8 Head-Slapping Facts about “Flipped Classrooms”

A summarized collection of facts and topics around the "Flipped Classroom" topic sweeping across the education industry (paraphrased from sources noted after each):

1.    The concept of a Flipped Classroom is a very basic, yet revolutionary concept. Learning of the subject and acquiring knowledge is done by the student with the guidance of the instructor.

(TeacherCast.net)

2.    “…if significant learning opportunities are capitalized on during class time, this could truly change learning and solve the problem, at least temporarily, of engaging students with material outside of the classroom.”

(Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning)

3.    Students view online lectures for homework, freeing precious class-time for tackling difficult problems, researching, collaborating and creating. “Classrooms become laboratories or studios, and yet content delivery is preserved.”

(Jonathan Martin: http://www.connectedprincipals.com/archives/3367)

4.    There is no one ‘Flipped Classroom’ model; the term has connotations that do not adequately describe educational uses of online video technology.

(The Daily Riff)

5.    There are both advantages and disadvantages to the ‘Flipped Classroom’ model. While there are emerging success stories, concerns grow that lower-income students don't have reliable Internet or computer access outside of school.

(USA Today)

6.    Success stories come from engaging and animated teachers; questions arise if this method can be as effective if a less than entertaining (read: boring) teacher creates similar videos for students to view.

(Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning)

7.    Over half of ASCD Smartbrief survey respondents have tried the ‘flipped classroom” model:

8.    Flipping the classroom places the accountability on students for their education; in this environment students gravitate toward collaboration.

“Collaboration represents a virtue in the online world. Rather than working one-on-one, technology enables students to collaborate with one another and work with a range of interactive, instructional resources. This can include teachers, parents, peer tutors, volunteers, and other interested individuals. Turning education into a social event with regular feedback and challenging assignments helps to spur student achievement.”

(Brookings Report ‘Using Technology to Personalize Learning and Assess Students in Real-Time,’ Darrell M. West; October 2011)

What facts have you found recently around teachers flipping their classrooms?