Preparing Students for Success

Odds are you have already flipped a lesson for your class, but you never realized you did. Let's start by asking the following question - have you ever asked students to complete a reading passage outside of class? If so, you've already laid the foundation to flip that lesson. Now all you need is to structure the in-class activity to support your reading assignment. The power of flipping can now bring your class activities and discussion to life!

Flipping a lesson or classroom does not need to be a difficult or tedious process. All 'flippers' have the same goal - create a student-centered learning environment that promotes collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and reflection. Many high school teachers and higher-ed instructors struggle to find time to accomplish all these tasks in a 'traditional' classroom setting. Many proponents of the flipped classroom point to these very attributes as reasons to consider flipping your classroom.

The best advice I can offer would be the following:
1) Start Small! You don't need to flip an entire class. Look for "flippable moments" as Dr. Barbi Honeycutt states. Look for confusion in students where you might need to spend more class time discussing. Look for fundamentals that can be taught through a video and practice can be done during face-to-face class time. Look for boredom in students and creating authentic learning experiences in your classroom to keep them coming back for more.

2) Plan BACKWARDS! Identify an in-class activity you have never had enough time to conquer or one that you really want students to take a lot from. Plan that activity first, and then ask how you can provide pre-class material to the students. This pre-class material is any necessary information the student will need to be successful during the activity. Provide them a short video lecture, reading passage, or exploratory cues. Always keep the in-class activity in mind as you provide them information they will need.

3) Integrate moments of reflection. Allowing students time to process and reflect on what was learned is a vital tool for the instructor. This allows instructors an opportunity to identify struggling students and correct any misconceptions immediately. Likewise, it provides pertinent feedback about the activity and how it might be changed in the future. Activities like "Think, Pair, Share", "Think, Write, Share", "Writing Prompts", "Exit Tickets", or "SWOT Analysis" (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) are great activities that encourage student feedback and reflection.

Too many students walk out of high school or college lacking applicable job skills that are required to be successful. I truly believe that the flipped classroom helps address those abilities and provides students an opportunity to be successful. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and off your 'stage'. You might actually like the noise of others for a change.