The Flipped Classroom

 The Flipped Classroom, what is it? The flipped classroom is not a new invention but has been around for some time. The flipped classroom is essentially a blended learning model in which traditional ideas about the classroom activities and homework are reversed, or "flipped". Imagine that you are sitting in a class and instead of the teacher asking you to open the page of a book, they ask you to go outside and act out the material that you already read or watch on a video that night before. Maybe the teacher asks the class for their opinion on how they could create a presentation to teach their classmates what they learned from the presentation video that they watched. 

The flipped classroom allows the teacher or instructor to get their classroom back. Students take ownership of their own learning. Flipped models allow the teacher and students to make the most use of their time and effort during class. Essentially, this model gives educators more time to support their students in active learning by reallocating time spent teaching and learning. This "new" style of teaching creates an environment where higher-order thinking, engagement, customized and contextualized learning meet. 

The flipped classroom provides fluid timelines for student work and comprehension. Teachers can then adjust the pace of their students in class and outside of class based on their learning styles and abilities. What the flipped classroom does is put the fun back into learning in class. Research says that students learn by connecting new knowledge with knowledge and concepts that they already know, the most effectually inactive social classroom where they negotiate understanding through interaction and varied approaches. 

Essentially, the best type of teaching is the one that the student learns. This type of learning is better described as "transfer of knowledge". The transfer is a cognitive practice whereby a learner's mastery of knowledge or skills in one context enables them to apply that knowledge or skill in a different context and is often considered a hallmark of true learning. We have all in our lives learned something like, for example, organizing our clothes in our closets. Then we organize the clothes in a retail department for the selling products in a department store. Maybe organizing is your strength and you love the idea of putting things in order so that others can find it better. Or maybe you like the idea of designing different outfits for people to wear. And this is something that you do all the time at home. Now imagine taking a class in business marketing and you can learn about the theory and the practice of product positioning at the same time. 

The flipped classroom is a culture of learning that enriches the teaching and learning environment. It provides students with the ability to go deeper into topics and provides them with opportunities for self-reflection and hands-on learning activities.