Is It Flipping Worth It?

The flipped classroom is a topic that has been highly debated throughout the past few years. With technology taking on a bigger role every day, flipping the classroom is moving from a strategy used by tech savvy teachers to an expectation from all teachers in some form or another. But is flipping the classroom really all that it is cracked up to be? Just last month I wrote a blog post that showed a heavy negativity towards flipping the classroom. However, after working with flipped classrooms I'm starting to think that with the right amount of work and time put into it, flipping may be worth it if it's done right! First, let's look at a video explaining what the flipped classroom is.

I think many times the idea of flipping is one that is put into place too quickly and without enough thought. My original concern about flipping came from students not taking the initiative to participate, or not having the ability to participate. However, within the last month our school district looked at student's availability to use devices outside of school and we found that 97 percent of the students and parents that were polled had access or the ability for the students to participate from home. I've also been able to work in a classroom where flipping is utilized for the majority of the lessons that are taught and I've seen first hand how students participate and get involved in the work because they take an ownership role finishing things at their own pace.

An additional concern that I've examined lately are the misconceptions of the flipped classroom. The following video addresses those misconceptions.

Ultimately, whether or not an educator decides to flip the classroom is up to each one individually. I personally believe that the flipped classroom has many benefits, but only if it is done correctly and is something that an educator is dedicated to. I would urge any professional that is thinking about flipping their classroom to take the time to establish routines and to do things the right way.