Flipped is the new word/concept that is inspiring teachers and, it would seem, students. The “flipped classroom” idea involves changing what kids do for homework and what teachers and their students do in the classroom. Students watch their teacher’s recorded lectures on their home computers or smartphones. Classroom time is used for problem solving, experiments, and lots of hands on activities.
Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams wrote “Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day,” which was published last June. Educational videos are available on the Internet but some teachers make their own. In an article in the “Journal News” on Wednesday, May 1, entitled “Students Flip For Class Structure” students and teachers quoted in the story were enthusiastic about this approach to learning. Teacher Daniel Lipin says, “The entire class time is exploration and activities and discovering.”
There are obviously many benefits in this new approach. Some kids said they can watch the lectures more than once if they need to hear a concept explained again. Parents feel that this kind of learning is more exciting for their students. Another plus is that parents are relieved that homework is in the classroom where the teacher can help rather than the parents.
This idea can work, I think, with some subjects and some concepts, but not with everything included in the the eduction of children in grades K-12. Since testing has become more and more of a focus in American schools, can this approach handle all that needs to be covered in the classroom? Will this idea gain wider acceptance? What about urban or rural areas where kids don’t have access to technology? Will the individual student’s need to read diminish with more on an emphasis on the visual? Time and a wider exposure to this concept will tell.