Enhancing Team Performance in Hybrid-Flexible Course Learning: The Role of Team Communication and Atmosphere

Background: Hybrid-Flexible (Hyflex) courses have become a prominent teaching method post-COVID-19, offering students the flexibility to attend classes online, offline, or both. While this model promotes instructional continuity and student-centered learning, it presents challenges in managing effective team collaboration. Aims: to investigate the underexplored relationship between effective communication, team atmosphere, and team performance in Hyflex learning environments, the study seeks to provide novel insights into optimizing team dynamics and enhancing learning outcomes in flexible educational settings. Sample(s): The study involved 310 college students enrolled in the authors' Hyflex course.. Methods: An online survey was conducted using validated scales, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Results: Effective communication was found to significantly enhance team performance (β = 0.389, p < .001). Team atmosphere moderated this relationship (β = -0.118, p < .05), indicating that while a positive atmosphere generally supports performance, an overly positive atmosphere may reduce the critical engagement necessary for optimal outcomes. Conclusions: Both effective communication and a balanced team atmosphere are critical for maximizing team performance in Hyflex courses. Educators should foster communication strategies that encourage open dialogue and critical thinking while maintaining a supportive team environment. Overemphasis on maintaining positivity may hinder constructive critique and diminish performance.