One of the great debates in education today is whether learners learn best in the classroom or on their own. Some educators believe that learners learn best on their own, while others believe that teaching methods should be tailored to each learner. The flipped classroom is a new teaching model that has recently gained popularity. It essentially allows learners to learn in a more engaging way while teachers frequently update the material. In a flipped classroom, students and teachers alike need to actively participate in the learning process. This is accomplished through the use of concepts such as control, autonomy, and engagement. Through this chapter, the authors first introduce the traditional classroom, and the flipped classroom, and a comparison between the two types of classes. Then, many questions are answered about how to implement the flipped classroom model effectively. What are the tools that facilitate the implementation of a flipped classroom? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a flipped classroom?
TopIntroduction
Often, the material taught is not relevant to the real-life situations learners will face later in their careers and is often presented in a way that is memorized rather than understood. The traditional teaching model is undergoing change with the advent of new technologies and media such as the Internet and online learning platforms that allow learners to gather information outside of the classroom and share their experiences.
The classroom strategies are countless and teachers are increasingly resorting to the notion of the “flipped classroom”, which is a new educational model that has seen tremendous growth over the past decade. The idea is to provide opportunities for learners to learn about topics outside of class, at their own pace, and come to class informed, better prepared to participate in discussions about the topic and apply their knowledge through active learning (Hamdan et al., 2013). In doing so, it becomes a self-paced and highly effective learning strategy for both learners and teachers as they are able to effectively cover large amounts of material in less time while ensuring learner retention. Many colleges and high schools have adopted the flipped classroom model to improve learning outcomes and increase the amount of time spent in class on the higher end of the Bloom's taxonomy. The latter is an educational model used by educators and learners to categorize the different levels of learning. It describes the cognitive process needed to learn a particular subject, from the most basic to the more complex levels of understanding. It was initially developed by educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom in 1956 and since then has been used as a fundamental tool in assessing and measuring learning outcomes. Bloom's taxonomy is divided into six levels. These include knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation (Sosniak, 1994). Each level builds upon the one before it, beginning with knowledge as the base and ending with evaluation as the highest level. As learners progress through each level of Bloom's taxonomy, they develop a better understanding and deeper appreciation for the subject.
The flipped classroom has many benefits for learners and teachers, it allows learners to learn at their own pace and be responsible for their own learning (O'Flaherty & Phillips, 2015), it has the potential to improve learner’s learning (Heyborne & Perrett, 2016), and it reduces fatigue caused by traditional teaching methods while creating an environment for better learner engagement and knowledge retention.
Throughout the chapter, the authors present a captivating journey into the contrasting worlds of traditional and flipped classrooms. Throughout the chapter, the authors skillfully uncover the distinct characteristics of the flipped classroom model put forth by leading researchers. With an eagle eye, the authors examine every aspect of the model, discovering the many benefits it offers. Concluding the chapter with a call to action, the authors emphasize the need to thoroughly examine the benefits and limitations of virtual classrooms and create an environment conducive to their effective use.
The path that this chapter follows is guided by a set of research questions that serve as a framework for the exploration of the topic:
- 1.
What is the history of the flipped classroom, and how has it evolved over time?
- 2.
How can technology be used to enhance the flipped classroom experience, and what types of tools and resources are most effective in supporting student learning?
- 3.
What are the key benefits and drawbacks of the flipped classroom model compared to traditional classroom instruction?
TopFrom The Traditional Classroom To The Flipped Classroom
The traditional lecture is the most common teaching method in engineering universities around the world (Munir et al., 2018). The traditional lecture approach is also referred to as the teacher-centered approach, as the teacher does most of the work during the course (Bonwell, 1996).