Totally Flipping Out

Published on Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Let’s play a word association game. What do you think of when someone says “flip”? Some may think of tumbling/gymnastics like Simone Biles and the rest of Team USA in preparation for the Olympics this summer in Paris. Others may think of an ice cream treat from a fast-food restaurant that is turned upside down as the server hands it to you in your vehicle or the next one is free. Still to others it could bring back memories from an exam where the test was handed out face down and your class had to flip the paper over to begin. Little trauma, anyone?

The essence is the same in each example. When something or someone is flipped, it is turned over in some way. How does this apply to education? You can flip a classroom! (pause for effect)

Flipped classrooms have been around for a while, and it is still an unfamiliar style to some. Let’s be like Elsa and go “Into the Unknown” together. A flipped classroom can create a dynamic classroom experience. Students complete introductory work prior to the class session whether it’s watching a video, completing a reading assignment, previewing a presentation, etc. This allows students to come into the class session with a foundational knowledge on the topic being presented. The instructor can then plan activities that require more collaborative efforts which encourage deeper learning. When students understand a topic at a deeper level of knowledge, they can make more connections between topics and concepts. It also moves learning from a receptive process to an active process.

I would love to help brainstorm ways to make this happen in your future lectures. Please contact me at bricker@umc.edu, and we can begin the process together!