The Flipped Classroom
One size does not fit all. Traditionally, teachers have used a model that has one instructor, one textbook, and one lesson plan to fit a class of 30 students. Michael Weingarden, who teaches statistics and algebra 2, has been using an alternative, “flipped classroom” method for over two years. The flipped classroom structures courses so that students watch video lectures at home, and then do practice problems in class with the teacher present and available to help.
Weingarden creates many of the video lectures himself, often using a drawing tablet, a microphone, and a computer to record and upload the lesson to YouTube.
“The idea is to make sure that when class is being conducted, that students are engaged in learning as much as possible, not just sitting there and watching and listening to what one person at the front of the room is saying,” Weingarden said.
Weingarden believes that the use of technology to complement the practice problems in the flipped classroom allows students to achieve better results.
“My goal is to use technology to accomplish things that cannot be accomplished without it,” he said.
Shane Sipes, senior, who is currently taking the statistics course Weingarden teaches, prefers the flipped classroom model.
“I think it is a smart idea for the students to do their work in the classroom while the teacher is there so they can actually get help if they need it and ask questions to the teacher,” Sipes said, “I am actually doing better in this math class than I have in past math classes.”
Jing Hu, who teaches AP statistics, has seen her students’ performances improve with the flipped classroom. However, Hu says that there is still room for improvement.
“One thing we have to think of is how to make sure students actually watch the videos,” Hu said.
Despite this, Weingarden still believes that the flipped classroom is more effective than his previous methods of teaching.
“One of my goals … is to provide an environment that students feel serves their needs, and so in that regard, I definitely believe that the flipped classroom is superior to the way I did things before,” Weingarden said.
