What is a "Flipped Classroom"?
“Flipping the classroom” has become something of a buzzword in the last several years, driven in part by high profile publications in The New York Times (Fitzpatrick, 2012); The Chronicle of Higher Education (Berrett, 2012); and Science (Mazur, 2009); In essence, “flipping the classroom” means that students gain first exposure to new material outside of class, usually via reading or lecture videos, and then use class time to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge, perhaps through problem-solving, discussion, or debates.
Often we will be utilizing a flipped classroom method. In a traditional classroom, teachers lecture during class time and students are sent home with practice problems to complete. Flipping the classroom is a slightly different method in which course materials are introduced outside of class, and in-class time is re-purposed for inquiry, application, and assessment in order to better meet the needs of individual learners. Course materials might include readings, pre-recorded video lectures, or research assignments. In class, we will review those concepts, evaluate student understanding, and address misconceptions. Students will complete critical thinking questions, hands-on activities, labs, debates, discussions etc. in collaborative groups during class. This format allows more time in class for hands-on activities and labs. If the students gained basic knowledge outside of class, then they need to spend class time to promote deeper learning. In a flipped classroom, the teacher is a facilitator instead of a lecturer. The flipped classroom puts a lot of responsibility on the student to remain engaged and work hard at home, much like the experience students will get in college. I want to ensure that students are well-prepared for college and beyond when they leave my classroom and this method will help do just that. To clarify, students are not expected to learn new material completely on their own but will be introduced to it so class-time is not the first time they are seeing the material. Important class handouts can be found on this website, although all important documents will be posted on Google Classroom as well. Students can also find review materials with answer keys and review videos on this website. |
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