Middlesex CC Embraces the Future of Learning with Hyflex Options

Middlesex Community College makes the learning experience – and getting an education – easier for students. For the Fall 2022 semester, in addition to offering on-campus, online and hybrid course formats, Middlesex will offer a variety of hyflex learning options for credit and noncredit courses. In this modality, professors teach from the classroom to a mix of students who are at home and on campus.

“Middlesex wants students to have flexibility in their learning, and hyflex options are the next step,” said Dr. Arlene Rodríguez, MCC’s Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. “As the future of learning, this combination of modalities will allow students to balance their education with other personal and life responsibilities on a weekly basis, rather than having to decide at the beginning of the semester. This will help to prevent students from falling behind in their work or having to drop out of classes.”

Each week, students can decide whether they want to learn from home or in the classroom, based on their needs and what works best for their schedules. To help make the transition between online and face-to-face learning easier, the course will use digital engagement tools – such as Zoom, Collaborate and Blackboard – as a space for discussions and materials.

“I am happy to teach using hyflex technology as it provides more flexibility for student learning,” said Dr. Marie Tupaj, MCC Associate Professor of CAD & Engineering, who will be teaching her first hyflex course in the Fall. “In hyflex courses, students listen to lectures remotely in real time or attend class in person. Students easily change their lecture location for each class depending on what fits their schedule and needs.”

MCC’s hyflex classrooms are set up with technology that allows faculty members to teach to students who are learning on campus and at home at the same time. Technology includes control panels, computers, monitors, cameras, microphones and speakers.

Whether at home or in class, all students in hyflex courses will have the opportunity to engage with each other in full-class discussions, group work, breakout rooms, Google documents, and other tools for interactive learning.

Beth Noël, MCC’s Director of Marketing Communications is teaching the noncredit Digital Media Marketing course in the Fall. While Noël will be teaching on the Lowell campus, students can opt to take the course at home or in person.

“MCC strives to make getting an education accessible and easy for all students,” Noël said. “My noncredit course meets in the evening and with family commitments, it is not always feasible for students to get to campus. MCC’s new hyflex course options make it possible for students to fit education and professional development into their busy lives.”