What is a Flipped Classroom?
The flipped classrom is one in which lectures and instruction take place outside of classtime usually in the form of instructor videos or screencasts while homework and group activities take place in class.
Why should I use a flipped classroom?
You may want to try flipping your classroom if:
- your students struggle with homework
- you need more time to work directly with students
- you want to have more time for group projects
- you find it hard to cover it all during lecture
Lecture video tips
- Keep it short – two to three short videos under 10 minutes each are better than one long one. Connect each video to a section of the book or subject.
- Fire up and speak like you are really in class, use colors and props to keep it engaging.
- Keep the content meaningful and to the point.
- Identify ahead of time the 2-3 points you want the student to remember from the lesson and go over them at the end of the video.
- Check out more tips for making lecture video here
What About other Class material?
To keep things interesting, include video from outside sources (guest lecture!), web links and online activities.
Getting started
You don’t have to replace every day of lecture; try one class a week and see how it goes. Get feedback from students and go from there.
What Technology Should I Use?
Video – For best streaming, upload your video lecturette to YouTube. If you want to give students access to material via Blackboard, you can easily integrate your YouTube videos using the Blackboard mashup feature. For instructions, see: http://iteachu.uaf.edu/blackboard-adding-mash-ups/
Create narrated screencasts of your PowerPoint slides using Jing or Screencast-O-Matic. For instructions, see: http://iteachu.uaf.edu/grow-skills/screencasting/
There are many other ways to present material online such as via a blog platform such as WordPress or Google Sites or via interactive presentation tools such as Voicethread.
