• The flipped classroom inverts traditional teaching methods, delivering instruction online outside of the class and moving “homework” into the classroom. • Students watch lectures at home at their own pace, communicating with peers and teachers via online discussions. • The classroom becomes a research environment, allowing students to build on and develop a better understanding of the information introduced the previous evening. • Overall interaction increases: teacher to student and student to student. • Teachers and students spend class time answering questions, working in small groups, and taking advantage of hands-on learning opportunities.
“Teachers can take the concept of flipping a classroom and “Senior Sarah Haemisegger opens Upper School science modify it to provide the best learning experience for students,” teacher Murry Gans’ webcast on Haiku for a final viewing before said Jeri Sutton, Mathematics Department Chair. “We want her AP Biology class with Dr. Barbara Fishel.The webcast is nine students to discover mathematics, so they develop a solid minutes long and all AP Biology students use Gans’ webcasts for understanding of it. Flipping allows more written practice in the material review. These videos allow Haemisegger and her peers classroom where the student has access to the teacher for any to learn the information and re-watch the webcasts anywhere necessary guidance.” and at anytime,” according to a story written by Megan Porter According to a report by Knewton.com, Jonathan Bergman (Form III) in the February 2012 edition of Fourcast. and Aaron Sams, teachers at Woodland Park High School The idea of the flipped classroom inverts traditional in Woodland Park, Colorado, initiated the concept of the teaching methods, delivering instruction online outside of class flipped classroom. Bergman and Sams noticed students missing and moving “homework” into the classroom. Students watch class for activities. These teachers found a way to deliver the lectures at home at their own pace, communicating with fellow lessons to students using technology. students and teachers via online discussions. This is revolutionizing the way students One of the greatest benefits of flipping is are learning and connecting with their that overall interaction increases: teacher to “My previous teachers and fellow students throughout student and student to student. system didn’t offer enough the country. The flipped classroom allows time to do Upper School history teacher Tracy teachers more time working with students everything. Walder has experienced many challenges on the material being learned. Teachers Switching in her teaching career, most notably when and students spend class time answering around she was asked to teach an online course questions, working in small groups, and the model for at-risk adolescents. She stated, “Online taking advantage of hands-on learning completely learning works because students come opportunities. freed up the from all different backgrounds and learn The classroom becomes a research class.” in different ways. Online learning offers environment, allowing students to build Janet Reeves opportunities that have not been available on and develop a better understanding of UPPEr school in the past.” the information introduced the previous Math Teacher Janet Reeves, Upper School mathematics evening. When students are working on teacher, began making preview videos of an assignment, and the teacher notices lecture content for the girls to watch each a group of students struggling with the night for homework and noticed an immediate change in the same concept, she can quickly refine and explain the material understanding of the introduced concepts. “My previous system to provide a better understanding of the material. Flipping the didn’t offer enough time to do everything. Switching around the classroom reserves class time for collaborative work and concept model completely freed up the class,” said Reeves. mastery exercises. Hockaday students have varied learning styles, and different types of learning opportunities – like the flipped classroom – improve each student’s ability to thrive in our continually To learn more about the history of the changing world. flipped classroom,
visit www.knewton.com/flipped.
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Summer 2012 – hockaday magazine 33