Traditional Classroom vs. Flipped Classroom
Within a short span of time, digital technologies have already changed the way students acquire knowledge. The web-based technologies enable students to access, retain, and store information without investing extra resources. Some students leverage digital technologies to understand various topics elaborately, while others leverage the new age technologies to learn at their own pace and convenience. Hence, educational institutions have been modernizing conventional classrooms by adopting the flipped classroom model.
In a traditional classroom-based learning model requires students to acquire knowledge through teachers. Normally, the teachers explain topics, dictate notes, and assign homework to students while taking classes. But they do not help students to access instructional content, complete homework, and clear additional doubts outside the classroom. No student can acquire knowledge and boost exam performance without availing guidance and assistance of teachers outside the classroom.
The flipped classroom learning model transforms the traditional classroom-based learning model by leveraging new-age digital communication technologies. It enables students to acquire knowledge and avail on-time assistance outside of the classrooms. According to Wikipedia.org, “A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content, often online, outside of the classroom. It moves activities, including those that may have traditionally been considered homework, into the classroom.”
While comparing the two learning models, the teachers or decision-makers must remember that both traditional classrooms and flipped classrooms have their own pros and cons. They must keep in mind the major differences between traditional classrooms and flipped classrooms to choose the most appropriate learning model.
Major Differences between Conventional Classrooms and Flipped Classrooms
Access to Knowledge
In a classroom environment, students acquire knowledge by interacting with teachers. Hence, the teachers act as intermediaries between the students and the knowledge. In addition to explaining various topics, the teachers also help students to clear their doubts. The flipped classroom model eliminates all barriers or intermediaries between the students and the knowledge. It enables students to acquire knowledge by accessing lectures, notes, and solved question papers over the internet.
Independence of Thought
While attending classes, students acquire knowledge through face-to-face lectures. They further understand various topics as explained by the teacher. But flipped classroom allows students to learn a topic by accessing information from varied sources. A student also has the option to learn a topic by accessing university notes share by different teachers. The wider access to content enables students to acquire knowledge elaborately and independently.
Flexibility
The conventional learning models require students to attend multiple classes on a regular basis to complete a course or obtain a certificate. Hence, the students lack the option to acquire knowledge at their own pace and convenience. Unlike conventional classrooms, flipped classrooms allow students to acquire knowledge in a flexible and convenient way. The students can learn various topics in a number of ways — reading online notes, watching video lectures, and discussing important points.
On-Time Assistance and Guidance
While taking classes, teachers often homework for students. Some teachers even require students to complete and submit homework assignments on a daily basis. But they do not help students to complete the homework assignments outside of the classrooms. Unlike the conventional classroom model, the flipped classroom model helps students to complete homework by providing instructional content and solved question papers. Some online platforms even allow students to complete homework and clear doubts by interacting with teachers through discussion forums.
Performance Evaluation
In a classroom environment, teachers use homework as a tool to assess and analyze the performance of students. They require students to complete homework assigned after each class. On the other hand, the flipped classroom model does not evaluate the performance of students based on homework assignments. Instead, it facilitates performance assessment through instructor-evaluation and peer-evaluation. It further boosts the performance of students through projects and group discussions.
On the whole, the flipped classroom learning model transforms the traditional classroom-based learning model by eliminating barriers between students and knowledge. Many teachers already take advantage of popular online platforms like LectureNotes to bridge the gap between conventional and new-age learning models. While taking classes, they focus on explaining topics elaborately and facilitate classroom discussions by sharing university notes on LectureNotes.In.
At the same time, the students leverage LectureNotes.To acquire knowledge and improve exam performance by accessing university notes, video lectures, and solved question papers. They also have the option to study in a flexible way by accessing a wide range of content on both computers and mobile devices. Also, LectureNotes is designed with features to transform traditional classrooms and set up flipped classrooms.
