(417) Hybrid on the Horizon: Navigating Our Way to a New Pathway

Objective: Building upon a faculty-supported infrastructure, the Bernard J Dunn School of Pharmacy initiated an in-house process to explore, design, and create a hybrid PharmD pathway.

Methods: Adapting the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) model for instructional design, the school has explored, designed, and created a hybrid pathway that will launch in fall 2024.

Results: In February 2022, the school established a working group to analyze the potential for a hybrid PharmD pathway, along with the practical steps necessary for its creation. In August 2022, the decision was made to develop the pathway and a Hybrid Pathway Committee was appointed by the Dean. A Hybrid Pathway Director was hired to provide oversight and leadership. To facilitate course design and creation, the university hired instructional designers to develop faculty guidance for the creation of hybrid courses and content. The School’s Faculty Development and Evaluation Committee worked with the Hybrid Pathway Committee to offer educational sessions that support hybrid teaching, such as artificial intelligence, VoiceThread, Canvas, and EHRGo. At two faculty retreats, the Hybrid Pathway Committee provided additional guidance on the Department of Education requirements for Regular and Substantive Interactions (RSI) in online programs. As the school works toward a launch date of August 2024, staff have been instrumental in creating processes and tools such as Canvas shells, mock courses, and online resource templates. Faculty have piloted technology, like Exam Monitor, within their courses to evaluate assessment methods, while the Hybrid Pathway Director and Hybrid Committee are developing assessment plans for individual courses and the pathway.

Conclusion: The intentional integration of technology with staff- and faculty-supported infrastructure has facilitated the creation of a hybrid pathway.