MODULE 1. Fostering wellbeing in hybrid learning environments

This unit will help you:

to familiarise with characteristics of fostering well-being in hybrid learning environments design concrete solutions to support well-being
In this module you will find three short learning units.

Each unit consists of:

a short introduction,
a video and
links to additional readings and other recommended resources.

At the end of each unit there is:

an assignment and
some self-reflective questions.
These will help you to apply the lessons you will have hefully learnt, to your teaching practice. Enjoy!

1.1. Introduction to Learning Environment Design (LED) framework

In this unit we will introduce the main conceptual background of this module and particularly a research-based Learning Environment Design (LED) framework supporting the design of hybrid learning environments conducive to learning and well-being.

Mäkelä, T. (2018). A design framework and principles for co-designing learning environments fostering learning and wellbeing. Jyväskylä, Finland: University of Jyväskylä. Jyväskylä studies in education, psychology and social research, 603. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7332-2

Watch the video, check the additional resources listed below, then go to the next page for the assignment.

Links to extra readings, suggested resources, videos:

Learn more about Innovative Learning Environments research at the University of Jyväskylä: https://www.jyu.fi/it/ile
Background research:
Mäkelä, T., & Leinonen, T. (2021). Design Framework and Principles for Learning Environment Co-Design: Synthesis from Literature and Three Empirical Studies. Buildings, 11(12), 581. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings11120581

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on future learning environments:
Mäkelä, T., & Kankaanranta, M. (2021). COVID-19 pandemian vaikutukset tulevaisuuden oppimisympäristöihin. Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiön julkaisu, 42. NOTE: Currently published only in Finnish (English publication is in the review process). Finnish publication entails, however, a good list of references in English related to this topic: https://kaks.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/42_covid-19-pandemian-vaikutukset-tulevaisuuden-oppimisymparistoihin.pdf

Further references:

Awartani, M., Whitman, C.V., & Gordon, J. (2008). Developing Instruments to Capture Young People’s Perceptions of How School as a Learning Environment Affects of Their Well-Being. European Journal of Education, 43(1), 51–70.
Graham, C. R., & Allen, S. (2005). Blended learning environments. Teoksessa Encyclopedia of distance learning (s. 172–179). IGI Global.
Melnick, H., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2020). Reopening Schools in the Context of COVID-19: Health and Safety Guidelines from Other Countries. Policy Brief. Learning Policy Institute.
Mäkelä, T. (2018). A design framework and principles for co-designing learning environments fostering learning and wellbeing. Jyväskylä, Finland: University of Jyväskylä. Jyväskylä studies in education, psychology and social research, 603. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7332-2 (Links to an external site.)
Saaranen, T., Sormunen, M., Pertel, T., Streimann, K., Hansen, S., Varava, L., Lepp, K., Turunen, H. and Tossavainen, K. (2012), The occupational well-being of school staff and maintenance of their ability to work in Finland and Estonia – focus on the school community and professional competence. Health Education, 112(3), 236255.

Assignment: Your efforts for well-being in hybrid learning

Write down (individually or in a group) some examples of how you have aimed to support well-being in a hybrid learning situation?
Consider the elements of the previously presented framework, such as communality and individuality, conventionality and novelty, comfort and health.
These examples can be related, e.g. to ways of fostering communality by means social media applications, providing individual attention to both online and onsite participants, combining novel tools with conventional tools, or taking care of physical comfort and health.

Reflection questions for Unit 1.1.

What were the strengths and challenges in your approach?

1.2. Balancing communality with individuality

In this unit, we will focus on what kind of communality-related themes such as

social relations,
sense of belonging and
safety

are known to foster well-being in hybrid online/onsite environments. This is followed by presenting individuality-related themes such as:

privacy and peacefulness.

After presenting the research-based design principles, we will invite you to reflect how these principles can be put into practice in your educational environments.

Assignment: Consider communality-related and individuality-related aspects

Propose (individually or in groups) concrete ways that you could consider communality-related (minimum 3) and individuality-related (minimum 3) aspects in hybrid learning environments in order to support wellbeing.

These proposals can be related e.g., to possibilities and physical and virtual collaborative environments for learner collaboration and teacher collaboration
shared virtual or physical spaces for fostering teacher-learner, peer or home-school relations physical and virtual spaces for shared ceremonies and celebrations
providing opportunities and physical and virtual spaces to be heard, to influence and express oneself sufficient control in physical and virtual spaces and possibilities to report problems with safety; clear safety instructions considering possible individual needs for studying from home limiting use of Internet or social media applications in virtual environments blurring or using a neutral background when having a videoconference

Reflection questions for Unit 1.2.

In your opinion, what may be the most difficult challenges when trying to put these ideas into practice? What could be the best ways to tackle these challenges?

1.3. Balancing comfort with health

In unit 3, we will focus on what kind of comfort-related themes such as physical ease and pleasantness are known to foster wellbeing in hybrid online/onsite environments. This is followed by presenting health-related themes such as physical wellness and no overload. After presenting the research-based design principles, participants are invited to reflect how these principles can be put into practice in their educational environments.

Assignment: Consider comfort-related and health-related aspects

Propose (individually or in groups) concrete ways that you could consider comfort-related (minimum 3) and health-related (minimum 3) aspects in hybrid learning environments in order to support well-being.

Reflection questions for Unit 1.3.

In your opinion, what may be the most difficult challenges when trying to put these ideas into practice? What could be the best ways to tackle these challenges?