Flipped Classroom

If your teachers were anything like mine, you probably focused a lot during college on “I do, we do, you do”.  This means that the teacher first shows students what to do, does it with them, and then allows them to practice independently, often as homework.  Many times, students are not well enough versed in the topic to successfully complete the task at home. To eliminate this, the flipped classroom method has become quite common.  In a flipped classroom, the process is reversed to “you do, we do, I do”. In summary, the students will “teach” themselves through videos, articles, or textbooks at home. Then, upon entering the classroom, the students will have the opportunity to put their new learning into action.  This eliminates the need for students to do homework, other than learning new content for the next day. They are able to practice in the classroom with a teacher and peers there for support. Teachers are able to work one-on-one with their students for a longer period of time because the original time spent lecturing or reading the textbook is eliminated. 

A flipped classroom can be super beneficial, but it is important for the teacher to determine the right time and content to use this approach. Students learn so much more when they are able to customize their learning to fit their own needs, but they must first learn how to do so. Marginalizing, highlighting, or chunking sections are all excellent ways to teach students that they can customize their learning when reading lengthy articles or textbooks.  Note taking guides are also super helpful, especially when watching videos. It is important to note that this method may not be the best strategy for younger students. Lower elementary students are not proficient in reading and writing, making it nearly impossible for them to participate in this activity. While they can watch videos, they are not able to take notes and are less likely to retain the information. Overall, this strategy can be super effective and provide the atmosphere that students need to excel in class.  However, the teacher must analyze each student’s learning preferences and the content being taught to determine if a flipped classroom is appropriate for a specific lesson. The following video does a great job of explaining what a flipped classroom is and may be beneficial to show students when describing the content.