What Is A Flipped Classroom?
In the traditional classroom model, teachers first explain each topic, and then assign homework. In the flipped classroom model, students first view the topics outside of class, and then use class time for inquiry-based learning, which in some ways resembles traditional homework assignments.
A flipped or reversed classroom uses educational technologies to leverage valuable classroom time. Once students have covered material traditionally covered in lectures outside of the classroom, teachers can focus on learning-based activities in the classroom, and also deliver more one-on-one, customized assistance.
In the following video, Salman Khan discusses how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos. Khan Academy began many years ago as an extensive series of videos covering a broad math curriculum. Later, it branched out to cover a stunning array of diverse subjects, including science, technology, economics, and the humanities. In addition to videos, Khan also demonstrates the power of interactive exercises, and calls upon teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script. He suggests providing students with video lectures that they can watch at home, followed by having the students do their "homework" in the classroom, where the teacher is available to help. This has many advantages, and has become a hot topic of both conversation and careful experimentation among the educational community.
I highly encourage you to read "The Flipped Classroom Guide for Teachers" where you will find:
- How Does a Flipped Classroom Contribute to Student Learning?
- The Top 7 Benefits of a Flipped Classroom
- The Top 6 Disadvantages of a Flipped Classroom
- 6 Tips for Successfully Flipping your Classroom
Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education
In the following video, Aaron Sams, who teaches biology, chemistry, and AP chemistry at Woodland Park High School in Colorado, discusses his ultimate goal as a teacher, to "help students become learners who can learn for themselves and by themselves."
Flipped Classrooms and Video as Homework
Last but not least, Daniel Grafton created the following Infographic to identify some key issues related to the Flipped Classroom.
"The Fuss Over Flipped Classrooms".
P.S.: Thank you Gene Levinson for the editing!