We are entering an interesting time in education... rather we've been here for the last 20 years or so. In the grand scheme of things, 20 years is not that long, and we're still discovering how fast things move in this new digital age. Although computers have been around for quite some time, the cost and availability to schools and in classrooms is a relatively new phenomenon, allowing schools the opportunity to teach to digital learners for the first time over the last several decades. This impact cannot be undervalued, and will have a lasting impact on our students for generations to come.
Technology has been a divisive tool for teachers, some teachers wanting as much of this new medium as possible, while others wish to stick to traditional classroom protocols and designs which have been followed for several thousand years. However, the influence of technology has been rapid and full of impact, allowing students new avenues to information and ways to learn, and teachers new ways to feel left behind knowing many students are way ahead of the curve on technology. This thought process prompted a new way of thinking in my teaching, creating a new approach to student learning which allows student input, activity within the classroom, and my role changing from the traditional lecture social studies class to a more engaging, student centered model of teaching.
Through my discovery I found the Flipped Classroom model of learning (www.flippedlearning.org), and it has revolutionized my class. We don't have the abundance of devices which would enable my class to become a full flipped class, so I've scrounged up four nasty computers from around the school, allowing students to watch the flipped lesson. These once a week lessons allow for better in-class instruction, allowing higher level thinking skills to be the center of instruction, instead of the lower level skills included in a traditional lecture. The student's excitement for the flips is contagious, and every week they are clamoring for more and constantly asking when the next flip will be posted. This excitement spreads all over, and many students are asking other teachers in the school to start flipping lessons.
Many of the issues have been answered in implementing the flipped model in my classroom. Students now have access and time to get my flips done with the availability of computers in my class, however I still feel like the bare minimum is being accomplished. My student's learning using the flipped classroom will only be fully realized when the student access question is addressed through more devices in our schools. Until then, flipped lessons will be the best I can do for my students, even though their excitement wants this experiment to continue.
I did a research project on the flipped classroom and loved it. The model is such a great way to get kids engaged in learning. Plus I feel kids are more comfortable when they have taken a look at the concept before it is actually experimented with in class. If I look back on my teaching career, I have been exposing kids to the concepts before it was introduced in class. The only difference is I did this approach with my intensive students only. That way the lesson was pretaught to them and they had exposure before the full class instruction. Good Luck with your experiment. I am sure the kids are totally enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI am so interested in the Flipped Classroom, two of my teacher friends tried it for the Action Research project and had some great successes. My fear is low percentage of families having internet access. I teach in a predominately low income area. Have you run into the problem? If so, how do you compensate?
ReplyDeleteI have thought a great deal about flipping my science classroom so my students have more time to work on investigations in class. Their homework would be to view and learn the content at home. You mentioned these are once a week lessons, so what subject are you flipping?
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have really made a connection with your students through the flipped classroom approach. I experienced a similar reaction from my kindergarten students when I took a flipped learning approach to literacy. The motivation shown by the students has led me to consider a flipped learning approach for math instruction as well. I am curious about your lessons. Does the one flip cover one subject, one week, or one unit? Keep up the great work!