| ...with their best interest at heart. |
image retrieved from http://schoolcounselingbyheart.wordpress.com
I chose these
six words because the flipped classroom is not ideal for all populations of
students. There are so many positive aspects,
such as motivation for students, more time for cooperative learning, and
increased responsibility for students.
And of course there are the shortfalls, such as lack of technology and/or
parental support at home and actually ensuring that the students complete the
assignments. Another concern is can this
model effectively apply accommodations to learning support students or English
Language Learners (ELLs). This is where
I was able to relate to the concept.
Living and working in a small low income district, the flipped classroom
would be difficult to employ. Most of
our students do not have access to technology at home and many lack the
parental support and guidance to ensure that their children are completing
their homework. Additionally, we have a
large population of ELLs whose parents do not speak English. On the other hand, I could image many scenarios
in which the flipped model would be effective.
For instance, a school that a relative of mine attends already
incorporates technology into classwork and homework assignments daily for word
processing, research, Skype, etc and I only imagine they will soon be flipping
their classrooms. Also, flipping does not have to be a complete
transformation. One teacher explained that flipping doesn’t have to be
a constant change and he only flips when he feels the students will benefit
most from it. Which brings me to my point…
…with their
best interest at heart.
All decisions affecting the students should be made with
their best interest at heart. While this seems to be an obvious observation,
it does not always happen that way. All too
often decisions are made to benefit all the wrong people (meaning not the students). So if the flipped classroom is what is best
for the particular population of students, than it should be implemented,
otherwise alternative instructional strategies should be explored to motivate
students while “keeping up with the times”.
Flipping is definitely a very individual form of teaching. What works for one teacher may not work for another. I think it all depends upon the teacher, and his or her students. Your six word story surely embraces that idea. Teachers need to do what is in the best interest of their students. I think moving to the flipped approach will take some getting used to by students, parents, and teachers, and it is a process. You have to figure out for yourself how to make it work. For me, I will start out slow, and work out the kinks rather than jumping in head first. I love to integrate technology, but I am also realistic in knowing that there are usually problems that need to be worked out when you are dealing with technology.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mention the difficulty for parents. Even if they have access to technology, some parents may not know how to use the resources. We have to educate them as well as the students on how to use these tools. They can't help their kids at home if they do not understand what they are doing.
DeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteI really like the sensitivity to your students that your 6-word story reflects. I agree that teachers must decide on the best methods of instruction based on the people in their classes. I wanted to see more from the teacher who said he only uses the flipped classroom when he thinks it will best benefit his students but I could not get the link to work--sorry!
I apologize that the link above did not work... here is the web address although when I just tried it, the page would not fully load, there is apparently an issue at the moment http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/weareteachersblog/blog-wat/2013/04/24/the-flipped-classroom-infographic
ReplyDeleteI think districts with high ELL populations need this more than anyone because technology tools are essential for kids learning english. This is why I am so lucky to teach in Maine. Every kid has access to a computer. And with the proliferation of free WiFi access points, there is a way for kids to use them outside of school. I think some school districts are providing Internet access for families so students can learn from home; I know for sure some Internet providers offer very cheap ($10/mo) Internet access for families whose children receive free lunch.
ReplyDelete