So previously I looked at "The lecture as we know it is dead..." So what can we do to either revive it, or maybe...turn it on it's head?
Talk of "The Flipped Classroom" has gained lots of momentum over the past few years. There's no definition or exact example of the flipped classroom, but more the idea and intent behind it.
It's about spending that valuable teaching time, engaging students in activity that provoke higher learning, give context to content and allow immediacy to the feedback that students require. Instead of being at home wondering if they are on the right path, they have their expert right there in class to discuss answers, ideas and issues with. Not only do they have you (or me) the expert there, they have their fellow students to collaborate with, learn from and return the favour of passing on their knowledge to fellow students. You know what they say... the best way to learn is to teach (see the learning pyramid in my last blog).
So, where's the content gone? This is the other part of the flip. The students are gaining the content (previously the didactic lecture) in their own time and before class. Whether it be the lecture now via podcast or YouTube for example. Or maybe a series of small lectures so the content is broken down into sections. Perhaps they can wonder through a prezi taking in small parts of the content at a time. Salam Khan (2011) gives an interesting TED talk on flipped classrooms and discussed how his audience (nephews) preferred the online version of him, than tutoring them 'in real life.' No offence was intended. They just liked that they could pause him, rewind him, review something and then move on. Food for thought or Flip for thought if you like a pun.
Research into the flipped classroom shows positive outcomes. Holland and Morra discussed how Clinton Dale High school in the United States flipped some classrooms. The outcomes had the fail rate for English drop from 50% to 19%.
Is it for everyone? As Spencer et al (2011) outlines, you need to review your end goal, and see if you have or can create the resources you need to ensure they get you (or more importantly your students) to that end goal. And it's not the pinnacle, you cant just say you've flipped your classroom and roll out the same 'flip' each semester. You still need to review, evaluate and revise your plan to ensure the student outcomes are met. As Sams says, "your flip needs to be in flux. (Sams, 2011)"
Now of course there's cons...there's always some cons. Maybe I'll do a prezi on it, you can have a read and then well discuss it ?
Berrett, D. "How 'flipping' the Classroom Can Improve the Traditional Lecture. 2012. The Chronicle of Higher Education. February 19. http://moodle.technion.ac.il/file.php/1298/Announce/How_Flipping_the_Classroom_Can_Improve_the_Traditional_Lecture.pdf
Holland, B and Morra, S. 20135 Flipped Classroom Issues (And Solutions) For Teachers. Accessed 23 September. http://www.edudemic.com/flipped-classroom-issues-solutions/
Khan,Salman. 2011 : Let's use video to reinvent education. TEDtalks video. 20:27
http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.htmlSams, A. "Setting The Flip Straight". 2011. The Daily Riff November 11. http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/the-flipped-class-shedding-light-on-the-confusion-critique-and-hype-801.php
Spencer,D., Wolf, D. and Sams A. " Are you ready to Flip?". 2011. The Daily Riff June 22.
