Where I feel the most connected: Community of Inquiry supporting sense of belonging in a HyFlex engineering course

In this study, we use focus groups, open-ended survey questions, and course observational data to examine aspects of one HyFlex engineering fundamentals course, with sections enrolling almost 500 first year students, that was exemplary in fostering Community of Inquiry (CoI). Findings showcase that attention to joint dynamics of teaching, social, and cognitive presence unique to HyFlex environments contributed to learning and belonging in the course. Implications include strategies for effective HyFlex courses, such as use of the CoI framework in HyFlex courses, interactive tools allowing student engagement across platforms, and opportunities for live student questions, especially with audio capability.

Automated summary

This study examines a HyFlex engineering fundamentals course with almost 500 first year students, using focus groups, open-ended survey questions, and course observational data. The findings highlight the importance of considering the joint dynamics of teaching, social, and cognitive presence unique to HyFlex environments in promoting learning and belonging. Implications include strategies such as utilizing the CoI framework, interactive tools to facilitate student engagement, and opportunities for live student questions, particularly with audio capability.