Creating a community

While hybrid work offers numerous benefits, it can also create feelings of disconnection and isolation. Hybrid Team Building activities are here to save the day by breaking up the routine and providing valuable opportunities for social connection. Even better, these activities can be done on a budget, ensuring that your hybrid learners remain engaged and connected on an ongoing basis.

Hybrid learner teams blend the presence of both on-site and remote learners, using digital tools for collaboration. Within these teams, some educators are physically present in the classroom, while others facilitate learning remotely from various locations.

Compared to traditional classroom setups, where educators and learners operate within a shared physical space, hybrid classrooms introduce a new layer of complexity. Traditional classrooms rely heavily on face-to-face interactions and in-person teaching. In contrast, hybrid classroom require seamless integration of remote and on-site learning to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and coordination.

Engaging learners  needs a thoughtful approach that addresses the unique dynamics of both on-site and remote participants. Maintaining a sense of connection is urgently needed in hybrid classroom teams. When educators and learners are physically separated, there’s a risk of reduced social interaction and feelings of isolation. By fostering a sense of community, educators can promote trust, collaboration, and a shared sense of belonging among all team members.

Investing in team-building is essential for creating a positive learning environment and improved student satisfaction. These activities can also improve learning outcomes and foster a supportive learning community. In a hybrid classroom setting, team building becomes  crucial to bridge the gap between on-site and remote participants and foster a cohesive learning community among all team members.  These activities aim to bridge the physical and virtual divide, fostering collaboration and communication. Plus, hybrid team building activities offer creative and effective ways to build relationships and enhance the overall productivity and satisfaction of your hybrid team.

Activity 1: Play a Hybrid Scavenger Hunt

Hybrid scavenger hunts are a great team building activity for teams with in-person and remote learners. Plus, this activity can be tailored to groups of any size.

Scavenger hunts can be designed to include a mix of physical and digital clues, allowing both on-site and remote team members to contribute. On-site participants can search for items or solve puzzles physically, while remote participants can use video conferencing or live-streaming to guide their on-site counterparts and provide input. Additionally tools like Actionbound can be used to create an even better atmosphere.

This collaborative approach promotes teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. By working together to decipher clues and overcome challenges, team members build trust, enhancing their ability to collaborate across different locations!

Activity 2: Plan a Virtual Game Session

Organizing a classic game night or game session is an excellent approach to foster bonding within your hybrid team. In today’s digital era, there are many free online multiplayer game options available that offer the nostalgia of favorite board games. One such option is Skribbl.io, a game that involves drawing and guessing. Each round, a team member takes turns drawing a random word while others try to guess the word by typing their answers in the chat box. Or, discover the thrill of the popular board game Codenames with its free online version! Ideal for small groups of 4 to 8 players, Codenames challenges teams to unravel a mystery word by correctly identifying their assigned codenames before their opponents. Using a mix of flashcards, post-its and a mobile phone as a video camera on a selfie stick, can integrate hybrid groups together. Games like for example Bingo are as well fun ways to connect offline and online learners.

How to Select and Implement the Right Team Building Activities

When choosing team building activities for a hybrid team, it’s important to consider team size, preferences, and objectives. First, assess the size of your team to determine whether activities should be conducted as a whole group or in smaller subgroups. L

Second, take into account the preferences of your team members. Consider their diverse backgrounds, interests, and abilities. This ensures that everyone feels engaged and motivated to participate.

Lastly, align the chosen activities with the team’s objectives. If the goal is to foster creativity, consider interactive brainstorming games. If building trust and teamwork is the objective, opt for collaborative problem-solving activities. To ensure inclusivity for all team members, regardless of their location, leverage technology. Utilize video conferencing tools and online chats to enable remote participants to actively engage in real-time discussions and contribute to group activities.

In addition, create opportunities for virtual breakout sessions where team members can collaborate in smaller groups. Be sure to promote active participation from both on-site and remote team members. Plus, provide clear instructions and guidelines before the activities to ensure that all team members understand their roles and can actively contribute.

https://unexpectedvirtualtours.com/resources/hybrid-team-building-activities/

ACTIVITIES:

Exercise 1: Digital Scavenger Hunt

Objective:

To promote teamwork and community building while enhancing digital literacy skills in a hybrid mixed offline-online classroom setting.

Procedure:

1. Pre-Activity Preparation:

   – Divide the class into small teams consisting of both in-person and remote participants.

   – Prepare a list of digital literacy-related tasks or challenges that require participants to utilize various online resources and tools.

2. Conducting the Scavenger Hunt:

   – Share the list of tasks or challenges with each team through the learning management system (LMS) or other communication channels.

   – Instruct teams to work together to complete the tasks within a specified time frame.

   – Tasks may include finding reliable sources for information, identifying and evaluating online security measures, or exploring digital creativity tools.

   – Encourage teams to communicate and collaborate effectively using digital communication tools such as messaging apps or video conferencing platforms.

3. Debrief and Reflection:

   – Gather the teams together after the scavenger hunt to debrief and share their experiences.

   – Facilitate a discussion on the strategies used, challenges encountered, and lessons learned during the activity.

   – Encourage participants to reflect on how collaboration and teamwork contributed to their success in completing the tasks.

Exercise 2: Co-Teaching Digital Workshops

Objective:

To foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among educators and learners while building digital literacy skills in a hybrid mixed offline-online classroom environment.

Procedure:

1. Planning and Preparation:

   – Pair experienced educators with younger counterparts or learners to co-teach digital workshops on specific digital literacy topics.

   – Collaboratively plan the content, activities, and resources for the workshops, ensuring they cater to both offline and online participants.

2. Conducting the Workshops:

   – Schedule the workshops during class sessions, allowing both in-person and remote participants to attend.

   – Utilize a combination of interactive presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities to engage learners in the digital literacy learning process.

   – Encourage co-teachers to take turns leading different segments of the workshop, providing opportunities for each to share their expertise and perspectives.

3. Reflection and Feedback:

   – Facilitate a reflection session at the end of each workshop, allowing participants to share their thoughts, insights, and feedback.

   – Encourage co-teachers to reflect on their collaboration experience, highlighting strengths, areas for improvement, and lessons learned.

   – Use participant feedback to inform future co-teaching efforts and refine the digital literacy curriculum.

Exercise 3: Digital Literacy Buddy System

Objective:

To establish supportive relationships and promote peer learning in digital literacy skills within a hybrid mixed offline-online classroom context.

Procedure:

1. Buddy Pairing:

   – Pair each participant with a digital literacy buddy, ensuring a mix of experienced and novice learners in each pair.

   – Assign buddies based on complementary skills, interests, or learning needs.

2. Collaborative Learning Activities:

   – Encourage buddies to engage in collaborative learning activities both inside and outside of class.

   – Assign tasks that require partners to research, analyze, or create digital content together using online resources and tools.

   – Provide guidance and support to buddies as they work together to develop their digital literacy skills.

3. Reflection and Support:

   – Facilitate regular check-ins between buddies to discuss progress, challenges, and achievements in digital literacy learning.

   – Encourage buddies to provide feedback and support to each other, fostering a supportive learning community.

   – Offer additional resources or assistance as needed to help buddies overcome obstacles and achieve their digital literacy goals.

By implementing these team- and community-building exercises using co-teaching approaches, educators can create engaging and collaborative learning experiences that promote digital literacy skills development in a hybrid mixed offline-online classroom environment.