Flipped Learning
"Flipped Learning makes learning, not teaching, the centre of the classroom." - Jon Bergmann
What is the strength in the flipped model? Is it the one-on-one time with the instructor, more focused lecture material, the check-ins, progress monitoring or a combination of all of these factors? One strength is the switch from teacher-centred learning to student-centred learning. Students can learn at their own pace (either faster or slower/more repeats) and get individualized assistance from faculty. Peer-learning also can take place more easily. The faculty is the "head learner" in the classroom, they solve problems with the students if problems come up that the faculty or another peer can't answer.
Incorporating Flipped Learning
On their own...
- Have students listen to podcasts
- Have students watch videos that instructor creates on own, or with others
- Have students watch narrated PowerPoints
- Have students watch videos that others have created (YouTube, TED) - the key is to realize that the particular instructor for the class doesn't have to be the one to create the videos - they can come from anywhere in the world...experts in the field!
- Build interactive lessons around videos (TEDEd)
- Students produce their own videos to teach concepts to classmates, or for the next class of students who will take the course after them
- Mix up the "at home" work with articles to read, visuals to ponder, and Skype study groups
- Students submit questions/reflections to instructor before class (same link as above)
In class...
- Help students with (what used to be) homework, one-on-one support around the room
- Class discussion - getting deeper into the issues/mastery / well-crafted questions to help students apply their knowledge and understand the issues
- Labs/hands-on activities/problem work
- Students teach each other
- Student creates a project - or "artifact of understanding" to demonstrate synthesis of learning: reflective blog post, artwork, creative writing, sound recordings, media presentation, collection of images with reflective text
- Students work at own pace through the material
- Possibly use real-time polling devices to gauge class understanding and further discussion
Online
It should be clear how flipped learning is being used in the classroom. But what about online, is there a place for flipped learning in the online classroom? Coursera uses the video component (short video lectures interspersed with quizzes/questions) of the flipped learning model, but not the in-class exercises. In a Coursera course, students work on exercises outside of class, and hand them in for peer-review.
At RRU, many programs use a blended approach combining online courses with residency periods. Pre-reading material prior to residency means students arrive ready to discuss material, changing the traditional lecturer role from one of content expert to discussion leader.1
For online courses that use Collaborate, consider having students watch a video before attending the synchronous session - for technical reasons you don't want to have students watching videos in Collaborate.
The negatives of flipping,
- Can reinforce lecture based model of teaching and learning. Videos need to be more than pre-recorded lectures. "Experienced educators are concerned that when bad teaching happens in the classroom, it's a crisis; but that when it happens on YouTube, it's a "revolution".
- "If you think it's only about the videos, then you have a really shallow definition of what this could be. The real power is when students take responsibility for their own learning." http://plpnetwork.com/2012/10/08/flip-love-affair/
- "Careful that you don't create the 'course and a half'" - http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/2775
- Initially could be a lot of work for faculty to create the resources needed for the flip (eg. videos) - but it doesn't just have to be video
More Resources
Flipped Classroom: The Full Picture for Higher Education
Flipped Learning: A Response To Five Common Criticisms
Advancing the Flip: Developments in Reverse Instruction
Flipped Learning | Turning Learning on Its Head
Educause: 7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Learning
How do I create Video for my course - Video Production Resources at RRU
If you are interested in the flipped learning approach and are thinking about trying it in your course, please chat with the instructional designer for your program area.
1 Grundy, S. (2013). Comment: Online learning shaking up the world of education, Times-Colonist. January 30.