Flipped Classroom & Flipped Learning
Dear Parents/Guardians
By now many of you may have heard my voice coming through your home computer, your son or daughter’s iPod, some portable video device, or their cell phone and no I’m not calling them. What is going on? The answer is I’ve “flipped” the way my classroom works.
In an attempt to answer many of your questions, I have arranged a few below.
What is a flipped classroom?
A flipped classroom happens when the teacher’s lecture is delivered to students via video outside of the classroom. Then traditional class time is used for active problem solving, more in depth laboratory work, and one-to-one or small group tutoring with the teacher.
What is in the videos?
Your son or daughter will see me explain chemistry concepts, deliver notes, and sometimes watch me or other teachers perform chemical demonstrations through the use of instructional videos.
How much time outside of class?
Students will be expected to view 2-4 videos a week averaging anywhere between 5-15 minutes long each and fill in the appropriate handouts that are demonstrated in the videos by me.
What is done in class?
Students can watch the short video lectures that are available 24/7 as many times as they wish to grasp the content so when they come to class they are ready to jump into the lesson, ask questions, work on collaborative projects, and explore the content further.
What are the advantages of a flipped classroom?
In recent years with the amount of content often associated with the chemistry curriculum and the pace of the trimester schedule I noticed several students often grasped certain topics differently based on the objective(s) being taught. By standing up front to be within writing distance of my whiteboard and lecturing, then I often felt secluded from students that really needed my help and yet often felt that I was unable to challenge those students that were eager for more. I was missing out on student interaction. By flipping my classroom then my goal is to interact with every student every day. Students are allowed more freedom in my classroom now and have the capability to work at a pace with other students that is comfortable to them. As questions arise on assignments that in years past would be done at home then I, or other students, are available now in the classroom to assist them before frustration can take place. This gives me the capability to clear up quickly any misconceptions students may have or challenge those students that have mastered the objective. By removing the lecture from the classroom, then I can now spend a major portion of my class time on application of content with my students. I can give each student my individualized time and move throughout my classroom to make sure all students are engaged and challenged.
Is this teaching style new?
Although the term flipped classroom has become the new label, the concept of what is being done has been is very similar to what has been done for years in English classes where students would often read an assignment at home and then come in the next day ready to share what they had learned with their classmates and teacher. With the accessibility of technology, such as screen capturing, you tube, and document cameras, flipped classrooms have now been made possible in other subject matters especially the sciences.
What if I have limited computer access?
Students will be instructed in class as to how they can access the instructional videos. I have informed students with limited or no internet access that if they bring me a jump drive then I can load the videos onto them. If a student is unable to watch videos at home then there are computers available before and after school for them to watch them on. With the use of the iPads in my classroom then students may watch the short videos in class however this will cut into the time for group work or one to one tutoring that will take place now within the classroom.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach me. My email address is dragan@hpseagles.net. I encourage you to visit my blog page at http://draganchem.blogspot.com/ to keep up with our weekly classroom activities. If you would like to visit my classroom and see this in action then please email me to set up a time.
You can find out more on flipped classroom by visiting the following websites:
*The Flipped Class Network
● *Flipped Learning by Jon Bergmann
what parents should know if their child is in a flipped classroom
○ http://jonbergmann.com/what_parents_should_know_if_their_child_is_in_a_flipped_classroom/
Flipping the classroom is not the answer to solving all of the flaws in our education system.
However, neither is doing nothing and continuing on like nothing is wrong.
-
Brett Clarke
Mr. Ragan
Flip classed certified by Capella University