5 Benefits of a Flipped Classroom

By PS Leong

Image by Wikimedia

A flipped classroom is a learning environment where students learn new content on their own by watching video lectures or other online content. This instructional methodology is a type of blended learning and it was thrown into the lime light during a Ted Talk by Khan Academy founder Salman Khan, which has received more than 2.5 million views.

In a flipped classroom, assignments or what’s traditionally known as homework are completed in class with teachers offering personalized guidance. This environment encourages students to collaborate, help each other, and carry our researches either individually or in a team to complete an assignment.

No 1: Self-Paced
A flipped classroom allows students to learn at their own pace and allows teachers to give students more one-on-one instructions. This environment also encourages students to ask questions about the subject matter they find difficult without feeling that they are holding up the class. Sick days will also no longer interrupt a students’ ability to learn. With a flipped classroom, students engage with a lesson on their own time and an absence will not hinder them from learning the material. On the same note, when a teacher is absent from school, students will also not suffer from a substitute’s inability to teach the particular day’s lesson. The substitute only needs to facilitate students working on their assignments and answer questions instead of introducing new content.

No 2: Teamwork 
A flipped classroom allows students to have more time to collaborate and help each other in a lesson or an assignment. Working closely with their peers will help cultivate teamwork abilities and also leadership qualities. This sort of working relationship in a classroom is similar to the industry experience of a job. Working in a team will prove to be a valuable experience for students as it prepares them for the real world.

No 3: Customised Content
A video lecture is free of interruptions and distractions thus a student can concentrate on the lesson. The lesson can also be replayed as often as the student needs without interrupting another student’s pace. This way, the student is kept engaged throughout as the lesson is customised to his or her needs. This feature also extends to when a student is preparing for an exam. A student can go back and forth to review portions of previous lectures as often as he or she needs. In result, time is used more productively as the lesson is now catered to each student’s specific requirements.

No 4: Engagement
After a student watched a digital lesson or video at home, he or she can brainstorm questions to ask the teacher. This will open the floor for a discussion about anything that may be confusing about the lesson. This way, the student is already invested in the lesson and is highly engaged even before attending class. Coming to class prepared with ideas and questions is a great way to help students get excited over the lesson and also a great way to jumpstart the students to share ideas in class.

No 5: Multiple Sources
Very often, a few teachers are teaching the same lesson at about the same time. If the teachers use the flipped classroom methodology, then they can allow students to access to other teachers’ digital content and videos in order to increase the students’ comprehension of the subject. Allowing students to have access to different styles of teaching can help increase their comprehension and engagement of the subject.

Source: www.alchemylearning.com