The Flipped Classroom is a new way of instructing to better meet students' needs in this technology age of learners. The teacher makes videos of lessons actually teaching the students the skills. The students watch the videos at home for homework (if feasible) or at school before the lesson is even taught. The students can watch the videos over and over again until they feel confident in their learning. The students are given checklists for focus as they're watching the videos. After viewing the video, the students are given a group ticket or a problem to prove they're ready to come to a group where further learning and application takes place. The students are able to work at their own pace and test only when they 're ready and feel confident to test. The videos are posted online for parents which makes homework easier for parents.
I like the idea of the flipped classroom. I think students work well with working at their own pace. However, our school district has pacing guides that we're expected to follow to ensure that all Henry County students are learning the same things at the same time. ALL skills are expected to be taught. If I allow the students to work at their own pace, it is a given that some of them are not going to fulfill all the expectations of the pacing guide. Some may stay on the same skill for months. What happens to the rest of the skills that they're expected to know? Do I send them to the next teacher not knowing how to perform those skills? I feel that the entire school would have to be on board from the lowest grade to the highest grade for this to work effectively. If I send a student to second grade only know half of the expected first grade skills, I have a feeling my head will be on the chopping block! We expect our students to come to us ready and knowing the last year's skills. I'm not so sure that's what happens in the flipped classroom. I'm thinking long term results. I do like how she spends more time with her students.
Because I recognize that the times have changed, I've totally changed my way of teaching this year. After 20 years of teaching, I came to the raw reality that students today do not learn like students did 15 years ago. We must incorporate technology, and lots of it, movement and social skills. While this has always been important, it's more important in today's world where technology and collaboration are musts for employers looking for effective employees. Therefore, I've gone from lecturing to rotations in math and English. Much of my day is spent working with small groups and my students moving from one group to the next. When I do try to lecture (during social studies and science) they drive me nuts trying to interrupt me and talk to each other. I think much of this is because the adults in their lives do not communicate with them like they should and kids today are constantly engaged in some sort of media outlet. With that being said, I am embracing, though hesitant at first, a new way of teaching to meet my students needs. I absolutely love it. I never thought I would say that because I am a control freak. I very rarely have behavior issues during rotations because the students are actively engaged and not waiting for me. I'm not sure I could do the flipped classroom. Rotations take me a very long time when planning them. I can't imagine spending 8 hours on one unit like the teacher said she did in the video. I simply don't have that much time. I'm busy raising my family. I only get one shot at that, so I must invest my time there right now while I can.
No comments:
Post a Comment