5 Reasons Why the Flipped Classroom Works in Higher Education

The concept of “flipped classroom” is popular nowadays, and most people have learned that despite its name, the idea behind it is not very aerodynamic.

However, it’s turning into a great movement. This learning “type” involves swapping out traditional classroom elements, such as lectures, and replacing them with group problem discussions that allow more interaction between students.

Instructors turn to flipped classrooms in several different combinations. Some use online chats and reading materials, while others provide only several videos without including supporting materials.

Others begin a lesson by asking questions about the material students previously watched, and have students answer those questions via clicker technology. This method of learning enable professors to grasp which topics students are struggling with, and cater a lesson to that topic to increase students’ understanding.

Flipped classroom also provides other benefits:

1. They boost student engagement

Although there are no studies to prove student engagement level in flipped classrooms, there’s plenty of other data that show students are more willing to use classroom time in a discussion-focused manner.

Most professors who have already turned to flipping classes state that students are more willing to learn thanks to this new concept. These teachers break their lectures into short podcasts that are accompanied by online or written materials. The class begins with several questions from that material in order to check if all students understand it, and it continues with “the real learning,” in which clickers play a main role.

Students are given a task and asked to work in teams in order to find the best answer. When working in a team, students get involved in debates that make them come up with good arguments, which is what a person needs to retain information. Getting students involved using debates and interactions are more efficient than forcing them to listen to an old lecture.

2. Flipped classrooms develop team-based skills

Group dynamic is the most important characteristic of flipped classrooms. Even though lectures are watched at home and tests are meant to evaluate the comprehension level of each student, most of the time spent in the classroom is catered towards teamwork. Mobile technology can also be very important as far as flipped classrooms are concerned.

Classroom technology doesn’t teach students about using mobile devices, but it encourages interaction – with each other, with content, and with teachers. K-12 initiatives are based on this type of thinking and encourage these approaches in the higher education setting.