Issues and Barriers
What are some of the issues and barriers to the flipped classroom?
From the staff standpoint, everyone not being on the same page or at least not agreeing with the new way to instruct
In response, I also find it hard to get students to come in with completed homework or read the material before class. Class rooms today are full of diverse students, so this to, may be a barrier to flipped class room.
One of the biggest complaints I have heard from students who participate in flipped classrooms is that the teacher is being paid not to teach. I have explained my approach in all classes but I do still get the student who feels as though they have not received what they paid for. Interestingly, one particular student who was vocal in resisting the flipped classroom came to me well after graduation and informed me that she was mistaken. There was an incident at her work that she did not think she was prepared to handle but because of hands on experience in the classroom, was able to participate and even lead the work group in solving a problem.
I am starting a new program and I am very interested in how to prepare and move my program to the flipped classroom before I have a large class that will be more challenging. I have 1 student now and will have a total of 5 students in January 2015. What are some strategies that have been used to convert from the current style of teaching to the flipped classroom?
By the way the Administration is open to the flipped classroom format.
I feel the flipped classroom is a great opportunity to teach students how to take responsibility for their own learning, but I believe this will only work for courses that have a "lab" component to it. Math, Science as they say in the course, but also pattern drafting or a video class. I do believe this would be more difficult to implement in a history course where there is no "hands on" component.
There is also the issue of the demographic of the student. I have a large number of students that tell me they have no computer or internet access at home and use it as an excuse not to complete their homework.
Some of the issues and barriers to the flipped classroom is how it will be perceived; student and others may take it as the teacher trying to pond the work off to the student or the teacher as being lazy. Other thing that comes to mind is that with student that are unwilling to do the necessaire work for the course.
Some students have the potential however they lack the motivation.
I think for my organization the time and resources needed to start is the biggest barrier to the flipped classroom.
I agree. I have had students who have told me that they would much rather learn in a traditional classroom format because they are not very proficient with technology. Baby steps, I believe, would be the key here, as well as a lot of patience on the part of the instructors.
For teachers who have been in the field for many years, they may be resistant to the change from a traditional classroom to a flipped classroom. They may hold a "if it's not broken, why fix it?" philosophy. Perhaps easing them into the transition may help to alleviate this barrier.
Some of the issues I see are motivation of the student that just wants to get by and dose not want to participate with the rest of the class. And then trying to find out what will motivate them.
Lack of technology for some students may require some facilitating
I was thinking about the student who may have issues with open communication with others. My son suffers from selective mutism and struggles with communication under stress. That would be one of the only barriers I see with flipping.
Humans are always trying to find better ways of doing everything for whatever their motivation and drive for it may be. It's faster, easier, more productive, cheaper, a better ending product, it gives them a feeling of purpose or they can simply make more money off the idea. Whatever way you do it its going to have its "issues and barriers" at some point. One way may be "perfect" for a certain situation in a certain environment, but you change the variables and it now has more cons than pros. The automobile. A great thing. Revolutionized travel. It gets people to work, errands around town, goes fast and is just a very good means of travel in general, but its expensive to buy and maintain just for one. In some places and conditions a persons best option might be a bicycle or even a horse as the better means of transportation for the automobile has more cons than pros under that persons conditions.
What I have found works in my classroom for the topics I teach and the type of students I teach is more traditional, but broken up, with some comedy, and exercises in between, because yes, 5 hours of lecture can be hard on everyone involved. Call it the "Flippity Flop Back A Half Step With A Twist" classroom. I lecture the how its set up and done to the basics. Then exercises. Then its mini lectures over the different variables and situation that can arise with exercises after each mini lecture. We go step by step building on the last lesson. Homework is given every night over what was discussed and practiced that day, but I give them the ending answer. Their assignment is to follow the guidelines and procedures to make the right calculations and get that answer. If they don't get the right answer I can look at their work and see exactly what they are not grasping and get them on track fast.
Now my way is not "perfect" for all environments and topics but it works the best for the environment, topics and student body I teach. I have let the students work on the in class exercises together, with the ending result being tragic. The "smart" one doing the "helping" didn't know what they were doing, because their arrogance made them stop paying attention halfway through. whether it was a video, reading assignment or whatever. Now the person they were trying to help is more confused than ever. More work for all of us. Their heart was in the right place though. Those are just some of my students. Some instructors may not have that problem.
Flipping the classroom is a very good teaching tactic in some situations. To all, feel your class out and use what works best for them. Good Luck!
Lindsay,
I would ask myself why the student isn't motivated and what could I do to help change that.
Dr. Moody Crews
Bonnie,
I often use pop quizzes for that very reason. I do not give a quiz in every class meeting. They do seem to work.
Dr. Moody Crews
Reshona,
My university doesn't provide laptops or tablets for the students but there are computers available on campus for their use and many of my students take advantage of this. I also know this is difficult for some students but sometimes they just have to do what they have to do to get things done.
Dr. Moody Crews
Aarti,
Having the lectures in advance of coming to class can be a time saver that will benefit those students who have a problem with time management or just simply limited time to complete their daily requirements.
Dr. Moody Crews
Robert,
How very true. If the old way worked, we wouldn't be looking for better ways of doing things.
Dr. Moody Crews
