The Flipped Classroom - A Developing Trend in Virtual Education
Turn your eCourse strategy upside down for better results!
Traditional learning involves classroom time to introduce a subject and then sending students off on their own to practice what they’ve learned. But a new trend in education is proving just the opposite works better. By allowing students to become familiar with the material independently and then using class time for practice, students become more engaged and learn better.
In the public school setting, flipped classrooms have shown remarkable success. According to a Flipped Learning Network survey, 96% of educators who tried flipped learning would recommend the method to a colleague. Research by the organization showed incredible increases in educational effectiveness:
- Student engagement increased by 80%
- 71% of teachers reported that students earned higher grades in a flipped classroom setting
- At the University of Memphis, flipped classrooms increased the number of students receiving a C grade or better from 48.4% to 73.7%.
Traditional Classroom Formats Waste Resources
Clearly, the flipped classroom offers educational gains. But how does that translate to eLearning and corporate training? Looking at how flipped classrooms play out in other educational settings can help.
The flipped classroom improves education by creating a situation where students arrive prepared and hungry to know more. The classroom suddenly comes alive with students eager to know more, rather than blank slates with no questions. And because they must review the course materials to be ready for classroom practice, you create motivation that is otherwise not present. Students take the time to study the materials because it’s necessary for classroom participation.
Classroom practice after independent study also provides an opportunity for reflection, a vital part of learning. Between the time they review course materials and participate in classroom practice, students will have time to think about the subject matter and formulate questions. And because this part of the course is self-study, they can go over materials that challenge them as often as needed without holding back other participators.
Flipping Your eCourse
Electronic learning allows teachers to interact with students via the Web, but spending that time lecturing or reviewing information seems wasteful once you consider the options a flipped classroom model offers. In-class time in an electronic setting is harder to come by, so it should be reserved for methods that will drive the most effective results. Using that time for practice, discussion and application accomplish this.
Providing the materials that will prepare students for classwork is a vital part of the flipped classroom format. They must learn enough to be ready to apply the learning, but still have minds open to the deeper level of understanding they will gain in class. Most instructors will provide video training in advance, but there’s no reason it can’t be a learning module, web page for reading or other formats. As long as it prepares students for practice in class, the format is not important. Getting the flipped classroom right means reserving the most advanced course materials for your live training sessions.
Ask Knowledge Anywhere how ICE Rapid Course Development Tool can help you modify course materials for the flipped classroom setting.
Knowledge Anywhere’s course development tools and learning management system and help organizations create more effective training programs and given them the ability to effectively measure results. Call us at 1-800-850-2025 or use our online contact form to find out more about our
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