Flipped Classroom/classroom Flipping – A Trend In The Making

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Flipped Classroom/Classroom Flipping – A trend in the making
How many of us in our childhood have yearned to grow up fast and get out of the school? Almost everyone! Didn’t we all secretly wish that by some magic all our homework should just vanish?
Well, looks like our wish has come true partially – in the form for ‘Flipped classrooms’.

What is Classroom Flipping (or Flipped Classroom)
Wikipedia says “Flip teaching (or flipped classroom) is a form of blended learning/online learning which encompasses any use of technology to leverage the learning in a classroom, so a teacher can spend more time interacting with students instead of lecturing.” This kind of learning is done through teachview after class time.
It is called ‘Flipped classroom’ because the entire classroom/homework paradigm is “flipped” in this case. Meaning that what used to be classwork (the lecture) is now done at ‘home’ through teacher-created videos while what used to be homework (the assigned work) is now done in class.
Why does Flipped Classroom works
The pioneers of Flipped Classroom ...
... Aaron Sams and Jonathan Bergmann said in their book Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day – “In this model of instruction, students watch recorded lectures for homework and complete their assignments, labs, and tests in class.” Sams and Bergmann explain that the model is a mix of direct teaching and constructivism and hence beneficial for students who may have missed the class because they can watch the videos any time convenient to them. They further argue that because students watch/learn most lectures at home, they can spend the class time in clarifying their doubts or seeking teacher’s guidance in finishing an assignment.
However, the use of new technology in education has always had its share of pros and cons.
The bright side of flipped classroom:

• Students can learn at their own pace
• They can review what they need and when they need
• Absentees can stay up-to-date and refer to videos after class
• Benefits students who don’t understand a concept the first time
• Teacher is freed up to guide students in the class on one-on-one basis
• Effective use of multimedia in teaching
• Strengthens student/teacher relationships
• Enables students to “rewind” lessons and excel in topics
• Creates a collaborative learning environment in the classroom

Flip side of flipped classrooms:
• Not all students and schools have access to computer or internet technologies needed for flipped classroom
• An effective flip needs extensive and careful preparation by teachers. Lack of proper preparation on the part of teachers can adversely affect or hamper the students’ learning.
• Recording the lectures might be time-taking and tedious
• Out-of-class and in-class elements need to be properly integrated
• Students might end up glued to their computer screens and turn sedentary
• Some teachers feel that the expressions and body language of students help them gauge whether the students are really following what is being taught. This isn’t possible in flipping.
• There are students who still prefer classroom instructions over vodcasting
• Technical snags and glitches might cause hurdles in this learning technology.
Well, over all it’s not that bad. With the right kind of technology, an efficient and expressive teacher and all other factors considered, flipped classrooms might turn out to be a fun way to learn. So go ahead. Flip this classroom but don’t let it slip through your fingers.
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Gyan Web Solutions is a software product-based company. It was founded in December 2010, in Hyderabad, India by two enthusiastic and determined men with years of dynamic experience in the fields of electronic and computer engineering.