Flipping Class Supports Active Learning

The flipped classroom, a blended learning strategy where educators place content online that they would normally cover in a classroom lecture, is a key piece of creating robust active learning experiences for students. When "content" is placed online instead of a classroom lecture, students can watch videos and engage with other online resources at their own pace and place. By moving the content online, educators can focus on project based learning in class. Using tools like Classroom Salon or Verso allows educators to see "learning analytics," or traces of student learning. These analytics can target areas that students need additional support with the content to best complete and engage in deeper active learning such as design challenges and other forms of project based learning. 

Where do you get started with the flipped classroom to support active learning? 

1. Try flipping one unit or lesson - use tools like JING and SnagIt or level up to use Verso, Classroom Salon, VoiceThread, Sophia Learning or TED-ED or find YouTube videos or use pre-developed materials from Khan Academy or similar sites. 
2. Place your videos in your school learning management system or sign up for a free classroom account with Google Classroom or Haiku Learning.
3. Introduce the topic and learning goals for the project in class and then assign the videos/online content for homework. Assign discussion questions or use the annotation features to formatively see what students are learning. You could even create a class hashtag or ask students to tweet responses. 
4. View learning analytics before the next face-to-face class and address any problems or concerns students have.
5. Start the class with a review of any of the problems areas uncovered through software reporting capabilities or from online discussions. Allow peer learning to happen. 
6. After spending a small portion of class time on review, allow students to spend the rest of the time on projects, group activities or digital media/maker projects. 

At my school we have found a block schedule where classes meet for 80 or 90 minutes, every other day supports a flipped and active classroom environment very well. Students have time to watch video and engage with content the day between classes, teachers have the time to analyze the learning analytics and students have more time during scheduled face-to-face meetings to work on collaborative projects and complete "field studies" out in our community.  

Ellis history teacher Rick Malmstrom
talks about Classroom Salon.