To Flip or Not to Flip

Prior to reading this week’s articles, I wasn’t very familiar with what a Flipped Classroom actually was, and therefore did not have much of an opinion about it.  After reading the articles for this week, I think that a Flipped Classroom can benefit many students.

 One part that stuck out at me was in the article The Flipped Learning Model: Executive Summary.  One part of this article talks about the two “pioneers” of Flipped Learning using video presentations for students who had to miss class time due to school competitions, games or other events.  I can connect with this and understand how flipped learning would benefit students that had to leave early.  In elementary school, I was in band.  We practiced two days a week at a different school than my own.  The practice time was during our lunch hour, but in order to arrive at the other school and have enough practice time, we had to leave the class that we were in before lunch early.  While it seemed nice to be able to leave class early at the time, this set-up was not ideal.  This meant that two times a week I was missing about one-half of the same class period, which in reality equaled missing one class period a week.  If a Flipped Classroom was available at this time, I would not have missed out on so much of the information.

                In The Flipped Class is Here to Stay by Brian Bennett, there are many key points that are listed that I find would benefit students.  I liked how the article made sure to mention that the teacher is not being replaced by computer screens or other aides.  I think that is a common misconception among people who are against Flipped Classrooms.  Bennett stated, “The teacher is present and active…a member of the learning community.  Rather than being a dispenser of information, the teacher is an active learner with the group”.  I think that the teacher being active in the classroom, rather than just giving students information will keep the students focused on the material.  It will allow students who need extra help to receive this, and allow other students to work independently if they have mastered the concept. Students don’t learn at the same pace regardless of their age or grade level, so by having the teacher free to help students who need concepts further explained, does not take away practice time for students who have already grasped the concept.