Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

16 • Massage Therapy Journal

T hey say necessity is the mother of invention. In the case of hybrid education in the massage therapy profession, nothing could be truer. During COVID, hybrid education became the new normal for many massage schools across the country. Now, we’re revisiting the topic to see if hybrid education has proven its staying power.

Additionally, low-achieving students had higher total scores in both MCQ and CSQ in the online teaching model. The study concluded that online teaching was not statistically significantly different from offline in cognitive domains, and was more desirable than offline in strengthening lower-order cognitive skills. The study does note that offline teaching may be more effective in reinforcing higher-order cognitive skills among high-achieving students. A separate 2023 study 2 explored blended (hybrid) learning compared to completely online and offline learning in an evidence-based medicine course. The study compared the examination scores of 2,100 undergraduate students in clinical medicine across a blended learning group, an online only group, and a traditional offline group. Exam scores were then collected and compared. The study found that the blended group’s exam scores and pass rate were significantly higher than those of either the offline or online groups. Additionally, in a survey administered by the researchers, 71.6% of students preferred the blended teaching mode. “Using a blended education approach in evidence-based medicine courses can improve students’ learning motivation, autonomy and satisfaction,” researchers noted. Hybrid Learning for Entry-Level Massage Therapy Education One of the trickier aspects of hybrid learning is considering how it's integrated into entry level education. Entry-level education is the foundation massage therapists build the rest of their careers on, so it is vitally important for a hybrid model to be effective. “I believe a hybrid model can be appropriate for entry-level education, provided it is carefully balanced,” says Davonna Willis, owner and founder of 4 Nineteen Education & Training. “Theoretical courses, like anatomy or business practices, can be effectively taught online. However, hands-on skills, which are crucial in massage therapy, require substantial in-person training to ensure students develop the necessary tactile skills and confidence .”

What we found is that the answer may very well be “Yes,” with many massage schools having some form of hybrid education offerings. “I would currently describe the state of massage education as being marked by a significant shift toward quicker, more flexible learning options,” says Kathleen Mazy, owner of Texas Massage Academy. “This is driven by student demand for accelerated courses and online options.” For example, schools with a 600-hour massage program that takes between six to 12 months to complete might offer the theory portion for each course in an online format, with the hands-on instruction portion requiring in-person attendance. For many prospective students, this option can make massage therapy A 2023 comparative study 1 examined the impact of online and offline teaching methods on the cognitive abilities of medical students. During the study, survey data were collected from entry-level students who participated in online teaching during 2018, as well as entry-level students in offline teaching in 2019 at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. The study examined the total score of a physiology final exam, score of each type of question, and National Quality Open Courses learning engagement in different score segments under the two teaching models. The study found no statistically significant difference in the total score, short-answer questions score (SAQ), and case study questions (CSQ) score between online and offline teaching models. The multiple choice questions (MCQ) score, however, was higher in the online teaching model. education much more accessible. What Does the Data Say?

“I would currently describe the state of massage education as being marked by a significant shift toward quicker, more flexible student demand for accelerated courses and online options.” —Kathleen Mazy, owner of Texas Massage Academy learning options. This is driven by

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