Increasing Tech Use in the Classroom: Smartboards anyone?
Launched just this spring, the Flipped Learning Network is a website that was started to help teachers adopt a flipped learning system and ideology in their classrooms and beyond. What exactly is “flipped learning?” Flipped learning is a system where students watch lectures on the internet, thereby freeing up classroom time for more interactive activities between teachers and students.
Students watch lectures at home, and then they come into class prepped with questions and ready to do activities. A more economic use of everyone’s time, right? After all, the logic is that teachers and students don’t need to be in a classroom for lecture-type or passive learning.
Flipped learning is not a new idea (Chicago held its 5th annual Flipped Conference earlier this month). The idea for flipped learning actually came from two frustrated educators attempting to address the problem of students skipping class: their solution was to make Powerpoint slide shows supplemented with audio recordings, which they began presenting in 2007.
Michelle Rinehart, an American math teacher, has been flip learning for about a year now. She says, “It’s not about the videos — it’s about the powerful class time we regain for higher-order thinking activities… Students appreciate the increased assistance and collaboration they receive with this model.” Rinehart also recommends making your own videos.
A perfect way to reach the technology generation.
A 2011 survey by Computing Technology Industry Association found that 65% of American teachers believe that technology use in the classroom has made students more productive than they were in 2008.
Creative Commons Love: Kathy Cassidy on Flickr.com