Yogesh Makkar founded Kapdec with a mission of making education possible for everyone. Yogesh, an engineer, and an innovator holds an honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT-Kurukshetra, a Master's in Engineering from the UNL & an MBA from Kelley School of Business. Yogesh is committed to making a difference in a student's life by providing unique methods, with a global team's help, to help students learn more and be comfortable with the learning process for lifelong learning. What keeps Yogesh awake at night is only his passion, that is, to deliver a "unique" platform – that, indeed every student anywhere on the "globe" should be able to use.

In the wake of the ongoing global pandemic, the K-12 education segment has undergone a sea change. As schools shut down across nations, educators had to think of innovative ways to keep the flow of knowledge going. To address the challenges posed and impart lessons creatively, an effective model that has arisen on the scene is hybrid learning.

A hybrid learning model entails a virtual learning environment with a web-based platform that uses digital content and online delivery channels to deliver immersive, engaging, and informative learning remotely. Ideally, hybrid learning programs include online study materials, online activities, and periodic tests and assessments.

Features of Hybrid Learning refers to teaching students within physical classrooms as well as via video conferencing simultaneously. Before the pandemic struck, this innovative concept was used in a limited number of educational institutions. But now that the institutions are in the process of identifying safer ways to re-open, blended learning becomes a crucial strategy for many, especially those in the K-12 segment, that wish to re-open. Thus, educators are developing purely hybrid courses or adding some online components to the existing classroom programs.

Every faculty has to create their own unique hybrid learning model – the one that best suits their program and student community. The process may seem daunting initially, but there are various tools available to help with the initiative. The synchronous mode of instruction might, on occasions, have some asynchronous (non-live) digital learning elements as well.

A tech-based classroom needs multiple partners who can work in tandem to create an effective blended learning environment. Hybrid learning involves users hailing from different categories which have different expectations from the program. Students need to find all study materials, resources, instructions, and guidelines collated on a single platform. They should also be able to reach out to their instructors if they have any queries or doubts. Similarly, teachers require a working virtual platform to see and interact with their students, share their lecture notes and other study resources with them, and assess student performance.

The effectiveness of hybrid learning models is not just limited to students and teachers. Even the tech staff needs a convenient virtual platform to operate and can run smoothly once it's set up. The school administration needs flexibility and visibility so that they can check schedules and collect student fees. Even parents need that online platforms be seamless to regulate and monitor their child's learning progress.

Hybrid Learning Trends for K-12 Education in the K-12 segment, the future of hybrid learning looks promising and is poised for exponential growth. This will be owing to the benefits inherent in this learning model, such as flexibility, absence of geographical limitations, and speedy implementation. Teachers and students from across the globe can interact with each other. As teachers can access data anywhere, they can devote time to teaching students more effectively with redundant and mundane tasks like assessments and grading taken up by machines.

Also, hybrid learning is expected to expose K-12 teachers to the necessity of re-skilling themselves to become adept at handling tech. It will create more jobs because of the spike in demand in the education industry, as new-generation tech teachers and various engineers, who can create advanced programs, will be required. Also, the cost of education will decrease as the scale of the economy will bring its benefits. The students will undoubtedly gain high-quality education with global exposure.

As we advance, parents and teachers want young students to have more holistic education beyond the standardized testing methods and include vocational and social skills. Also, a high level of emotional intelligence has been linked with the ability to cope with pressure and better leadership skills. There is a desire to inculcate these qualities in students via the hybrid learning model. Also, students will gain more autonomy over their education, right from what they learn to how the classroom functions. Hybrid learning allows students to choose exactly what they would like to study and learn. There is greater customization involved.

Schools will provide collaborative learning as hybrid learning focuses more on openness, flexibility, and shared understanding. As more and more guardians want to be involved and play a more significant role in their child's education, technology is being used as a tool to connect them with teachers. Collaboration between parents and teachers would help the parents learn more about their ward's performance and help teachers know about the environmental conditions and family situation back at home.

Summing Up the present times calls for more bold and effective education models that are agile, rapidly implemented, and adaptive to the new-age technologies, thus enabling revolutionary learning. As educators and institutions make the required adjustments and investments, they can use this challenging and unprecedented time as a golden opportunity to build an improved education system of the future.