Flipped Classrooms
Flipped classroom methods (Bergmann & Sams, 2012; Educause Learning Initiative, 2012; Fulton, 2012; 2014; Mok, 2014; Morgan, 2014; Shaffer, 2016; Tucker 2012) have become popular as educators realize flipped methods offer a way to move knowledge and comprehension activities into online delivery methods, which creates more time in class for hands-on, inquiry and discussion-based activities. In this way, using technology to deliver instruction connects to the students’ funds of knowledge (Moll, Amanti, Neff, & Gonzalez, 1992), a specific term meaning that students’ backgrounds and home knowledge is treated as a “fund” equal in importance to academic funds.
Fulton (2012) identifies some key reasons for adopting a flipped classroom:
- 1.
Students move at their own pace;
- 2.
Doing “homework” in class gives teachers better insight into student difficulties;
- 3.
Teachers can customize and update the curriculum, and provide it to students 24/7;
- 4.
Students have access to multiple teachers’ expertise;
- 5.
Classroom time can be used more effectively and creatively;
- 6.
Parents have a window into the coursework;
- 7.
Learning theory supports the new approaches;
- 8.
The use of technology is flexible and appropriate for 21st century learning. (p. 2-5)
Dewey (1938), Hyslop-Margison (2004), Liu and Chen (2010), and Vanderstraeten (2002) provide a lens for framing the flipped method as an example of constructivist pedagogy. Hyslop-Margison (2004) suggests that Internet technology encourages students to participate in their learning in constructivist ways. In a constructivist classroom, students construct their own learning and understanding through experiences designed or facilitated by the teacher (Dewey, 1938). For example, in a flipped classroom, students are encouraged to collaborate while learning and communicating, and they have access to a variety of sources online. They are able to go beyond the assignment to find additional information or detour to a completely different topic. This allows students to shape their own experience online.