Flipped Learning: What you need to know
One thing traditional learning has taught us is that sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher or a subject expert talking exhaustively does nothing in the way of preparing students for a future that requires them to be quick on their feet and equipped to take on new challenges that emerge every day. Active learning, a student-centric approach, is the only way students will be ready for a demanding future. The unidirectional flow of knowledge from a teacher who delivers lectures at their own pace cannot be grasped equally by all the students in their classroom. Students learn best when the learning happens at their pace, and the learning experience caters to their specific learning needs.
In this context, let’s learn about an innovative instructional methodology - Flipped learning - that promotes active and effective learning.
What is Flipped Learning? Why is it advantageous?
Flipped classroom. Image source: Pixabay
Flipped learning is a student-centric learning methodology. Flipped learning converts the classroom into a dynamic and intelligent gathering for learning wherein students learn by applying ideas connected with the topic. The teacher acts as an indirect guide who facilitates the learning process. Here, direct guidance happens individually, wherein students learn from instructional content outside of their classrooms at their own pace and comfort.
Flipped learning is a technology-based learning approach in which students learn from pre-recorded lessons outside the classroom and engage in active learning in the classroom through group activities, projects, and discussions. Teachers could use free tools such as SelfCAD to teach 3D designing to their students. Students could utilize the user-friendly, intuitive tools and interactive tutorials to learn 3D designing in their time outside the classroom and engage in design-oriented projects in the classroom. SelfCAD can be accessed through browsers or installed on macOS or Windows-operated computers.
Flipped learning is a student-centric approach as they can access it anywhere at times they find comfortable. It gives them complete freedom regarding how they approach individual learning and when and where they do it. Individual learning happening at a pace the student finds comfortable translates to an improved one-to-one interaction between students and teachers. Students would be more comfortable voicing their questions and doubts to their teacher in an individual capacity compared to a classroom setting. As for teachers, this creates a platform to provide additional time and attention to students who need them.
In addition to comfortable learning, students are given multiple opportunities to discuss, explore, and apply their knowledge to understand topics better. As much of the learning happens outside the classroom, students would not have to spend much on transportation. All they would require is a device capable of delivering pre-recorded lessons to them. As for schools, they can reduce investment in traditional classrooms.
Flipped learning is not to be confused with the concept of flipped classrooms which follow a similar pattern. A flipped classroom or an inverted classroom is one in which students learn using instructional videos or pre-recorded lessons before the class and use the classroom as a platform for in-depth discussions, critical thinking, analyzing and rounds of interactive quizzing. For flipped learning to occur, the learning approach must follow four principles.
What are the Four Principles of Flipped Learning?
Four principles act as pillars to the concept of flipped learning. Students learning independently does not mean they are following a flipped learning program. An academic approach must fulfill the postulates of these principles to be considered a flipped learning approach.
1) Flexible Learning
The provision for students to practice flexible learning is one of the essential requisites of flipped learning. Flexible learning refers to a learning process that allows students to learn and practice comfortably. It is not just the pace that is flexible. Traditionally, there was only one source of knowledge, the teacher. In a flipped learning atmosphere, students are required to discuss among themselves and share what they know with each other.
2) Student-Centric Learning Culture
Students learning independently does not necessarily mean the learning process is student-centric. A student-centric learning culture requires students to be guided by able educators who offer feedback and variation in the learning process.
3) Intentional Content for Learning
Each aspect of the learning process has to be intentional and relevant. This would require teachers to understand their students personally with respect to their learning capabilities, preferences, and requirements. This is necessary to curate the content their students have to learn to learn efficiently. This will also enable teachers to put their students in groups that they can be comfortable in while they engage in active learning in their classrooms.
