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Learning in hybrid classes: the role of off-task activities.
Carli Ochs1, Caroline Gahrmann2, Andreas Sonderegger3,4
1Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Scientific Reports
|January 18, 2024
Summary
Students joining hybrid classes online engage in more off-task activities, leading to lower learning performance. This study highlights the impact of digital distractions on academic success in hybrid learning environments.
Area of Science:
- Education
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Hybrid teaching models offer flexibility but may increase student distractibility.
- Online students in hybrid settings are hypothesized to engage in more off-task behaviors.
- Off-task activities can negatively impact learning performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hybrid teaching mode and student engagement in off-task activities.
- To examine the mediating role of off-task activities in the link between online participation and learning performance.
- To compare learning performance between online and on-site students in hybrid classes.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental field study involving 690 students across six hybrid classes.
- Data collection through surveys on digital and non-digital off-task activities.
- Assessment of learning performance via a quiz on course material.
Main Results:
- Online students reported significantly more time spent on off-task activities compared to on-site students.
- Increased time on digital off-task activities was associated with lower learning performance for online students.
- The findings support the hypothesis that online participation negatively impacts learning through increased off-task engagement.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid learning environments require strategies to mitigate digital distractions for online students.
- Reducing off-task digital behavior is crucial for improving learning outcomes in online and hybrid settings.
- Further research should explore interventions to enhance student focus in online learning contexts.
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