Student-Driven Education with Flipped Learning and 20-Time

Emerging Approaches to Blended Instruction

Of the many approaches to blended instruction in K-12 education, the Flipped Learning concept is gaining considerable traction as both effective and practical in nature. Although there are several variations of Flipped Learning, this typically refers to the shifting of direct instruction online by creating instructional videos with the use of screencast technology. This shift frees up a considerable amount of class time, enabling increased opportunities for more authentic and collaborative classroom experiences. When many in the field describe flipped learning, they suggest that this approach also flips the ownership of learning from the teacher to the student.

Another developing movement in K-12 education is 20-Time, an approach that provides a great example of how Flipped Learning can create opportunities for personalized, inquiry-based instruction. These 20-Time projects, largely influenced by research on motivation, creativity, and cognition, aim to foster higher-order thinking by harnessing students’ intrinsic motivations. Both Flipped Learning and 20-Time projects are emerging as innovative and practical ways for K-12 educators to develop and implement effective, student-centered blended learning environments.