Flipping the classroom

A ‘Flipped Classroom’ approach is a great way to provide students with an Active Learning opportunity.

Active Learning is fundamental to the way we teach in Higher Education: engaging students in finding information and then developing their understanding of that material. It is key to deepening understanding of the subject and developing independent learners.

A traditional instructor-centred session like a lecture involves the delivery of core information during class time, followed by student-centred activities to be done after class. Flipped Classroom approaches involve inverting (or ‘flipping’) the order of these activities. The core information is now acquired by the student prior to the face-to-face contact session. The students can then use the contact time to deepen and reinforce that learning and gain a more holistic understanding of the subject.

Flipped approaches can free the lecturer to be able to be more spontaneous and responsive to the needs of the class and avoid - in subjects where this may happen - merely delivering the same material year on year. The contact time can focus on material students struggle with: applying understanding to problem solving or analytical approaches, understanding areas that can be developed, or providing further background and expanding knowledge.

Flipped learning requires a choice by the tutor of the medium through which to deliver the core material, and this is most commonly achieved through the use of video. The Panopto-based ‘Learn Plus’ facility for lecturers should facilitate this medium for preparing teaching material. However other media are also used, such as written, online, audio or other visual sources. The range of activities to be undertaken during the live sessions is endless, but all should engage the students in an active task and not be another session focused on delivery of further basic content/information.

This topic showcases areas where the ‘Flipped Classroom’ has been successful across the University with different approaches, media and ways of engaging students in the live ‘lecture’ sessions being highlighted. The approach fits with our aim to engage students as active participants, provide an enriched and innovative learning environment, and use the appropriate technology to support learning and teaching.