What is a Flipped Classroom?
It is a "re-ordering" of education where certain lectures, procedures, and instructions are presented to students as "homework" so that classroom activities, simulations, and assignments can be conducted in class with their teacher. This "re-ordering" allows the teacher to better monitor student achievement and help them apply their new knowledge in a variety of ways.
From the web article, "The Flipped Class: What it is and What it is not" by Jon Bergmann, Jerry Overmyer and Brett Wilie (http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/the-flipped-class-conversation-689.php):
The Flipped Classrom is NOT:
- A synonym for online videos. When most people hear about the flipped class all they think about are the videos. It is the the interaction and the meaningful learning activities that occur during the face-to-face time that is most important.
- About replacing teachers with videos.
- An online course.
- Students working without structure.
- Students spending the entire class staring at a computer screen.
- Students working in isolation.
The Flipped Classrom IS:
- A means to INCREASE interaction and personalized contact time between students and teachers.
- An environment where students take responsibility for their own learning.
- A classroom where the teacher is not the "sage on the stage", but the "guide on the side".
- A blending of direct instruction with constructivist learning.
- A classroom where students who are absent due to illness or extra-curricular activities such as athletics or field-trips, don't get left behind.
- A class where content is permanently archived for review or remediation.
- A class where all students are engaged in their learning.
- A place where all students can get a personalized education.
My personal philosphy on a flipped classroom:
- It is not the end all/be all in education, but it is a tool that we can use to increase our time helping students apply what they have already learned with the teacher close by to help the student and monitor progress.
- It is not appropriate in all settings and in all lessons. (My Holocaust/Human Rights class, for instance)
- Can be a powerful way to reduce lecture time and increase time for activities, discussions, simulations, etc.
- Will need a new attitude toward "homework" - student learning outside of the classroom.