Lessons from Learning Technologies Autumn Forum 2022: Learning in a hybrid setting

Gary Cookson and I have worked together many times, but never in the same room. Chairing his session at LT was our first time working in each other’s physical presence. It was odd – he is not as tall as I thought! But he sure is well placed to talk about how best to make hybrid learning work.

The hybrid learning combo – that is where the audience or facilitator are in a combination of being physically or virtually present – is such a big challenge facing effective L&D.

It was apparent from the forum, both in the conference sessions and exhibition, that virtual learning, remote working, and hybrid were top of mind for many.

It was clear from other murmurings at the forum that hybrid is considered ‘hard’. Gary didn’t shy away from that fact; it is hard. Running a hybrid learning session can easily see facilitators fall into traps such as ignoring the online or room participants, having your back to the camera or to the audience. What I liked about Gary’s session was he owned this reality and demonstrated ways to make hybrid actually work.

Ideas included empowering hybrid physical audiences to join the dots to their virtual colleagues themselves, such as using whiteboards, Miro, or third-party apps. All participants experience the same activity. Gary encouraged us to look for learning touch points; hybrid should be part of a blend – QR codes on a machine to a video, a podcast link, an internal social network. Put learning where it needs to be: in the flow of work.

Additionally, Gary demonstrated how the real work for hybrid is not all in the delivery, but most importantly in learning design. Creatively holding both audiences in your mind during design is paramount. Deliberately placed activities. Purposeful use of connectivity tools. Focused discussions seamlessly connecting people.

Gary pushed for the right tech for the right results; tech is an enabler not a driver. Many organisations have leapt over to Zoom or Teams, however these are not learning tools, but are communication tools. Facilitators need to design and deliver differently for them instead of tools designed for learning, like Adobe Connect or Webex. There was quite the debate about video on or video off, however Gary was clear, video is a tool like a poll or a whiteboard. With all tools, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Deliberate design choices which focus on the learning outcomes are the drivers.

Here’s a question from Gary to ponder: “What are the implications to your organisation for L&D needing to change skillsets, mindsets and activities towards hybrid learning?”

Twitter thread live tweeted from the event

Gary Cookson HR for Hybrid Working Kogan Page 2022

Michelle Parry-Slater is learning and development director at Kairos Modern Learning

Note from the editor: To read more about the Learning Technologies Autumn Forum 2022, and part one of Ms Parry-Slater’s overview series, visit: Lessons from Learning Technologies Autumn Forum 2022: Curiosity, and part three at: Lessons from Learning Technologies Autumn Forum 2022: Sustainability in learning