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What is a flipped classroom?
- Flipped learning is a method where students learn the class material at home and master it at school with collaborative activities.
While students traditionally reinforce what they learn at school with homework at home, it is the exact opposite in a flipped classroom.
In a flipped classroom, students always have their lecture materials ready. They study and learn the topic at home themselves, not with the teacher. Therefore, they can collaboratively work with other students in their free class time under the supervision and guidance of their teacher.
The class time is used for higher-order activities such as collaboration and exercises rather than passively listening to lectures in flipped learning. With this approach, the method aims to maximize the value students get from learning.
Does it really achieve it, though?
Is a flipped classroom effective?
The studies around flipped classrooms have mixed results.
Many studies show higher student satisfaction and performance due to flipped learning. Nevertheless, not every study points to the same conclusion.
Perhaps the most extensive research to address this question is the meta-analysis made by David C.D. van Alten of Utrecht University. Taking into account 114 studies comparing flipped and non-flipped classrooms, this meta-analysis found a slightly better learning performance in flipped classes. However, student satisfaction was found to be the same.
Other studies also show different results based on the course topic, students, and implementation. Therefore, it is a matter of when, where, and how. In order to determine whether your class is worth flipping, you have to think based on your circumstances.
Also, see this: What Is A Virtual Classroom? How To Make It Interactive?
Advantages and disadvantages of flipped learning
As we mentioned, flipped classes are neither terrific nor terrible.
We listed some of their advantages and disadvantages below.
What are the advantages of flipped learning?
Let us start with some upsides of this approach.
It facilitates autonomous learning. Thanks to flipped classrooms, students can develop the skill to learn independently. This skill is not only applicable to school, but it also translates into professional life. Being able to learn a topic independently is an invaluable ability to master. Flipped learning develops that.
Students can learn at their own pace. As opposed to traditional education, students can learn at their own pace in flipped learning, which is student-centric. They can stop whenever they encounter something they don't get. They don't have to spend time on topics that they have already mastered. Therefore, it is more efficient.
Active class time is more personalized. Education cannot fit into a one-fits-all model. Each student has their own needs. That's why teachers should determine how much time and effort they put into each student. While this is impossible in traditional learning, teachers can do it in flipped classrooms.
Flipped learning increases engagement. Students do not passively listen to lectures during class time. They actively collaborate with their peers. They discuss ideas. They communicate. This leads to more engaged students as opposed to ones who are simply recipients of the information.
Lessons are more accessible. Students can always reach their class material in a flipped classroom. So, if they miss a class for any reason, they can catch up by studying themselves.
What are the disadvantages of flipped learning?
Flipped learning also has some cons to be considered.
Teachers must rely on students. As flipped learning is a student-centric approach, students have to do their job and make it work. If they don't study their material at home, teachers cannot facilitate in-class interaction, which makes the model useless.
Implementation is harder. In order to make a flipped classroom work, teachers must devote more time to their job. They have to pre-record or prepare class material beforehand. They have to come up with engaging activities for the active class time. Therefore, schools might need more resources to implement flipped learning.
Not everyone has the same opportunities. Students with special needs might not be able to keep up with the class content themselves. There may also be some students who don't have access to digital resources, which is a problem for flipped classrooms that adopt a digital model. Therefore, it can be burdensome to make sure every student gets the same benefit.
Not every topic is suitable for self-learning. Everything has its time and place. You would want to learn an operative technique with a hands-on approach. Theoretical topics, on the other hand, are more suitable for self-learning. So, flipped learning can have diminishing returns for particular matters.
Final words
New approaches to education get more popular with each passing day. A flipped classroom technique is one of those methods. This way of teaching aims to optimize the learning process by making students learn at home and master at school via discussions and activities.
Whether flipped learning is an effective method depends on many other factors. The topic of discussion, the dedication of the students, and the class time all play a role in the efficiency of the method. Therefore, you should approach implementing flipped learning in a way that's suitable for your class' situation.
For questions about the flipped classroom or other topics related to the virtual classroom, please contact us!
