Investigating Videoconference Tools for HyFlex Courses

This paper examines the efficacy of videoconference software tools in HyFlex courses, which allow students to choose whether to participate in person, online via videoconference, or asynchronously online. The study involved 52 faculty participants teaching 956 students from 20 post-secondary educational institutions using one of four video conferencing tools (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Class, or Engageli) utilizing a parallel mixed method design approach. The study did not find evidence showing that videoconference tool selection significantly impacted student performance or student and faculty perception of their HyFlex course. The study does provide insight into student and faculty experience with videoconference tools that should be considered when designing and delivering a HyFlex course. Both students and faculty were largely satisfied with their videoconference tool, finding it easy to use and performing its basic function (connecting the three modalities via live and recorded video) well. Given the importance of videoconferencing in HyFlex courses, more research is needed to investigate how to best use these tools in this course modality.