Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

Winter 2024 • 17

Mazy believes, in some instances, a hybrid model could even be superior to a traditional model. “With our program, the students have the flexibility to go back and review concepts they didn’t get the first time around. If they are in the classroom, there is no rewind button,” she says. “When the students come on-site, we incorporate a lot of discussion of the material they have already learned online to allow them another opportunity to gain additional knowledge.” It is also important to note that not all online classes are created equal. At Texas Massage Academy, for example, the online classes incorporate 3D animations, games and learning activities. The school is also looking into the use of wearables such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) for online education in the future. Many massage therapy students have full-time jobs while in massage therapy school. For people like this, a hybrid learning model is invaluable. “For students who work full-time while attending school, the hybrid model is particularly beneficial, especially for science courses like anatomy,” says Willis. Mazy also mentions flexibility as a key benefit of the hybrid learning model. “It has allowed our students the flexibility to complete the online portion at their own pace,” she says. “Since we are in a rural area, it allows our students to only have to travel to our campus for half the time to complete their program.” This is not just beneficial for the students, however. By allowing students to attend school who may not have been able to otherwise, the hybrid model will also benefit massage therapy schools. “I believe hybrid education can help increase enrollments, which in turn positively impacts the school’s financial bottom line,” Willis says. As with most everything that touches broad systems like education, however, these benefits What are the Benefits of a Hybrid Learning Model for Massage Therapy?

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are not universal. Different students thrive in different situations. “Research, including a study I conducted, found that asynchronous learning is best for students with high GPAs, those who excel in any academic environment,” says Susan Salvo, author, educator and massage practitioner. “Conversely, live or synchronous learning is best for the average student.” Salvo also notes that students whose primary language is not English, or students who may be neurodiverse, do better in live, synchronous learning environments. The Challenges of Hybrid Education “As a continuing education instructor, I’ve observed that students who were in school during COVID and began with hybrid classes tend to struggle more with the hands-on portions of the training,” says Willis. “They often face challenges with mastering technique.” Hybrid learning still includes hands-on portions, but learning the basics of different techniques online, via distance learning, can lead to students starting the hands-on portion with a less firm grasp on the techniques than if they were in the classroom learning the basics.

“As a continuing education instructor, I’ve observed that students who were in school during COVID and began with hybrid classes tend to struggle more with the hands on portions of the training. They often face challenges with mastering technique.” — Davonna Willis, owner and founder of 4 Nineteen Education & Training

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