Cheers,
Lesley
As some of us at CAT prepare for a PD session on the flipped classroom, I'm reminded of the many things we already know how to do. Whether you use Moodle or another virtual classroom, those LMS's (Learning Management Systems) often contain the most powerful pieces for learning--discussion forms, quizzes where students can receive immediate feedback, and the ability to add links to videos (either made by you or by others) or other resources to enrich the class. A flipped classroom may sound daunting, but I bet you are already using some of the necessary elements, so the hope is that the jump to flipping won't be so scary. Plus, if you have participated in a MOOC or another distance learning course, you have experienced the flipped classroom. Anant Agarwal, the CEO of EdX, explained the basics of a MOOC in his TED talk from June of 2013, and his ideas are still very relevant, especially when we consider what changes we have made to today's classroom (i.e., not much). I hope this talk has inspired you and prepared you to think about ways you could flip your classroom. To be frank, I haven't flipped my classroom, but I have flipped parts. For example, most quizzes and tests for my class are done on Moodle so that my students receive immediate feedback. I also have instructional videos for various subjects (i.e., explaining how to create a Weebly blog and using the library's resources) and I have given students links to audiobooks of assigned reading, but that is basically the extent of the flipped part of my classroom. I have found discussion forums to work occasionally, but my students tire of them if I use them too often, so in-class discussions still reign. So you could say I'm not 100% of the way to a flipped class, but I'm far from 0% and that is an accomplishment. Each year I create new resources that give students the opportunity to review what we did in class and learn the material at their own pace and I think that is the crux of the flipped classroom. Perhaps if you take a "baby steps" approach like me, you will get farther in the flipped process than you had ever imagined you would.
Cheers, Lesley
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About the AuthorLesley is an English teacher who is passionate about using connectivism in the classroom and preparing students and teachers for using the tools that are available to them on a regular basis. This blog will focus on iPad apps and Web 2.0 tools that can enhance and diversify learning. Leave a comment and let me know what you think or what you'd like to learn about! Archives
January 2016
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