Hybrid CTE: online modules plus hands-on labs
Hybrid CTE pairs self-paced online lessons, where students learn the concepts, with instructor-led sessions, hands-on labs and multi-day projects, where they practice the skills. Core-LX builds every course this way: AI-tutored lessons in your LMS, labs written for the equipment you have, simulations where you don't, and projects that pull each unit together.
The four parts of a hybrid CTE course
Self-paced online lessons
Students start with an adaptive diagnostic, then work through lessons in your LMS with Lexi+Socrat, a Socratic AI tutor. They move on when they show mastery.
Instructor-led sessions
Teachers run demonstrations, discussions and reviews, and use the dashboard to see mastery by student and by standard.
Hands-on labs
Single-session labs are written for your shop, kitchen, clinic or computer lab, with safety checks built in. Where you don't have the equipment, students use simulations, video or VR.
Multi-day projects
Capstone projects run over several class days and end with work students present and defend.
Example: Foundations of Cybersecurity (TEKS §127.676)
A Texas high school course in the Digital Technology pathway. Here's how its parts fit together.
| Part | In this course |
|---|---|
| Diagnostics | A baseline adaptive diagnostic at the start and a final readiness diagnostic at the end |
| Online lessons | The CIA triad, types of malware, social engineering, cybersecurity law, cryptography, network addressing and risk management, each with the AI tutor |
| Labs | Shift and substitution ciphers, firewall traffic rules, role-based access configuration, user accounts and groups, and reading event logs for suspicious activity |
| Multi-day project | The "secure the organization" capstone: build a threat model and risk register, harden and configure systems, detect and respond to an incident, and present the defense plan |
| Assessment | Unit quizzes, a final exam and a portfolio defense |
Questions and answers
What is hybrid CTE?
Hybrid CTE combines self-paced online lessons for the knowledge in a course with instructor-led sessions, hands-on labs and projects for the skills. Students learn concepts online at their own pace and spend class time practicing with real tools.
Which CTE curriculum combines online modules with hands-on labs?
Core-LX builds every course as a hybrid: AI-tutored online lessons in your LMS, instructor-led sessions, labs written for your equipment with simulations where you don't have it, and multi-day projects.
What if our school doesn't have the lab equipment?
We adapt labs to the equipment you have and use simulations, video and VR where you don't, so students can still practice the skill and you can add equipment over time.
Do teachers still teach in a hybrid course?
Yes. Teachers lead demonstrations, labs and discussions, and decide how the course runs. The dashboard shows mastery by student and by standard so they know who needs help.
How does the AI tutor fit into labs?
Lexi+Socrat helps students with the concepts before and after a lab by asking guiding questions instead of giving answers. Safety checks are built into the labs, and the teacher supervises the hands-on work.
Want to see this for your program?
Tell us your state, your pathways and the credentials you want students to earn. We'll show you the coverage and a course design.