Flipping The Classroom

This week in my EDUC 407 class we learned about "flipping the classroom." which is the process of students doing the initial learning at home through online resources and then doing the "homework" for said learning in the classroom the next day.

This concept really called to me in a unique way because of how it gives students a way of having more one-on-one time with the teacher and how it offers more active learning in class. I feel when students are engaged they have a better chance of retaining the material. And by making the classroom active and as rigid it can help encourage engagement. 

The fact that flipping the classroom is a possibility is in itself just downright cool. Thanks to screen sharing (screencasting) videos, or even going through slideshows the added voice over, teachers have a way of giving students the chance of going back and re-watching a presentation on a subject with the addition of teacher instruction. Which can only help in terms of studying for mid-terms, finals, or even just quizzes and tests. 

Last time I wrote about how we can't expect students to pay attention for long stretches, especially because of technology. Well this is the back door. Making homework simply watching and briefly interacting with a video no longer than the many a student will most likely already do so at home on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat simply makes sense. Spending about 10-15 minutes of time for homework, and super easy homework at that, gives even the most attention deficit students a chance at learning and maintaining the material they are taught. 

This model also helps set students up for college in a unique way. While professors may lecture for a little longer than a brief five to 10 minute video, they will also want to engage the class in discussion (for most subjects). Having to engage in discussions online about the teaching in a forum, and then talking about what is learned and re-connecting to the key points in class the next day is almost exactly what happens in a twice-a-week, hour-an-a-half-long class in college. Many professors even want students to have gone over presentations before class, which again only furthers the good habits that flipping the classroom can embed. 

My only caveat with this is for students who don't have access to the internet at home. Which I'm sure then there are accommodations that could be created. 

I'm interested to see how many teachers begin flipping the classroom as the practice becomes more common.