Is the Flipped Classroom Model Right for You? Pros and Cons

Today’s education environment has been revolutionized by the pedagogical model called the flipped classroom, which is designed to make learning a more active event where the individual assumes more control over absorbing and retaining information.

The flipped classroom model changes the roles of teacher and student, with the potential to bring about mastery of material rather than basic understanding from simply covering the material.

Nowadays, there are several ways to successfully implement a flipped classroom model, either in traditional education or eLearning. For example, most Learning Management Systems (LMS) now offer a variety of options to easily introduce this model into online learning programs for both students and workforces.

What Is a Flipped Classroom?

In a flipped class, the basic course elements of lecture and homework are reversed to where the student is introduced to new content through home study and uses classroom time for practice.

This is the opposite of a traditional classroom where content is introduced during a lecture or class and assigned through homework for extra practice.

This model isn’t just being used in typical K-12 classrooms, as the concepts of hybrid course design, student engagement, course podcasting, and active learning activities are receiving a fair amount of attention and inclusion in college coursework, professional development courses, and corporate training models.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of a Flipped Classroom?

With the blended approach of independent study mixed with face-to-face interaction, individuals may respond in a variety of ways based on their different learning styles. There is also an impact on the amount of effort and involvement on the part of the instructor. Here are some of the flipped classrooms' pros and cons.

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Pros

• Students gain better access to content
• Teachers can focus on material clarification rather than basic knowledge
• Students have an improved support system during the introduction to content
• Students develop independent study and self-direction skills
• Students remain more consistent with learning in light of absences, reviews, and engagement

Cons

• Requires equal and adequate bandwidth and technology for both teachers and all students
• Puts more front-end work on the teacher
• Individual home situations may not be supportive or conducive to independent study
• Independent study increases screen time
• Student learning styles may not respond well to self-directed study

What Are Some Engaging Flipped Classroom Activities?

When it comes to flipping a classroom, there are endless options for engaging activities. Much of your strategy should revolve around the age and learning content of the students, as what may be effective in a K-12 academic setting wouldn’t be as appropriate or interesting to corporate training needs.

The main goal, regardless of the activities you choose, should be to cultivate a learning experience that’s deeply engaging and encourages higher-order processing skills.

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Individual Activities

If there are certain concepts or areas of the content that specific individuals may be having a hard time grasping, individual activities can be used effectively.

Use individual activities prior to any group work in order to keep a student from falling further behind in comprehensive studies. Concept maps and word webs are individual exercises that have students map out the ideas, concepts, and theories that are thematically related. Noticeable gaps between connections is the insight needed to generate further discussion at a group or classroom level.

Individual problem-solving can be done both inside the classroom and out, though working on problem-solving in class provides the added benefit of peer assistance or instructor tutoring in challenging areas.

Problem-solving provides immediate feedback where errors occur or praise when no assistance is needed to answer correctly.

Group Activities

For the in-class portion of a flipped classroom, group activities are highly engaging and effective. Individuals are able to bring their strengths and understanding to the materials and group members lean on one another to develop new understanding, create new meaning and improve retention.

Think, pair, and share is an activity that allows students a moment to draft their thoughts or answer a problem before being paired with a partner for additional reflection. The final task is for groups to share their responses and generate a wider discussion with the class.

How Do You Know If a Flipped Classroom is Right for You?

The idea of a flipped classroom might be unchartered territory for you, but it’s a learning model that yields noticeable results. With the help of an LMS, you can give your students or employees an effective but individual introduction to important information or materials that you can explore further in a group setting.

Activities that make learning non-traditional and more engaging tend to encourage learners to value the material and retain it for longer periods of time. Give a flipped classroom a chance and watch the results.