A ?flipped? classroom means a reverse teaching model in which the instruction is delivered online, outside the classroom, and ?homework? moves into the classroom. The teacher?s role thus shifts from being an instructor to a facilitator
Pavan Chauhan
What is a ?flipped? classroom? It is a classroom model that basically ?flips? the traditional teaching methods. In this reverse teaching model the instruction is delivered online, outside the classroom and ?homework? moves into the classroom. The teacher?s role thus shifts from being an instructor?mostly giving one-way lectures?to a facilitator who helps the students engage with the concept inside the classroom through collaborative activities and exercises.
Flip teaching focuses on using technology to leverage learning so that the teacher can concentrate on individual problems of the students, helping them become better equipped to understand problems and finding solutions quickly.
In this framework, a student will ideally be assigned to study the topic by himself by watching a video on the topic. He is then encouraged to apply the knowledge gained by the online tutorial to problems and practical work in the classroom. He is assisted by the supervisor only at the point where he gets stuck. This form of differentiated instruction uses exercises, projects, intensive assessment models to understand the core problem faced by the students. The ?flipped classroom? approach has many advantages over the traditional teaching method:
Better learning outcomes: In a traditional classroom space, the learner is always trying to record what is being taught immediately without actively reflecting on it. Many important points are missed out and those that were recorded are not completely understood by the child because he has not been given practical, real-life-based problems to apply the concept.
Students develop better thinking skills: The increased time and opportunity that students get to engage in the rich learning experiences inside of their classrooms along with other students, by actively applying the concepts they have learnt to real-life problems, develops their ability to go beyond ?rote? learning to the development of higher order thinking skills such as synthesis, analysis making inferences and the like.
Increased flexibility: In this approach the students have the flexibility to ?rewind? lessons.
Instant feedback means effective learning: The teacher can devote individual time with students to revisit concepts that the students did not understand and such immediate addressing of doubts promotes effective learning.
Incites a child?s curiosity in the subject: When a child begins to actively take interest in the topic he is studying all by himself, his learning will be fruitful. He can read up on the topic in addition to watching the video tutorial assigned to him and can discuss his problems, observations and comments on the same the next day in the class.
Collaborative learning environment promotes faster learning: Hands-on activities and interactive games that the teacher and children can do together helps create a stress-free environment.
In a flipped classroom students are likely to experience lesser degrees of frustration typically experienced on not being able to do the homework because they ?did not understand?. Since they will be working on the problems in the classroom in the presence of the teacher, their doubts can be immediately addressed.
The author is MD, Meritnation.com