Flipping the Script: How Software is Transforming the Traditional Classroom
Educational software has been traditionally used as substitute to printed learning materials (for example, flashcards and quizzes). The pandemic triggered a shift from a 28% pre-pandemic adoption of educational software to 52% this year.
Among the trends that pushes education technology to stay in classrooms is flipped learning, more commonly known as a flipped classroom.
What's a flipped classroom?
In a flipped classroom, the order of teaching and learning are reversed. Traditionally, students listen to lectures and submit the quizzes and assignments they are tasked to do.
The traditional structure is problematic: it assumes that students learn the same way at the same pace.
With the goal of making learning more personalized, some schools have shifted to a flipped structure.
In a flipped classroom, class time is used for hands-on activities, discussions, and group projects.
Before group work, students watch video lectures or complete other forms of independent learning activities. The idea is to allow students to learn foundational knowledge at their own pace outside of class.
They then bring their learnings into the classroom to engage in interactive activities with teachers and other learners.
The idea is: individual time allows for self-paced learning while group work enhances understanding of lessons.
The concept of flipped learning is not new. For example, in literature classes, students are given reading materials to read outside of classroom hours which they discuss during class.
Software merely gave this approach more dimensions: Now teachers can use education software to plan, assess, give remedial instruction, and shape further learning.
How does software play a role in a flipped classroom?
In a flipped classroom, we use software to guide learning and inform teaching decisions.
These are examples of how software can support a flipped classroom:
Video creation. Pre-recorded lectures allow students to learn asynchronously: they can access, pause, or replay video lectures so that they can learn at the pace that works best for them.
Google Classroom and Panopto are examples of platforms where teachers can create and upload pre-recorded lessons.
Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS is used to share learning materials and track student progress. Unlike traditional learning management, software-based LMS offer unique insight into the learning of each student.
Because these insights are gathered by the software, it frees us teacher time while giving them better actionable insight into their instruction.
Interactive content creation tools. Teachers can make interactive video and other multimedia. So that students can interact with those materials. Software frees up class time so that class time is spent on interactive and hands-On activities.
Increased collaboration. Software can be directly used as a collaboration platform for students.
But a greater benefit of software towards student collaboration is indirect: Because software allows lectures to be streamed outside of class hours, students have more time to work together when they meet in-person.
How do teachers assess students in a flipped classroom
There are different ways of assessing students based on the learning goals and nature of activities.
Formative assessment. Examples of formative assessment are quizzes and short writing assignments.
This is a quick way for teachers to adjust their lesson plans to identify which areas need further discussion.
In-class activities. Group work, peer review, and class discussions gauge student learning while giving teachers a chance to provide immediate feedback.
Summative assessment. These are traditional assessments like units tests or essays.
It can be used to determine if pre-recorded lectures and other learning materials are effective.
Project-based assessment. This requires students to come up with an output individually or collaboratively.
It is open-ended so that students can demonstrate their analytical and creative skills.
What software do teachers use in assessing a flipped classroom?
Canvas. Canvas is a learning management system that has versatile assessment features.
Blackboard. Like Canvas, Blackboard is an online learning system that features discussion boards, wikis, and journals.
It also features assessment tools for quizzes, tests, and assigments.
Kahoot. Kahoot gamifies learning and assessment. The platform focuses on younger learners.
Teachers can create learning games and trivia quizes in any language.
Quizlet. Quizlet focuses on flashcards and study tools for high schoolers.
ChalkTalk. ChalkTalk is a relative new-comer that offers a complete toolset for teachers: from preparing lessons to assessing if those lessons are effective. It also integrates with other platforms for progress tracking and content creation.
Conclusion
Adopting software in a flipped classroom can offer numerous benefits to both teachers and students, including:
Increased engagement
Personalized learning
Improved interaction among students
More accurate assessment
Better overall learning outcome
However, technology is not an answer in itself. The right software should be used following best practices -- with human interaction at the center.
About our company
We are a software company based in Cebu, Philippines that services companies in the United States, particulary in the domain of education technology. Some of the software products mentioned above are our clients. We have built our own learning platform as well.
There are still many gaps in learning that you can bridge with the right software. If you are a decison-maker who needs help building or modernizing an EdTech product, we encourage you to write us.
