The Flipped Classroom Approach

The flipped classroom concept presents some interesting new teaching methods. This concept, basically inverts the traditional teaching methods, delivering instruction online outside of class and moving “homework” into the classroom. The model relies on students watching lectures at home at their own pace and communicating with peers and teachers via online discussions. Moreover, the concept engagement takes place in the classroom with the help of the instructor. John Dewey made this proposal a century ago; Socrates did it 2,500 years ago; and Maria Montessori did it 150 years ago. The idea that children must know before they think is nonsense. They can think their way into knowledge. They do this instinctively even before they can talk. It is our ego centred idea that we have something important to say that gets in the way of their learning. The availability of online video and increasing student access to technology has paved the way for this model to take off. It is yet another mean to move away from the traditional one-size-fits-all model of education which often results in limited concept engagement and severe consequences.

The Khan Academy is a perfect example of this: www.khanacademy.org

Use of social media in classrooms

Social media comprises of activities that involve socializing and networking online through words, pictures and videos. Social media is redefining how we relate to each other as humans and how we as humans relate to the organizations that serve us. It is about dialogue – two way discussions bringing people together to discover and share information. The figure below shows example of such media tools.

Ideas for use in teaching

Blogs have become a central tool for academic research and for teaching and learning over the last five years. Many programs require students to blog reflectively on their progress throughout a course and submit this as graded work. These blogs provide a great space for reflection, for recording progress with academic readings and developing ideas, and for discussion with peers from the wider world.

In schools, there are greater risks to address in terms of privacy and access to resources but there is also huge potential for innovation. The award winning "I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here!" initiative (see Resources) used a talent show format to connect practicing scientists with school children. Over the course of two weeks, social media tools such as YouTube and real-time chat tools enabled school children to ask any science question, which was then answered by a research scientist within 24 hours. The students voted for their favorite scientist throughout the show and the winning scientist won a small grant to further their research.

A number of sites are also experimenting with entirely new ways to teach that takes inspiration from, or connects with, social media. The Khan Academy (see Resources) is one of the most interesting of these. The site is a free learning space combining specially produced videos, practice tasks, and instructor tools with game-like progression and achievement badges that can be shared through email or social media sites. The Codeacademy (see Resources) is another innovative self-led learning site focusing on making programming skills interactive and accessible. These types of sites build upon the wider Open Educational Resources (OER) movement that supports the open sharing and reuse of learning materials and materials in the public domain (see Resources).

MSL4206 - What this unit had to offer!

This unit raised awareness regarding a resource-sharing world. The approach changed from a closed minded setting where one would not even consider sharing ideas with others, to one which is more open where a huge network of ideas are raised and shared with the world. I feel that a common concern, especially among teachers, is that of fear of sharing without receiving anything in return. Thanks to this unit I got over such concerns since I myself use online resources I find for free and as such nothing would I lose when I share resources with my colleagues and receive nothing in return!