Enhanced Learning Experience for Remote Students in Hybrid Class Model using 360° View Camera and Telepresence Robot

Abstract

Conventional online teaching methods (ex: Zoom, MS Team) have some disadvantages along with its own advantages. The main disadvantages of basic online teaching and learning are highlighted as limited physical interaction with classmates/groupmates, loss of campus atmosphere, lack of face to face interaction with teachers and inappropriateness for more dependent learners. Some of the concerns and disadvantages can be addressed by adopting a hybrid (cyber-physical) mode of teaching and learning. The hybrid mode of teaching combines face-to-face physical class and remote students attending the same class virtually through online platform in a cohesive learning environment. In this work, we report a study and findings of conducting different hybrid classes sessions involving regular physical class and remote students attending the same class virtually through (a) online platform such as Zoom connected with 360° view camera for teaching and group discussion/brainstorming, and (b) hands-on activity involving remote student/students interacting with a group of students in physical class/lab through a Telepresence robot. The hybrid class sessions focused on studying the impact of involvement of 360° view camera and Telepresence robot on online teaching and learning, group activity and hands-on activities. By using the survey data, we studied how technology can be used for enhanced teaching and learning in a hybrid class mode, its impact on learning, its user-friendliness and areas for further improvement to create an effective teaching and learning environment.