Bridging the hybridity gap : connecting online and onsite participants through peer learning circles at hybrid events

Abstract

The post-pandemic rise of hybrid event formats, seen for example in conferences, conventions and workshops, enhances flexibility and accessibility for attendees. Simultaneously, it presents a challenge in ensuring equal engagement and collaboration between online and onsite participants. Addressing this hybridity gap, the losconCircles method connects peer learning circles with a hybrid event set-up.

This thesis was commissioned by Cogneon Academy to investigate the debut of losconCircles at loscon23, a two-day convention for learning and knowledge management experts. The study analysed losconCircles' application and participants’ perceptions, particularly from online attendees and newcomers, focusing on establishing contacts, social interaction, and collaborative learning. The objective of this study was to identify factors supporting collaborative learning within losconCircles, suggest improvements, and pave the way for losconCircles' implementation in other hybrid events. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, the analysis drew on a survey with 60 loscon attendees and qualitative interviews with seven losconCircles participants.

The findings indicated that losconCircles fostered new connections, social interaction and to some extent collaborative learning between online and onsite participants. As crucial factors the event's open atmosphere and participants' helpful attitudes were identified. Challenges included time constraints, technical issues, and communication gaps. In addition, the research suggested that key success factors within losconCircles involved a framework, openness, support, and commitment, requiring tailored adjustments in set-up, process and facilitation when applied in different settings. For this purpose, a set of recommendations for event organisers was developed.

The recommendation is to further develop losconCircles as a training ground for new tools, methods and learning forms in a hybrid environment, i.e. related to artificial intelligence. Additionally, further quantitative and longitudinal research is needed, for example to assess the learning impact of losconCircles.