What is a "Flipped" Classroom?
The "Flipped" classroom is a teaching strategy that reverses the traditional "lecture" during class and activities and homework completed outside of class. Instead, students read the textbook, watch course videos, and get the instructional content BEFORE coming to class, and then use classtime for active learning activities such as small group work or discussions about the content. The idea is that students have the base knowledge before attending class, so they can engage in higher-order thinking during class deepening the learning.
The Flipped Classroom has some advantages:
- Students learn at their pace - when working on instructional content outside of class, students can go through it as fast or slow as they need. They can also go back at any time and review content
- Flexibility - Students can choose time/place to focus on instructional content. Instructors can also be flexible with how they structure in class activities based on how well students are comprehending the instructional content
- Community building - using in class time for more collaborative activities increases interaction between students and the instructor and builds a sense of community
- Higher-level (deeper) learning - When students get the base knowledge outside of class, they come to class prepared for higher level thinking
The Flipped Classroom tends to work well in hybrid courses that have limited in class time. Students taking a hybrid course also go in with the expectation that they will be completing online work prior to class time, so it's easier to hold students accountable.
The Flipped Classroom also presents some challenges:
- Time - It takes time for instructors to create or curate materials for students to use outside of class to replace traditional lecture. Instructor created videos are commonly used, and those take time to script, record, edit, and publish.
- Accountability - It can be a challenge to make sure students are completing work outside of class in preparation to attend class. Some ways to hold students accountable include quizzes, discussions, or reflective assignments that need to be completed before attending class.
It's important to understand that in practice, the flipped classroom may not be as clear cut. There still may be a need for short lecture during class time or students may need direct instruction on specific topics. Like any other method, going in with flexibility and adaptability will help make the course successful.
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