To flip or not to flip: That is the Question!

Unless you've been under a rock in the last few years (you and me both!), you most likely have heard of the concept of a "flipped class." In my search of information on this topic, I've seen credit go to  Aaron Sams and Jonathan Bergmann and Salman Kahn. I've also seen posted comments that flipped classrooms have been around a long time, which is evidenced in English Language Arts teachers who asked students to read and come prepared to discuss. The bottom line is that there is enough variation and ideas around extending and rearranging the typical class flow that it really doesn't matter. And it's about the ideas, not the people, right?

In a traditional classroom, the typical order is classroom lecture and instruction and then homework as: work learners do at home, under the guidance of family and that extends students' opportunities to practice and understand routines and knowledge. However, this model of post-classroom instruction  opportunities has its shortcomings. It is a precarious thing to ask students who are learning new routines or concepts to continue their learning through practices without the necessary supports and redirection that the classroom can provide. Consequently, the flipped class requires students to watch teachers deliver instruction through video prior to class and receive instructional support and clarification during class, where teachers can guide and redirect students.

I believe another powerful use of the flipped class is to wet students' appetite for what they are going to learn. TED Ed offers (at the time of this writing) 66 short, spellbound videos that are based on concepts that support instruction. For example, exponential growth is covered in  How Folding Paper Can Get You to the Moon and explains this concept in an understandable and memorable way. The site is growing and concepts in multiple content areas are addressed.

A few good sites on this topic are: Flipped Learning (new but growing!) and The Flipped Class Network, and Flip Teaching.

Bottom line, it's all about reordering the learning experience, engaging students through technology (hello 21st century!), expanding the time for learning, and crafting the learning experience as a collaborative effort.

Remember...this is one person's learning ideas related to UDL...one step at a time! See you back here next week.