What is Flipping the Classroom?

This week in my online class (EDP 279: Technology + Media Literacy and Learning) we were looking at this idea of flipping the classroom. I’d never heard of it before, so I was interested in what exactly this idea is.

Image I took of one of the classrooms
found on campus.

The general gist is that instead of lecturing during class time, teachers’ who use this method, record lectures for students to watch outside of class. In doing so, this then opens up class time for more application, and it also allows teachers time for differentiation.

As part of my assignment for class, I had to come up with ways that I could possibly flip my future classroom. But as a future English teacher, I was struggling to come up with ideas. So much of what is learned in English classes relies on discussion, which can’t be created through a video that only contains the teacher.

I was stumped.

But then I started to think. What are all the things I wish I had learned in my high school English classes, but it never seemed that we had the time?

The ideas wouldn’t stop coming.

I realized that while it’s not really possible to flip the English classroom as one would a math or science class, it’s still possible.

The lectures for a flipped English class could be about grammar concepts, writing, project assignments – even reading.

All of these topics are necessary to cover, but they often are overlooked. But these are the foundations on which teachers build. These basic skills are not just necessary for an English class, but they apply to all classes.

One benefit of flipping the classroom is that students can refer to lectures over and over again if they have questions. In addition, if they’re confused on a concept, they can ask the teacher for clarification during class time.

While flipping the classroom is still a fairly recent idea, I’m interested to see the role that it will take on in the future.