The 2013 Speak Up National Research Project
found that flipped learning has surpassed all other digital learning trends in
K-12. According to the study,
25% of responding district administrators reported flipped learning is having a
significant impact on teaching and learning and 40% said they are interested in
their teachers using flipped learning methods this year.
Despite gaining popularity in K-12 circles,
flipped learning still lags behind in higher ed. That could change as more
colleges and universities discover how to effectively use the technique.
“One thing that’s been lacking has been a
consensus on what the flipped classroom actually is,” Robert Talbert, a math
instructor at Grand Valley State University, wrote for a Chronicle of Higher
Education blog. “If a professor assigns readings to do before class and then holds discussions
in class, is that ‘the flipped classroom’?”
The Flipped Learning Network (FLN) came up
with a definition based on FLIP, which stands for flexible environment,
learning culture, intentional content, and professional educator. The four
components form a teaching method that allows students a variety of ways to
learn, focuses on student-centered inquiry instead of lectures, offers accessible
content available to all prior to class, and features instructors who are
willing to collaborate with students.
“Just because you’ve been giving reading
assignments outside of class and holding discussions in class, it doesn’t mean
you’ve ‘always been flipping the classroom,’” Talbert wrote. “There’s more at
work and at stake here. The focus in the above definition is on student
learning and not on course design and I think that’s totally correct.”
FLN didn’t stop at a definition but
collaborated on a series of university case studies and research with Pearson
Education. The information gathered showed that flipped learning improves critical thinking and professional skills,
increases student participation and motivation, and improves team-based skills
and peer-to-peer interaction.
However, challenges remain regarding course redesign, faculty workload, student buy-in, and student evaluations.
However, challenges remain regarding course redesign, faculty workload, student buy-in, and student evaluations.
