The traditional model of teachers lecturing in the classroom and students completing practice and homework on their own is changing. Instead, students are learning on their own and using the classroom as a place to dig more deeply into what they’ve learned. This model, known as the flipped classroom, is gaining popularity thanks to the rise of edtech.
How does the flipped classroom work? Students watch lecture videos or complete readings at home. The following day in class, the teacher clarifies anything students didn’t understand. Students then work with the information to answer questions, complete projects and do other activities that used to be reserved for homework.
The flipped classroom provides benefits for students and teachers alike. Teachers spend more time helping students with the content they don’t understand. This means more one-on-one help for students and less time listening to boring lectures in class.
But flipped classrooms only work when kids know how to learn. Teachers – and parents – should be spending their time helping children develop the skills they need to be able to learn and to adapt what they are learning to how they learn best. This is not difficult to do but it does take knowledge and an awareness to put priorities on learning rather than teaching. Technology is helping kick start this process and that is great- but we still have a long way to go. The sooner we prioritize learning over teaching the better.
Great comment. And I agree.