Keeping students engaged has always been one of education’s greatest challenges, and HyFlex environments add an extra layer of complexity. Instructors aren’t just balancing lesson plans; they’re balancing two (or more) learning experiences at the same time: students in the physical classroom and those joining remotely.
It’s easy to assume that engaging both groups requires sophisticated, high-cost technology. In reality, the opposite can be true. Evidence from real-world HyFlex classrooms shows that low-tech, accessible strategies can be just as, if not more, effective in fostering participation, interactivity, and connection across modalities.
Why Low-Tech Matters in a HyFlex Model
Instructors often feel pressured to master every cutting-edge tool, worrying about steep learning curves, integration headaches, or the risk that students, especially those joining remotely, might struggle with complex systems. But “low-tech” in HyFlex doesn’t mean “no tech.” It means leveraging the tools you already have—your LMS, video conferencing platform, shared documents, and simple apps—to create an equitable learning experience for all students, regardless of where they are.
As Derek Bruff, outgoing director of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching, notes in Inside Higher Ed, “Extensive technology may be necessary in some teaching contexts, but not in others, and it can be helpful for institutions to think about active learning classroom development in ‘tiers,’ from low tech to high tech.” In HyFlex, that first “low-tech” tier often provides the most immediate wins for both instructors and students.
The Benefits Go Beyond Simplicity
Low-tech HyFlex strategies prioritize accessibility, ease of use, and inclusivity. When both in-person and remote students can participate without wrestling with complicated tools, engagement rises naturally. Something as simple as a shared slide deck or collaborative document can unite learners across locations, allowing for real-time input, group problem-solving, and critical thinking exercises.
There’s also an equity advantage. According to a 2024 EdWeek article, students from the lowest-income families are often in schools that lack rigorous edtech vetting or can’t afford high-end solutions. In a HyFlex model, relying on accessible, affordable tools not only ensures every student can fully participate but also safeguards learning time from unnecessary tech-related disruptions.
Bottom line: In HyFlex classrooms, the most impactful strategies often come from the simplest tools. By focusing on accessibility over complexity, educators can create meaningful, interactive experiences that keep both in-person and remote learners fully engaged.
Low-Tech Strategies to Support Engagement in HyFlex Learning
As we’ve established, “low-tech” in HyFlex doesn’t mean teaching without technology. It means making deliberate, accessible choices that connect in-person and remote students without overwhelming them (or you). Simplicity is a strength here, not a limitation.
In fact, a recent study by the University of Chicago’s Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab, led by Ariel Kalil, found that interactive, well-designed digital interventions, even simple ones, can help close learning gaps between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. In a HyFlex context, these low-barrier tools can be the glue that holds both classroom and remote learners together in a single, shared experience. Let’s look at a few practical, low-tech strategies that work seamlessly across modalities.
1. Digital Collaboration Tools
Platforms like Google Docs or Miro Whiteboard allow students to contribute to the same space in real time, no matter where they are. These tools become a shared workspace for brainstorming, problem-solving, or project planning.
Example: In a science fair prep session, both on-campus and remote learners access the same shared document to list ideas and vote for the strongest topics.
Benefit: Encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and a sense of shared ownership across locations.
2. Digital Journals and Reflection Spaces
Encouraging students to keep an ongoing digital journal not only strengthens writing skills but also deepens comprehension and retention. Since HyFlex learners can post reflections anytime, it also promotes asynchronous engagement that bridges the gap between live and recorded participation.
Example: After completing a history unit, students write a journal entry as if they were a historical figure from that era, reflecting on events from a first-person perspective.
Benefit: Promotes critical thinking, written communication, and personal connection to course content, while giving both in-person and remote students equal voice.
3. Roleplay and Breakout Room Projects
In HyFlex, structured breakout groups can ensure that remote and in-person learners collaborate meaningfully. Assign roles, provide shared templates, and give clear objectives so that every participant knows how to contribute, regardless of location.
Example: For a debate exercise, assign each student a role (e.g., researcher, opener, rebuttal speaker) and provide a shared worksheet to compile arguments and evidence.
Benefit: Builds teamwork, analytical skills, and real-world application of knowledge while fostering equal participation between classroom and remote learners.
4. Interactive Read-Alongs and Story Creation
Reading and writing activities can easily bridge the gap between in-person and remote learners when they’re designed to be interactive. By inviting students to annotate, question, and co-create stories in real time, you turn a potentially passive exercise into an active, collaborative experience.
Example: During a read-along, both on-site and remote students annotate the same digital text, highlighting key passages, noting themes, or posing discussion questions for the group. For storytelling activities, assign small mixed-location groups to craft an original narrative together, with each student contributing their own plot twist or character development.
Benefit: Enhances literacy skills, sparks creativity, and builds a shared sense of accomplishment between physically and virtually present students.
5. Polling and Quizzes
Quick polls and live quizzes can check comprehension while boosting engagement, particularly in HyFlex settings where it’s easy for remote students to feel “invisible.” These tools work equally well on phones, laptops, or classroom devices, giving every student a voice and providing instructors with real-time feedback.
Example: After a lesson, run a two-minute poll to gauge understanding of a concept or launch a short quiz that everyone completes simultaneously.
Benefit: Promotes active participation, measures understanding instantly, and allows instructors to adjust the lesson on the spot.
Low-Tech, High Impact—In Every Seat
HyFlex teaching thrives when accessibility meets creativity. The strategies above prove that you don’t need advanced, high-cost systems to deliver interactive, learner-centered experiences that work equally well for students in the classroom and those online. While cutting-edge tools certainly have their place, low-tech approaches offer an immediate, reliable foundation for engagement. They lower barriers for instructors, reduce friction for students, and keep the focus where it belongs—on active learning, shared participation, and equitable access.
In the end, HyFlex isn’t just about delivering content in two formats. It’s also about creating one unified learning community where every student, regardless of location, has the opportunity to connect, contribute, and thrive.
Leverage the power of low-tech strategies with SpatialChat to create more engaging, inclusive, and accessible HyFlex learning experiences. Connect with our team to explore how SpatialChat can help you bring every learner into the same active, collaborative space.