Post #6 Flipping the Classroom

What is flipped teaching or flipped classroom?  According to Fitzpatrick of the Chronicle of Higher Education  “Is a form of blended learning in which students learn new content online by watching video lectures, usually at home, and what used to be homework (assigned problems) is now done in class with teacher offering more personalized guidance and interaction with students, instead of lecturing (Fitzpatrick, 2012).

            To my understanding it means that flipped classrooms free class time for hands-on work. Students learn by doing and asking questions. Students can also help each other, a process that benefits both the advanced and less advanced learners. Flipped classrooms use technology—online video instruction, laptops, DVDs of lessons—to reverse what students have traditionally done in class and at home to learn. Listening to lectures becomes the homework assignment so teachers can provide more one-on-one attention in class and students can work at their own pace or with other students.

            When I tried out flipped teaching in my classroom,” I faced a big obstacle, because none of my students had computers at home, and I had just one in the classroom with my 23 fifth-graders at Alofau Elementary School, fortunately in our school we have a computer lab that my students now alternate between working on the computers and working with me. So far, the strategy is showing signs of success. I use class time to tailor instruction to students who started the school year behind their classmates in reading and math, and I have seen rapid improvement.

            The only disadvantage is when our students go home after school, they don’t have the resources necessary to understand, and sometimes don’t complete their homework. Many families are not able to provide the expertise and technology needed to help with their children’s homework, so when we send kids home at the end of each day; we’re putting them into environments that are not capable of supporting their learning needs.

           By reversing our instructional procedures so that students do their homework at school, we can appropriately align our learning support and resources for all of our students, and eliminate the difference that currently outbreaks our schools. When students do homework at school, they can receive access to technology, and an overwhelming amount of support and expertise. When our students do their homework at school, we can ensure that they will be able to learn in a supportive environment that’s conducive to their education and well-being.  For the first time in history, we can provide a level playing field for students in all neighborhoods, no matter what their financial situation is.