With all the hype about flipped classrooms, people often wonder if it is possible to do that in an online course. How can a course be flipped when there is no physical setting in the first place?
In Can You Flip an Online Class? on FacultyFocus.com, Barbi Honeycutt and Sarah Glova advocate a redefinition of the term “flip” in order to implement the winning techniques into a purely digital learning environment. They argue that a flipped classroom’s strength lies in its’ focus on students, not the actual class time perimeters.
A flipped classroom – whether traditional or online – is one which practices student centered learning.
With this definition, class time structure is no longer the primary feature of a flipped classroom. Rather, the core element is a course’s utilization of interactive activities, personalized instruction, and an engaging atmosphere. These are tangible characteristics which can be applied in an online classroom.
Consider these techniques to focus on your students:
- Encourage students to contribute additional resources to class discussions.
- Ask students to tell you about their personal learning styles. That way, you can have an estimation of how your class learns and how to best serve their needs.
- Vary the type of assignments so that they play to different students’ strengths.
- Create dynamic discussion boards. It is always beneficial for students to express themselves.
How have you flipped your online classroom?