The Benefits that Come with Flipped Learning
What is Flipped Learning?
Let’s start off with the basics. Flipped learning is a teaching method where students learn the subject material outside of the classroom, typically through virtual lectures, and practice this newly learned knowledge inside of the classroom. This is the opposite from traditional instructional methods where the learning is taught during class time and students practice the skill outside of the classroom through homework.
This idea of flipped learning was first introduced to me when I was about 12 years old, so around 8 years ago. Since then, I have seen several teachers embrace this method throughout my years of education. That being said, flipped learning can be done at any age and at any educational level.
Why Fix What Isn’t Broken?
Flipped learning can seem like a pretty outrageous idea to many. After all, it may appear as if it is trying to fix a learning structure that isn’t broken. Change in general doesn’t come easy to most people and it is very fair to have questions and skepticisms. There are numerous benefits to flipped learning that tackle issues found with traditional learning.
Benefits of Flipped Learning
Flipped learning allows students to have a more interactive class period rather than just being lectured at.
If you’re anything like me, you do not necessarily thrive in a typical classroom setting where the teacher dominates the period by lecturing at you. In fact, you may even space out, daydream, or completely doze off.
This is not the case in a flipped learning classroom where students are expected to be actively engaged in exercises that work to reinforce the knowledge they learned at home. For example, in a Spanish class, students may be placed in partners and asked to have a conversation in Spanish about a certain topic. This forces each and every kid to be actively participating in class while using and building upon their knowledge of specific topics. Classes go from dragging along to speeding by with this approach to learning.
Flipped learning allows students to learn at their own pace.
Have you ever been in a class where you wish you could pause and rewind what your teacher had said? I know I have. In a traditional setting, it is hard to catch everything a teacher is lecturing on and this causes many students to miss vital information. With flipped learning, this isn’t a problem. Thanks to modern day technology, students can quite literally pause and rewind lectures. Students who are having a hard time understanding a concept can continue to re-watch portions of video lectures to gain a better comprehension.
Also, this can allow students to get ahead in class if they wish to. For example, if a student had a vacation coming up, they could plan and watch the video lectures ahead of time to make sure they don’t miss any of the instructional learning.
No more snow days!
If you live in a state where the wintertime is the cause of several days of cancelled school, flipped learning can be a major plus. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Everyone loves a good snow day, why on earth would we want to get rid of them? While most people, myself included, love a relaxing snow day, having to make up this missed day during summer break is rough to say the least. Everybody is antsy for summer break at the end of the school year and I’ve seen firsthand the resentment k- 12 students and teachers have when extra days are tacked on because of bad weather.
Flipped learning takes care of this problem since students have access to the learning material at their homes. Teachers can communicate with students to watch a lecture online or even to complete a reinforcement activity online during the snow day. I recently saw that my old school district is going to begin to take this approach in the 2020–2021 school year to make sure that summer can start as soon as possible. Who doesn’t want that?
Let’s Wrap this Up!
Flipped learning is a technique that is going to take some getting used to in areas where it replaces a traditional learning style. While adjusting is always difficult, the benefits of flipped learning will end up speaking for itself. Interactive class periods, students learning at their own pace, and more days for summer are all a part of the advantages to flipped learning.
I Want to Hear from You!
I always love hearing from the readers of my posts. Today’s scenario for you to ponder and debate about is going to be a heated one…
What do you prefer:
- Having a snow day at the cost of a scheduled day of summer break
- Not having a snow day and keeping the start of summer break on track
You all already know my stance on this very controversial issue, but now it’s time to hear your opinions. Comment below!