At the end of each semester, instructors often reflect on what went well and what might be improved upon. One method worth looking at for next semester is a flipped classroom.
What is a flipped classroom? As the name suggests, it flips how students learn. Instead of hearing information for the first time in class from a lecture or other presentation, students are exposed to the information for the first time on their own time before class. What happens in the classroom then? In the classroom, students engage with the material, their peers, and their instructor to deepen their understanding.
Pros and Cons of the Flipped Classroom
Pros
There are many benefits to a flipped classroom, including flexibility, higher engagement with the course material, and improved interpersonal skills.
Flipped classrooms offer flexibility in learning styles. Students gain their first exposure to the material on their own. They can choose to do so in a way that is best for them instead of everyone receiving a lecture. Instructors also have the flexibility to adjust in-class activities to meet students where they are and promote absorption of the material.
Students are also more engaged with the material. Since they are first exposed to the material on their own, engaged and thorough note-taking is key. Students are encouraged to bring questions to class, and the in-class activity further helps students understand the concept.
The in-class activities are designed to help students engage with the material and their peers. As they work with peers to complete the activity, students develop interpersonal skills like cooperation and active listening.
Cons
Now for the cons. The flipped classroom model puts a lot of responsibility on students. They must do the reading before class and come prepared. They must also participate in the in-class activities if they are to get the most out of their in-class time. Additionally, instructors need to put more effort into collecting and creating materials for both the at-home assignments and the in-class activities.
However, for those willing to put in the work, flipped classrooms have been shown to be “more effective than lecture-based learning across most disciplines, with the greatest academic and intra-/interpersonal benefits in language, technology, and health-science courses” (Bredow & Roehling), with the greatest improvements coming from environments in which the default learning style was lecture-based.
Tools for Success
So how can you make the transition to a flipped classroom? Start small. Not every class needs to be in the flipped classroom style for students to reap the benefits. Start with just a few classes and see how it goes. Incorporate pre- or in-class quizzes or assessments to encourage students to complete the pre-class reading and be prepared for in-class activities.
Source
Bredow, C., & Roehling, P. (2021, September 28). “Flipped learning: What is it, and when is it effective?” Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/flipped-learning-what-is-it-and-when-is-it-effective/
