The Converged Learning Model: Melding the Physical and Virtual Environments for Teaching and Learning Before, During, and After the Pandemic

Abstract

We share, through this case study, how our converged learning model formed the basis for NJIT’s Pandemic Recovery Plan and describe how our mission while ensuring the safety and well-being of our campus community, endured. Having proven successful on a small scale, the converged learning model was expanded, by necessity, to most freshman and sophomore level classes in Fall 2020, with junior, senior, and graduate level courses added in Spring 2021. Through this modality, the social distance could be maintained by inviting only some of the students to physically attend each class session while others joined remotely, alternating invitations to allow all students the opportunity to attend class in person, and enabling our university to remain open essentially throughout the pandemic. Surveys captured student and faculty perceptions of the technology and the mode of learning and informed adjustments, and course evaluations assessed students’ perceptions of learning in the modality. Results suggest that the rapid expansion of converged learning initially challenged both students and faculty, but by the second semester, because of strategic planning and investments, every measured outcome showed improvement.