Flipping Classrooms
Some times I feel like I am the last one to know when there is something new happening, for the good or for the bad. After going through the assigned videos/articles on the flipped classroom I finally understand what my high school son is talking about!
My son is a senior now and he has been complaining for years that the teachers at his private high school have decided to no longer teach. The private school is a STEM school, aiming at enhancing education through science, technology, engineering and math. However, I have long since been aware that my son can "color" his school experience into a loosely interpreted novel-turned movie. His explanation of a flipped classroom made me think that the teachers just assigned videos, walked in the classroom, assigned homework and just checked out.
However that is not the case at all and now I finally understand what has happened, and it actually seems smart to flip the classroom. Using the time in the classroom with the teacher to be available when completing the assignments, homework or group work. I remember sitting through lecture and afterwards having five to ten minutes to start working on the homework. The homework was always easy . . . until you got home to finish it and then it just seemed difficult and impossible with no teacher available to help! By flipping the classroom the teacher is available to explain during the difficult problems, all of the problems. The lecture, then too, can be totally overhauled into a video with more much more appeal, also interesting graphics and music. The videos can be viewed at the students home and watched as many times as it takes to understand the concepts.
Flipping the classroom encourages independent learning and can easily lead to a love of learning because the frustrating portion is done when a teacher is present to help out. I wish I understood what was happening in my son's high school from the beginning. Communicating is so important especially when change is occurring, especially across generations, mantras are simply not enough.
My son is a senior now and he has been complaining for years that the teachers at his private high school have decided to no longer teach. The private school is a STEM school, aiming at enhancing education through science, technology, engineering and math. However, I have long since been aware that my son can "color" his school experience into a loosely interpreted novel-turned movie. His explanation of a flipped classroom made me think that the teachers just assigned videos, walked in the classroom, assigned homework and just checked out.
However that is not the case at all and now I finally understand what has happened, and it actually seems smart to flip the classroom. Using the time in the classroom with the teacher to be available when completing the assignments, homework or group work. I remember sitting through lecture and afterwards having five to ten minutes to start working on the homework. The homework was always easy . . . until you got home to finish it and then it just seemed difficult and impossible with no teacher available to help! By flipping the classroom the teacher is available to explain during the difficult problems, all of the problems. The lecture, then too, can be totally overhauled into a video with more much more appeal, also interesting graphics and music. The videos can be viewed at the students home and watched as many times as it takes to understand the concepts.
Flipping the classroom encourages independent learning and can easily lead to a love of learning because the frustrating portion is done when a teacher is present to help out. I wish I understood what was happening in my son's high school from the beginning. Communicating is so important especially when change is occurring, especially across generations, mantras are simply not enough.
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