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.