Flipped Classroom

According to Harvard University, flipped classrooms are structured around the idea that lecture or direct instruction is not the best use of class time. Instead students encounter information before class, freeing class time for activities that involve higher order thinking. Flipped classrooms became very popular during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They were very effective during Covid because doing class online was very difficult. The flipped classroom lightened the load on teachers and allowed them to pre-record lectures and focus class time on other things. Also, many flipped classrooms are “asynchronous” which means that class never meets and students are expected to complete classwork on their own time on their own schedules. 

Students in class separated into groups for discussion.

I was first introduced to a flipped classroom when Covid hit during my senior year. When I came to the University of Tennessee Knoxville, many of my classes had the flipped classroom model. In fact, I have a few flipped classrooms this semester. For these classes students are expected to review the slides and readings for class prior to class. Then, class time is spent doing group work and discussions. 

Personally, I feel indifferent to the flipped classroom. I like both the normal classroom and the flipped classroom models. I think the flipped classroom model is very effective and allows teachers to use their time productively. My favorite model is the asynchronous classroom because it is the easiest in my opinion. Students do not have to drive to school or log on to a zoom and can complete their work on their own schedule. Sometimes with asynchronous classrooms, students can get very ahead. One thing that I find negative about asynchronous classrooms is that it feels like a waste of tuition money.  Students and parents sometimes feel like they are paying thousands of dollars for college and some of the classes do not even meet. In conclusion, asynchronous and flipped classrooms are new models of learning that allow the student to have more freedom with their schedule. Also, for the flipped classroom, it allows teachers to have more class time for group work and discussions. This is important because many studies have shown how effective active learning is and group work and discussions fall into active learning.

Cyber Bullying

According to Stop Bullying, cyber bullying can be defined as bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. Also, some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. With the increasing use of technology, there has been an increasing use of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is an issue that concerns students, parents, and teachers and there has been little to no resolution for this problem that occurs at many schools all over the world. It is linked to depression, anxiety, and some suicides among teenagers. 

Red sign crossing out the word "cyberbullying"

When I was a student in middle school and high school, cyberbullying was a very common occurrence. Some of my very close friends were victims of cyberbullying and school administration and even the police were involved. As an aspiring teacher, cyberbullying is something that I am going to face in my classroom. No matter how much a teacher limits device usage in their classroom, they cannot control what happens outside of the classroom. The best thing a teacher can in a cyber bullying situation is respond quickly to the bullying and send the message that bullying is not acceptable. Also, schools can provide staff training on bullying prevention and this can help education teachers about cyber bullying. 

In conclusion, is a very real and scary thing that students and teachers face. However, if students are taught ways to be smarter online by parents and teachers, cyber bullying can be prevented. For example, if a student falls victim to cyber bullying, the best thing they can do is put their device away and walk away. Responding to the cyber bullying online or dwelling on it only makes the issue worse. The student should go to a trusted adult about the issue. It is necessary that teachers and counselors encourage their students to come to them for support and guidance in matters such as this.  

School Safety

According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, "school safety is  defined as schools and school-related activities where students are safe from violence, bullying and  harassment, and the influence of substance use." School safety is very important because education is  the future, and without safety in our schools, there can be no education. Students, parents, and teachers need safety. The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments is a great resource for guidance and information on school safety. A safe and supportive learning environment involves  cybersecurity, emergency planning, mental health support, and threat assessment and reporting.  I feel very strongly about this topic because when I turn on the news and see that there has been  Five students in a classroom another school shooting, I feel sick to my stomach.  I recently have been researching the Uvalde school shooting. I was researching the Uvalde school shooting for an assignment for one of my classes and the article  was about the Uvalde students and the first day of school  at their new school. Students and parents in Uvalde are  having a very hard time and live in constant fear because of the tragic events that happened. It absolutely breaks my  heart to think that students feel scared to go to school.  Many schools in the Knoxville area where I grew up had  issues with school safety. There were bomb threats, cyberbullying, suicides, and substance abuse.  In conclusion, I do not have the answer, but immediate change in our schools is necessary. Over the summer, many of the Uvalde students signed up for virtual learning and some transferred schools. For the students returning to school, there have been extra security measures. However, in the discussion of school safety this is the ongoing debate: do we take extra security measures or does this scare the children? Many feel that we can ensure safety by having officers in schools at all times or by arming teachers and giving them the appropriate training. On the other hand, some feel that guns are the issue and the government should remove or restrict guns in the United States. Could taking guns away from good civilians stop the bad guys? Despite the debate, there needs to be a solution because  more innocent lives should not be taken.