What is a Flipped Classroom?

          In a recent article from the magazine Educational Leadership I learned about a new method of teaching. Something known as a Flipped Classroom, is creating a lot of buzz. The main purpose of this flipped classroom is having more in-class time with your students. A lot of times, especially in college classrooms, lecturing is the basis of the class period. Even in high school classrooms, teachers have to introduce new material and lecture for most of the class. Then students do an assignment at home based on the lecture. This new idea of a classroom has teachers tape their lectures on new material that the students take home and watch. Then the next day in class the teacher does not have to explain from the beginning, but instead they do what would be homework in the classroom. It gives the teacher more one on one time with the students. I think with subjects like math this could be really effective. I remember learning something like a new concept and going home and never understanding the homework. Teachers record themselves on a track with a PowerPoint or of them actually teaching. Usually for about 10-15 minutes and the students can watch it as many times as they need to at home. They can also use it to study before a test. The article says that many teachers feel this would take up too much of their time, but it’s only some added work to their already made lessons. The article compares this to having to students read pages in the text the day before they learn something new. These videos can be more effective because the teacher is actually lecturing them which makes it more exciting. The name flipped learning comes from the fact that you are flipping what is actually done. Usually there is an in class lecture and then a homework assignment. Instead the kids watch the lecture at home and apply what they have learned with the teacher in class. I think this can be effective for students who struggle with homework that is assigned on new material. They have the teacher there for them if they need help. There is also more in class time for activities, like in a Social Studies classroom, I can have students doing projects and applying what I lectured on the night before. I think this method of teaching gives teachers a better chance at making sure all students are keeping up.

“Education is for everyone, but the way in which we deliver education—and the way in which students receive it—is not the same for everyone.”[1]

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/12/why-flips-flop.html

               

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[1] Sams, Aaron, and Jonathan Bergmann. "Flip Your Students' Learning." Educational Leadership: Technology Rich Learning Mar. 2013: 16-20. Print.