online as well as F2F pedagogical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of British Journal of Educational Technology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)