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The flipped classroom has transformed modern education. There are many different types of flipped classrooms, and teachers can choose the model that best fits their students' needs. This approach has transformed the way distance education can be presented to students. The flipped classroom focuses on students gaining knowledge before class and the instructors focusing on guiding students through interactive activities to apply their knowledge (Flipped Classroom, n.d).
What is the Flipped Classroom?
Simonson and Zvacek (2024) state that "Flipping a classroom supposedly refers to recording a class lecture so students watch and listen at home to free up time in the classroom for discussions" (p.236). At its core, the flipped classroom emphasizes active learning during synchronous or in-person meetings and flips conventional teaching approaches by shifting lectures outside of class time. The flipped classroom approach utilizes online resources such as video lectures, readings, and multimedia content, which students engage with independently (Simonson & Zvacek, 2024, p. 236). This method helps teachers fulfill their responsibility to lead their students to higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills (UT Austin, n.d.). In the flipped classroom, the focus remains on the students' learning.
Benefits of the Flipped Classroom
There are many benefits to a flipped classroom, especially in distance education. According to Ramirez and Buitrago (2022), some of the benefits of a flipped classroom include:
- Student-centered learning
- Students are provided more opportunities for interactive and collaborative activities, and students are actively involved in their learning process.
- Personalized student learning paces
- Students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace. This approach allows students to watch content multiple times and review material conveniently.
- Enhanced Teacher-Student Interaction
- Teachers can focus on individual student discussions due to less time spent on lecturing. (p.16-19).
For various reasons, many educators are opting to flip their classrooms. Giving students more responsibility and ownership over their education, involving them in the process, encouraging peer collaboration, and giving teachers more time to give feedback to students are some of the reasons why teachers flip their classrooms (Flipped Classroom, n.d.).
This approach allows for a more dynamic learning environment where students can engage with the material at their own pace, fostering deeper understanding and retention. Additionally, the flipped classroom model promotes critical thinking skills as students are encouraged to apply what they have learned in collaborative settings.
Implementation
The emphasis of the flipped classroom method is on student learning. You can implement this method in traditional or distance learning using a variety of different strategies. Samaila et al. (2025) suggested using a Study-Summary-Quiz (SSQ) model and the Think-Pair-Share (TPP) model. In the SSQ model, students review material before class, write a summary to reinforce understanding, and then take a short formative quiz to grasp their understanding before class (Samaila et al., 2025, p. 2512). The TPP model is embedded in the synchronous portion of class by having students solve a problem individually, discuss it with a partner, and then share their ideas with their peers (Samaila et al., 2025, p. 2512).
Both of these implementation strategies allow for students to have accountability, critical thinking, and collaboration among their peers.
References
Ramirez, M., & Buitrago, C. R. (2022). In-Class flip: A Student-Centered Approach to
Differentiated Learning.
Differentiated Learning.
Samaila, K., Al-Samarraie, H., Tsong, C. K., & Alzahrani, A. I. (2024). A new guided flipped
learning model for lifelong learning. Interactive Learning Environments, 1–15.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2024.2412063
learning model for lifelong learning. Interactive Learning Environments, 1–15.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2024.2412063
Simonson, M., & Zvacek, S. (2024). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of
Distance Education 8th Edition. IAP.
Distance Education 8th Edition. IAP.
Flipped classroom. (n.d.). University of Texas at Austin: Center for Teaching & Learning.
https://ctl.utexas.edu/instructional-strategies/flipped-classroom
https://ctl.utexas.edu/instructional-strategies/flipped-classroom
Students’ learning journey in a flipped classroom (n.d.)
https://ctl.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/what-is-flipped_comparison-table-120516.pdf
https://ctl.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/what-is-flipped_comparison-table-120516.pdf
What is a flipped class? (n.d.). Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/70893101
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Keley,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love the idea of a flipped classroom although I've never truly implemented one. It certainly engages students in a deeper way though. As Simonson & Zvacek state, “distance education is moving away from a schooling perspective to a more learning-focused approach,” (2024, p181). This is a clear example of how that is true. It's also a great example of used technology to truly enhance the learning process, as outlined by Liz Kolb in her 2017 book. Thanks for sharing!
References:
Kolb, L. (2017). Learning first, technology second: The educator’s guide to designing authentic lessons. International Society for Technology in Education.
Simonson, M., & Zvacek, S. (2024). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (8th ed.). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Keley,
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I love the idea of a flipped classroom, and I have seen many instances where students have greatly benefitted from this way of teaching. Denysova, N. & Tsapro, G. (2024) state, "This dual experience has prompted media discussions emphasizing the potential of hybrid learning models that combine the advantages of both digital and traditional teaching methods." (p. 31-32). In Foundations of Distance Education, the authors also discuss how important the role of teachers are in the flipped classroom, emphasizing that teachers have the ability to strengthen the hybrid teaching models through great instruction and strong communication. (Simonson & Zvacek, 2025, p. 195). I love the idea of flipped classrooms and see the potential for reaching every learner in the learning style that fits them best! Great post.
References
Denysova, N. & Tsapro, G. (2024). Thesaurus of the lemma teacher in academic discourse of online learning: A corpus based study. The Modern Higher Education Review, (9). (p. 30-51). https://doi.org/10.28925/2617-5266/2024.92
Simonson, M., & Zvacek, S. (2024). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (8th ed.). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
I think the flipped classroom is an interesting concept for in person teaching as well as distance education. I can certainly see its value in both. "The main advantage of a flipped classroom is individualized learning. Each student can learn new material at an individual pace and watch the video several times, if needed" (Al-Said et al., 2023, para. 6). Students can spend as much time as they need to understand the information, synthesize it, and review it. Then, a later discussion provides time for providing clarity and a more in depth discussion. "When course content is partially delivered by digital media then regular and substantive interaction can be made available in chats, threaded discussions, and synchronous videoconferences" (Simonson & Zvacek, 2024, p. 237).
ReplyDeleteReferences
Al-Said K, Krapotkina I, Gazizova F, Maslennikova N. Distance
learning: studying the efficiency of implementing flipped
classroom technology in the educational system. Educ Inf Technol
(Dordr), 31, 1-24. doi: 10.1007/s10639-023-11711-x
Simonson, M., & Zvacek, S. (2023). Teaching and learning at a
distance: Foundations of distance education (8th ed.). Information
Age Publishing, Inc.