4) Trained Educators
Traditional learning systems were centered on the comfort of teachers who conducted classes the way they pleased. Student feedback was not always taken into consideration by teachers, and at times their opinions were not welcome. Not many teachers had the right qualities or training required to provide the ideal learning experience to their students. In a student-centric learning atmosphere such as flipped learning, educators have to be trained to be professionals who closely evaluate their students’ learning process and make expert feedback, constructive criticism, and the right kind of guidance available to them in real-time. Educators should also be able to reflect upon themselves, the way they interact with their students, and the learning process. They should be able to accept constructive feedback and make improvements where necessary. All this while, they should also be able to manage their classrooms and the chaos that is associated with students learning independently.
What are Some Examples of Flipped Learning?
Flipped learning Image credit. Gradecam
- Standard flipped learning: In the most basic form of flipped learning, teachers provide curated content in the form of pre-recorded video lectures for each student to learn from their homes. In the classroom, time is devoted to the practical application of the knowledge gained through learning from home. Students are encouraged to interact with their peers and teachers to discuss what they don’t know, share what they know and create something based on what they learned.
- Discussion-oriented learning: In this form of flipped learning, students are assigned homework that teaches them basic concepts of topics. The classroom time is dedicated to discussing concepts and brainstorming to learn complex ideas without depending too much on the instructor or teacher.
- Demonstration-oriented learning: Demonstration-oriented flipped learning includes demonstrating concepts in the video lectures provided to students at home. This applies to subjects that involve diagrams, models, or practical learning. This involves courses such as engineering, architecture, sculpting, etc. These demonstrations are instructions that students could use while independently approaching the concepts in the real world or simulations. In the classroom, students get together and discuss what they understood from the demonstrations and clarify what they did not.
- Role reversal model: This is one of the most effective flipped learning approaches. In this model, the students apply their knowledge and create videos shared with the teacher. Teachers then provide feedback and help students attain more knowledge and understanding.
- Faux-flipped model: This model is suitable for younger learners who require instructions at every step of the learning process. This model also involves the parents guiding their children to understand the video lessons sent to them to learn from home. The parents assist the children in the learning process and the activities they are supposed to perform in the classroom. This model prepares younger students to handle flipped learning independently as they progress to higher learning experiences.
- Virtual flipped learning: Virtual flipped classrooms eliminate the concept of a physical classroom. Students learn from pre-recorded video lectures in their personal time. Later, they meet their peers or teachers in person or on virtual platforms to discuss what they have learned, work on problems, and clear their doubts. This is the most personal model of flipped learning.
What kind of tools are required to create a flipped learning experience?
- Video editing tools: An important chunk of the learning process happens with pre-recorded lecture videos. The goal of providing lecture videos is to ensure flexible learning. Students must revisit the video as many times as they like to know the basics of topics thoroughly. Teachers must use editing software to optimize the quality of the content they share with their students.
- Learning management tools: Learning management tools that monitor and analyze student performance is an essential tool that could make flipped learning even more effective. Learning management tools should provide accurate feedback to the teachers about their student's performance to modify the content they receive. This tool could also serve as a platform for sharing pre-recorded lectures and as one for students to communicate with their teachers as well as their peers.
Flip Learning Made Fun With SelfCAD
3D Designing and printing is a wonderful tool that students could utilize to make active learning more effective. 3D designs could be used in virtual models or 3D printed models to provide deeper insights into concepts. There are many available 3D modeling software that one can use and SelfCAD is a versatile tool in this domain. One can get started in SelfCAD easily as the tools are well arranged in the interface and there are also interactive tutorials that can help the students learn 3D modeling much more easily. After they are done with creating 3D models, they can also prepare it for 3D printing in the software without having to switch to another software as there is an in-built slicer. There is also both an online as well as downloadable version of the software. The students can design models online or they can download and do it offline and the 3D models are all synced.
SelfCAD provides its amazing features for free, though some are restricted. However, advanced tools and elements can be availed from the SelfCAD website. SelfCAD offers these through the SelfCAD Pro license for $14.99 per month or $11.99 per month if billed annually. The SelfCAD Perpetual license offers lifetime access to these features for a single payment of $599.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
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