Deconstructing Hybrid Education: Learning from the Past, Innovating for the Future [Download]

Hybrid education in physical therapy isn’t a recent invention, it’s the culmination of over 20 years of academic innovation, digital advancement, and intentional instructional design. This evolution began with early online tools and has progressed into fully integrated, scalable models that support engagement, flexibility, and quality outcomes. 

At APTA CSM 2025, Dr. Mary Blackinton and national leaders in PT education traced this evolution—demonstrating how thoughtfully designed hybrid programs consistently meet the standards of traditional formats, while also offering additional strengths in areas like access, instructional agility, and student engagement.

The hybrid model’s strength lies in its ability to adapt meeting students where they are, extending reach to underrepresented populations, and maintaining high standards through frameworks like the Community of Inquiry (COI). As institutions look to the future of PT education, this session underscores why hybrid delivery is not a trend—it’s a mature, mission-aligned approach built for the future of physical therapy education.