Make the subject/material fun and interesting. Include fun examples that we can relate to.
Jean,
I have encountered students just as those you mentioned. I do believe the Career Development class is very helpful because it focuses on what is expected of the student. Many of my students did not realize that they had responsibilities. After explaining to them their responsibilities to them and how they will benefit from them, they got it! Amazing!
Carrie,
Yes, student engagement in the F2F component of instruction is of utmost importance.
Dr. Moody Crews
A key to becoming a facilitator of learning would be to concentrate on helping students master the content instead of just receiving the content. Instructors must have innovative pre-recorded lectures and engage students in the learning process to utilize the F2F period so that the instructor becomes a "guide on the side".
Jean,
I'm glad the class is helping you. I wonder if you students inability to grasp the concepts is because they've never had a teaching who actually used this technique or anything even close to it. I'm sure most first year college students have experienced mostly lecture so it's a concept that is completely foreign to them.
Dr. Moody Crews
Lucille,
Excellent points. You are absolutely correct that asking the students is the best method. One thing I do is I ask my students what is working for their learning. I stress to them that I know there are some things that they don't necessarily like; however, that's not the question. Whether they like it or not isn't what should be important. What is important is whether or not they are learning.
Dr. Moody Crews
James,
I agree that students do expect lectures because that's what they have always gotten from their teachers. There is certainly nothing wrong with lecture but why not give them the lectures in advance and then go deeper with the learning process with experiential activities.
Dr. Moody Crews
Pilar,
I start my classes the same way and I agree that the flipped classroom does allow for use of the same method. Great points.
Dr. Moody Crews
Austin,
I completely agree. Unfortunately, some instructors still don't know the difference in lecturing and facilitation.
Dr. Moody Crews
Prior to taking this course- during this semester- I have been having difficulty with students taking responsibility for some of their learning- I have alrerady tried a small number of these techniques to try to motivate students and help them collaborate better with others to learn course objectives and outcomes- some of my students are right out of High School and are oblivious to teaching methods and are finding it difficult to grasp concepts- even some of the ones learned in this course- some of the flipped classroom "F2F" techniques have been a start but they have a ways to go-
My more advancedd classess are better able to grasp this concept and I have utilized some of the F2F techniques suggested in this course and they have worked well- I am no where near ready to flip my classes but some of these techniques discussed in this course have worked and are a starting point.This has helped me become more of a facilitator and not feel as though I am asking the students to do too much!!!
One thing I would do to be a better facilitator of learning is to ask the students what they think of the pre-recorded lectures and other online materials. Some questions to propose include; Is the subject matter presented in a way that makes sense? Is there a section that needs to be refined? Would you like me to prepare another video on a certain subject?
Investing time to create and refine the online course materials will help ensure that the students are learning what they need, and therefore, will make my job in the F2F classroom easier because they will have a better understanding while doing in-class exercises.
I am guilty of the same crime!!! The students come to expect the lectures and not providing them with lots of content seems like you are cheating. You need to cover the material and lecture is often the best way to get through a ton of information. I know I can be more collaborative and if I start out slowly and provide it to students who are ready, I think it will see positive results.
In the traditional classroom, I measure the level of understanding of the student by opening the class with a discussion topic based from the previously assigned reading. Using the flipped classroom method, I can still use this strategy, but instead of the opening discussion being on the materials read, it can be based on the prerecorded lectures. Another method could be to present a real world situation and open the class to working on the real world problem by trying to apply what they learned and finding ways to solve the problem. Encouraging the student to apply what they have learned will help them more in the long run than what they will get from me just being the content provider.
The overall expected outcome of a flipped classroom is for the students to master the content. To be a better facilitator is to utilize as much time available for the students to share their knowledge, understanding and share their new found, additional information (from further readings and researches) about the topic amongst each other collaboratively.
I usually step back and allow the information sharing to flow and spread throughout the flipped classroom. Facilitating is not providing everything in verbatim. It is about giving the students the time and opportunity to analyze, synthesize, discuss, apply, expand and elevate themselves to different vantage points and perspectives on what they learned from the content provided (initially)---as in guiding the students to think outside the box.
I found Socratic Questioning and playing the "devil's advocate" made me a better facilitator than simply a content provider.
Leslie ,
Absolutely. Only the students can tell us what they know and don't know. Mastery is the goal.
Dr. Moody Crews
Kimberlee,
Sometimes it is best to move at a slower, more focused pace. Better to do some things well as you feel comfortable rather than jumping in with both feet before you're ready. Continue consulting with colleagues and you will get there.
Dr. Moody Crews
I think that it is important to pause and have open discussions with the students to assess their understanding. With the flipped classroom, it will allow the instructor to review content if there was poor understanding of it in the classroom. As the course noted, you are trying to have a "mastery of the content."
Whether or not I can incorporate a Flipped Classroom right away, I can defiantly add more collaborative learning into my classroom. I am guilty of lecturing without a lot of participation. Although I try to get them to discuss the topic, and often they do join in, it is always the same students. I am exploring new ways by, discussing with colleagues, what they do in their classrooms. This course has given me some ideas though. I have already looked on the internet for some videos!
