Orientating Pedagogy towards Hybrid Spaces

The huge spread of network and mobile technology offers new dimensions and spaces for interpersonal interaction. The present-day "always-on" condition erases any clear distinction between physical and digital spaces, introducing a new, so-called "hybrid", conception of space. Hybrid spaces are dynamic and characterised by constant connectedness, whereby remote contexts are integrated with the space/time dimensions of the here and now. The aim of this contribution is to illustrate how these spaces have gained increasing importance in pedagogy, and to examine the risks of an over-simplistic, reductive interpretation of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach. Thus there will be a discussion of the pedagogical, teaching and instructional design aspects of an educational process which is destined to develop more and more in hybrid learning spaces, and where the real and virtual blend together, losing their separate connotations. Examples from university experiences will be presented to illustrate the close interdependence of these aspects.