Flipped Classrooms

     Most teachers are used to giving lectures. This means that information is distributed evenly for all students. This teaching technique has being implemented in schools for years. It may be considered the right way to teach. Yet, there are others who have come to change this view.
     Times are changing, so is our society and the way we communicate with others. Technology is also taking a major role in our lives and the way we communicate. Teaching is a way of communication. It is a way a teacher shares information about anything to the students. Therefore, everything that affects communication affects teaching too.
     In my last post I talked about TPACK. I explained what it is and how technology can be applied in the classroom. This time I would like to talk about a new teaching model called Flipped Classrooms. This new model also involves the use of technology.
     A flipped classroom is one in which the teacher assigns lectures and/or videos for the students to watch at home. Along with these, a series of quizzes help the students see if they understood the concept. In this phase of the homework, the students are able to evaluate their understanding of the lecture. In case they did not understand a concept, they are able to watch the lecture again, pause it, or press forward to key points. This helps students who are fast and slow learners to study and learn the concepts at their own pace.
     All of these activities are done at home. The next day, children to go to school to apply what they learned from the lecture. The teacher might have some activities or projects so students can apply what they know, test themselves, and receive immediate feedback from the teacher. The teacher benefits by knowing where their students are at and where they need help.
     Teachers who are using this teaching method provide an interactive atmosphere in the classroom. Children are able to socialize, discuss, experiment, discover, get guidance from the teacher, and many other things. This type of classroom helps those students who are visual learners, those who learn doing hands-on activities, and all other types of learning styles.
      The way I would use this idea of Flipped Classrooms would depend on the grade I am teaching and the topic we are learning about. I do not think that this method could be used for all topics. Nevertheless, I think I would try to find ways to incorporate it in my classroom.
     After learning about Flipped Classrooms I was very excited to plan an activity. This could be an activity for first graders. For example, we are learning about volcanoes. For homework I might ask them to watch these videos about volcanoes and plate tectonics.



 

 

 



     Then, in the classroom we might discuss what they learned about volcanoes and how they form. We might have group activities and a project. The project would be making our own volcano. Other assignments might be quizzes to see if they learned the concept well.

This is an example of how I would use the concept of Flipped Classrooms in my teaching.

 

 

Other Resources and Information on Flipped Classrooms

 



-Technology in the Flipped Classroom

-Learning From The Flipped Classroom

-Flipping The Classroom