Flipped Clasroom

There is a lot of talk in the world of Education regarding the "Flipped Classroom." Before watching one of Todd Nesloney's webinars, I had no idea what the the flipped classroom meant or what it looked like. In his May 7, 2014 webinar, he clearly explains what this idea is and how it can change the dynamic of learning. 

When the classroom is flipped, students gain first exposure to new material outside of the classroom either through reading or lecture videos. Instead of class time being taken up by lecture, it is utilized to do harder work together, through problem-solving-discussions, debates, and project-style activities. 

Todd explains that the lecture videos he gives his students to watch usually are anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes long. In these videos, he personally introduces new material that he wants his students to begin thinking about. He then asks them to complete a "WSQ" or a Watch, Summary, Question." This allows Todd to make sure his students are watching the videos and that they paid close attention to them. 

A tip I got from Todd was to show your students you are not perfect! Make sure your students know that it is okay to make mistakes and to mess up. This is what leads to a healthy learning environment. 

In the webinar Todd said that sometimes he is aware that he has made a mistake in a video for his students to watch and sometimes he is not. He does not mind when he is corrected because it shows that his students are engaged and listening carefully to his lectures. 

Here is a question I have for Todd: If I were to flip my classroom, what are some ways to keep my lecture videos interesting enough that students will want to watch them? Is there any right or wrong way of making the lecture videos?

After watching Todd's webinar, I am definitely more inclined to flip my classroom. I think students come to class with more passion to learn and more motivation to work hard. When you allow the students to move from the passenger's seat to the driver's seat, true learning takes place.