Thursday, July 24, 2014
The "Flipped" Classroom
These two articles on the "Flipped" classroom, provided me with a lot of detailed information on the concept of this classroom. I have only heard of the concept of the flipped classroom once or twice before, and I didn't know much about it. The "Flipped Classroom" is where teachers provide the students with video lectures to watch at home. After the students watch the lesson, they come to class the next day and work on in class exercises. The teacher is there to answer questions and provide the students with individual attention. After reading the articles, it seems that it could be a helpful way of learning for a lot of students. I like this kind of classroom because the students are doing exercises in class and hands on activities. From what I have experienced, the majority of people learn the most when they have to figure the concept out through hands on activities and other in class exercises. I agree when article "7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Classrooms" says that in this type of classroom the students have to take responsibility for their learning. There is no room for students to sit in class and "participate passively". This is an important part of the classroom model because the students who may float by in class will not be able to float by any longer. The students may not like the idea of this classroom because it may seem like more work for them, but in the long run I can see them learning concepts on a deeper level.
One problem I had with the flipped classroom model is that it requires students to have a computer or some type of technological device at their house. Students who come from a lower socioeconomic background may have trouble if they don't have access to a computer to watch the lessons at home. I wouldn't want the students who don't have access to computers to be singled out in a class where a lot of the students do have access to such devices. Also, as long as the teacher puts time and effort into the lessons that the students watch, I think that this classroom model will be successful. I would like to observe a class that is a "flipped" classroom to see how it works, and ask the students what they like or don't like about it.
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Meredith,
ReplyDeleteIt seems like we both have the same concerns about catering to students who have limited or no access to a technological device and/or the internet. In college, this flipped method is often used when I was assigned to read however many pages in a text, take notes, and then be expected to come in the next day to participate in a discussion. Going back to what we have just leaned about the SAMR scale, I would say that this method of teaching would hit all categories on the scale. The great thing about this method as you mentioned, was that not only are the students now carrying their own weight, but so are the instructors! By having instructors post their lectures onto a public website, people like Principals and parents have the opportunity to look at their work; this could be a great way to eliminate teachers who do not have their student's best interest!
Hi Meredith, I agree that it could be a helpful tool in the classroom especially by how it can be used to engage those students who learn best by visual, auditory, and kinesthetic means. The material is presented in a more exciting, appealing way than the traditional lecture and allows for students to collaborate with peers to learn from one another. Also, like you mentioned, it gives students the responsibility for their learning, having active participation a basic principle in the model. Do you think that with this style of classroom that the teacher's role could be minimized to just being a facilitator? This is just a thought I had because I have heard the argument that technology could eventually put teachers out of the classroom. It probably is just an over-exaggerated argument. The point you brought up about students who may not have access to a computer at home is a very important and valid one. The flipped classroom could only work if this premise were completely fulfilled. Thanks for your thoughtful perspective!
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