Hi Eric,

I think it is important to differentiate between flipping learning and flipped classrooms because they are not the same, as argued in the Flipped Learning Network article (2014). Did you have a flipped classroom for ELA or just flipped learning? Were your students working on direct instruction outside of classtime?

I do not think that it is always beneficial for direct instruction to move "from the group learning space to the individual space" (Flipped Learning Network, 2014).

In my own instruction, I am not the only leader during direct instructional time. My students are fully involved throughout the lesson. Other students benefit from hearing student questions. Effective teachers use formative assessment to adjust instruction during direct instructional time. Techniques such as small groupings can be used so students do not waste time.

Additionally, direct instruction does not always need to come before indirect instruction. I like to teach Math using discovery lessons. Students discover new topics by building upon their knowledge of what they already know. At the end of the lesson, we have a discussion and I adapt my instruction to meet observed needs. My students learn from one another during this instructional time. Students can learn a lot through models of other students' misconceptions, as well as of other students' successes. My students sometimes discover without my support that their thinking was a misconception. Lecturing or using direct instruction before groupwork may rob students of the power of collaborating with teammates to discover new concepts.

Carolyn Fado

ED.893.645.9B.SU18

Flipped classrooms are not effective because they rely on students completing introductory study of material at home, using technology. Not all families have access to technology. Also some students have more difficulty completing homework than others, whether or not the homework is digital. For younger students, some parents may spend time encouraging their kids to complete homework. Other students may have parents who are unable to supervise homework time.

In her blog post, Lisa Nielson (2011) writes that the flipped model still is based on traditional lecture, even if the students are listening to the lecture at home. This form of instruction does not work for every student.

Additionally, EDUCAUSE (2012) writes that students may complain about the loss of face time if they are used to face-to-face lectures and that flipping effectively takes careful planning, which may be overwhelming for teachers.

References:

EDUCAUSE. (2012). Things you should know about… flipped classrooms. Retrieved from https://library.educause.edu/~/media/files/library/2012/2/eli7081-pdf.pdf

Nielsen, L. (2011, October 8). Five Reasons I'm Not Flipping Over The Flipped Classroom. Retrieved July 8, 2018, from https://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/ 10/five-reasons-im-not-flipping-over.html

Carolyn Fado

ED.893.645.9B.SU18