Flipped Learning Reflection

     Reflections on Flipped Classroom Learning:

Source: giphy.com   

During this grizzly-hot-Chicago summer of 2021, I had the honor of learning from Professor Kelly who taught the Flipped Learning Class at Dominican which I attended remotely. From the comforts of my home, while the Delta variant raged across the world, I received invaluable knowledge regarding, how to teach content and create engaging content for students. 

                    What is Flipped Learning?

Source: giphy.com   

Flipped Classrooms are practices that prioritize student interaction with their peers and their teachers. Therefore, teachers can maximize those interactions by creating a short video of the major concepts and having the students watch it for homework. 

Edpuzzle is a great program to have formative assessments throughout a video to track student progress and abilities. 

As soon as students enter the classroom or meet links the teacher already knows where they are at and can respond to questions and create content accordingly. Flipped saves the students time from hearing their teacher lecture in a one-way manner and opens the classroom to project-based learning and small group work.  

I have worked at a STEM school that aims to engage students in real-life problem-solving.  Additionally STEM schools create solutions with institutions doing that work in the field. Students positively responded when I took them to neighborhood non-profit, I Grow Chicago, to engage community members doing law advocacy, social service, and artistic endeavors to offer their local community. If I spent less class time lecturing, I can spend more time connecting students to institutions in the neighborhood that are problem-solving. Students can work in groups to launch campaigns for or against core issues ( death penalty, meat vs. vegan, etc).

If you can tell, I am a social science teacher teaching World Studies. The best part of my job is connecting historical trends to currents events and watching my students connect those dots. The content does not live and die in the textbook; it enlightens their life to make sense of the world they live in. Flipped Learning will help create more time to do the activities students and I love and less time memorizing core concepts during class time. 

                    Flipped Learning Done Well

Source: giphy.com   

During the course, I have learned video editing, streaming, and stop-gap animation technologies. Often teachers are eager to try new learning programs in the class before they mastered them themselves. I want to keep learning how to edit, use accessible programs not only for me but for my students, and create more project-based learning utilizing technology within my classroom. Technological advancements are ever in the present and future. Anchoring student's in learning how to master technologies will not only create more engagement in my class but prepare them for the career paths and civic engagement beyond educational institutions. It is crucial I continue to learn with students and apply the latest tech to the assignments and content. 

Tik-Tok, Instagram, and Youtube all have a wealth of professional learning communities eager to share the knowledge of what is working in the classroom. I will seek out creators that are sharing Flipped Classroom ideas. Who knows, maybe, I will be a creator one day. For now, I am okay being a turkey-vulture; scouring the earth for engaging content that has the potential to empower students, create equitable learning spaces, and technological breakthroughs within the educational setting!  

                                                        Thank you, Professor Kelly

Source: giphy.com