May 18, 2019
We need to start modernizing the way we teach in the 21st century. We need to use more technology to assist in teaching and move away from the traditional lecture-based model that has been around since the beginning of education. As a math teacher, I find that using the traditional method I have very little time to work with my students as I'm up in front of the room teaching a new skill every other day, on average. The first day that I introduce a new concept/lesson it takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to present the material (teacher-centered) and then I send the students off with a worksheet for homework to practice what they learned in class. I've found that students get stuck at home on their homework and their parents are either not available to help them or not able to help them, therefore, it doesn't get done. So the next day in class I spend roughly 15-20 minutes going over the homework leaving very little time to do any activities. This is a never ending cycle leaving no time in the classroom for students to really understand the content and to dig deeper into the material.
So, how do we "fix" this... to modernize the way we teach in the 21st century? One answer is to teach using the flipped classroom model! Teaching in the 21st century is focused on developing the following skills: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, character/self-confidence, and creativity. Using a flipped classroom will hit each one of those skills that our students of the 21st century need. Watch my call to action video below to help explain flipped classroom with the help of a few of my students.
So, how do we "fix" this... to modernize the way we teach in the 21st century? One answer is to teach using the flipped classroom model! Teaching in the 21st century is focused on developing the following skills: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, character/self-confidence, and creativity. Using a flipped classroom will hit each one of those skills that our students of the 21st century need. Watch my call to action video below to help explain flipped classroom with the help of a few of my students.
Flipped Classroom Model
A flipped classroom allows students the flexibility to learn the material whenever and wherever they want outside of the classroom by watching a video lesson. This opens up a lot of class time as the students have learned the material before they come to class allowing the entire class time for the students to explore the material along side their peers collaborating while the teacher assists when needed. This method makes the classroom more student-centered where the students develop communication skills, critical thinking, and builds their self-confidence. Students also learn at their own pace when watching videos at home as they can pause, rewind, stop, replay the video as well as email the teacher questions. They are also actively engaged every day participating in small groups, gallery walks, and peer tutoring. As the teacher walks around the room listening, observing, helping, and assisting students as they work they are able to immediately correct any misconceptions or any errors they see or hear.
Lessons I've learned through my own experiences and through my studies are:
What works? |
What could be done better? |
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How to apply the lessons learned?
- When initiating a flipped classroom teachers should take a lot of time and ease into it slowly. It is very time consuming to initiate.
- Be sure to listen to your students and see what is working and what is not. Creating a survey for students to take at the beginning of the year, mid-year, and at the end of the year.
- What to do when students don't have devices or internet service at home?
- Students could borrow a device and complete the assignment in their advisory class, come to school early or stay afterwards.
- Students have said that they may have a questions while watching the video and that is not possible.
- I encourage them to email me any questions and if I was available I'd reply immediately.
- Students had issues with technology sometimes not being able to watch the video or there was no sound.
- If students would share this information prior to class I'd have them come to my room before school to watch it or if that was not an option then the students would be able to watch the lesson at the beginning of class.
So... What are you waiting for?
This is my proposal to my campus principal to implement the flipped classroom at McDonald Junior High.
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Here is my updated review of literature on flipped classrooms that supports why we should implement a flipped classroom.
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This is how I plan to implement the flipped classroom within the math department here at McDonald Junior High.
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Recommended Resources
I am not an expert on the flipped classroom "yet", but through hard work and trial and error I plan to get there one day as I continue researching and developing my skills. I plan to continue reading and researching the flipped classroom as much as I can and here are a few resources I either plan to or have already read/watched and I'd invite you to as well (click the image to go to the resource).
References:
- Student Reflections on Flipped Learning: What Works, What Doesn’t. (n.d.). In Flip Learning. Retrieved from https://flippedlearning.org/learning_culture/student-reflections-on-flipped-learning-what-works-what-doesnt/
- TeachThought Staff. (2019, January 28). 10 Pros And Cons of A Flipped Classroom. In TeachThought. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/learning/10-pros-cons-flipped-classroom/