Classroom Flipping

By definition, a flipped classroom entails the "lecture" to be completed at home, and "homework" is completed in class.

But to be more specific...

I consider it “an educational technique that consists of two parts: interactive group learning activities inside the classroom, and direct computer-based individual instruction outside the classroom”(Bishop & Verleger, 2013, p.5).

Why don't teachers like the idea of a flipped classroom?

Some reasons to dislike

• Takes too much time to make videos
• Not all my students have access to appropriate technology
• There are not enough/the right kind of resources
• Students do not watch them anyway

Bergmann and Sams wrote a book called "Flip Your Classroom" and created an online network for teachers.

Bergmann and Sams' Solutions

• Time: Find videos made by others, just flip one lesson at first and get feedback
• Access: Give DVDs and flashdrives, YouTube
• Motivation: Make the videos fun to watch, create an entrance ticket for students to bring to class

The first pioneers of the "inverted model" were Lage, Platt, & Tregalia at the University of Miami.

These professors provided many different resources containing the same information, so students could choose how they wanted to gain the information.

They found that students found the class format beneficial, and the workload was not more than traditional instruction.

Is the flipped classroom the most effective instructional model?

That depends.

Some students cannot prepare before class.
-maturity
-cognitive ability

In these cases, the flipped classroom does not make sense.

However, creating videos for use at home to preview/review and discuss with parents can be beneficial.

Active learning opportunities is the key to a flipped classroom.

Jensen, Kummer, & Godoy compared a flipped and traditional model of instruction, but both contained active learning activities.

Insignificant difference

How can a flipped classroom model attend to social justice?

Take away the student responsibility.
Do the "flipping" in class and do not assume students have the resources at home.

The blended model combines classroom learning with online learning
(Tucker, 2013).

Ideas for blending

• Students watch the video lesson and discuss the content in groups - gives teacher the freedom to walk around to listen and help students.

Incorporating technology provides time to listen, observe, and meet with students who normally do not get attention.

Use the time that would otherwise be direct instruction to engage students in active-learning activities.

Consider digital literacy and what opportunities you are providing for students to prepare for their digital future.