Page 33 - ELG1711 Nov Issue 452

RESOURCES . REVIEWS & RESOURCES

Have Loren Kerns n Provide teacher development on flipped learning and seek out and
HOW SCHOOLS CAN HELP WITH FLIPPED LEARNING
Have

celebrate examples of its use. Encourage practising teachers to share their
experiences.

n Allow time and resources for teachers to create their own videos and other
you digital media.
n When selecting an off-the-shelf flipped learning resource - e.g. a
you
subscription to an online platform – collaborate with teachers from an early
stage.
n Always focus more on the needs of learners and their desired outcomes
(which may be quite specific to your school), than on the technical platform
or the supposed unique selling points of a given solution (which is likely to be
flipped more generic).
n Don’t worry how any other school is doing flipped learning. Your culture,
students and teachers might lead you to a very different and unique outcome.
flipped

yet? n If this is new, start small. For example, dig out YouTube clips for students
HOW TO FLIP YOUR CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER

to watch which will warm up their knowledge ahead of a new teaching point.
yet? n Allow extra time in class to concept check the content that was flipped.

n If you’ve been doing this for years already, share your experience with
others.
n Consult with students and see what they think of the approaches you’re
using.
n Be aware of confidence levels in class, and explore the extent to which
flipped learning may be contributing positively or negatively.

n Try using flipped learning to pre-teach language which frequently trips
You don’t need to be a gymnast students up or causes different rates of understanding in class.
to flip your classroom.

The term ‘flipping the classroom’ has been flapping around for a while, but research will only be as good as the quality other aspects of ELT, some teachers prefer n The longer-term opportunities of

maybe it’s now time to give it some thought. Richard Bradford explores how of the materials available to them. For to use their own secret stash of online clips, flipped content
tips and tricks, whilst others will be happy to
self-study of the ‘presentation stage’ to be
Most good online systems allow for
and why you should try turning lessons upside down effective, students may need richer learning follow a school-designated approach. real-time tracking of individual student
resources, such as video clips, engaging At Wimbledon School of English, flipped progress. Progress reporting can provide an
online tasks and generally compelling learning is used in Cambridge exam classes. opportunity for fine-tuning flipped content
lipped learning turns the traditional points of language or topic-specific [improving the way] learners collaborate, content. Students might be asked to watch YouTube to meet the emerging and differentiated
format of ‘lesson + homework’ on its vocabulary, functional language or anything or as a way of promoting and facilitating This in turn throws up another issue in videos of other candidates answering needs of the class.
head. Rather than being introduced else which may prove time-consuming or independent learning’ says director of that students need to be online to complete speaking test questions. This content ensures Moreover, with Generation Z students
Fto new topics and concepts difficult to absorb quickly. studies, Shanel Summers. most flipped learning tasks. Whilst WiFi Wimbledon’s students ‘can look at what starting to fill schools, expectations are for
during lessons by the teacher, students The biggest gain is that those learners access might not be a problem these days, other candidates do well or not so well on, ever-richer, more integrated content which
first encounter them at home, watching requiring a little more time to understand n What are the potential pitfalls of you do need everyone in your class to have make notes on timings, and give their own can be accessed on any device at any time to
videos and completing online tasks. The certain points can go through the work flipped learning? access to a suitable device, which may not be score on candidates’ performance’, says support learning.
consolidation tasks and activities that might repeatedly until they get it. Any students who do not complete the a given. Summers. Flipped learning is also on-message in
have been done as homework are then done This can lead to more homogenous pre-lesson flipped learning task may find terms of how the workforce of the future
in the lesson. class levels, says Andy Johnson, director of themselves at a significant disadvantage. n Sourcing flipped learning content n How to get it right in your school needs to think – being more self-reliant and
London School Online, the digital branch Rather than feeling more confident in Some schools will leave it entirely to their It is important that schools work closely able to work and learn more autonomously.
n What are the benefits of flipped of London School of English. ‘It also helps class, they may actually be at a loss as to teachers to source appropriate materials to with teachers to co-develop a flipped
learning? to boost confidence particularly amongst what is going on and there may be little flip, or simply provide teacher development learning approach, rather than insist on
Flipped learning allows students to get the weaker students who may otherwise fear time available to go back through the around the principles of flipped learning. the use of a complex or costly system. n Richard Bradford is managing director of Disquiet
to grips with subject matter in their own they’re holding up the class’, he adds. presentation stage that other students Others will implement their flipped learning Whichever approaches are adopted it seems Dog - a digital education and marketing consultancy
time, helping them arrive at the lesson with At Wimbledon School of English, part of completed ahead of the lesson. strategy by signing up to pre-existing online vital that the flipped content is in kilter with working predominantly with the ELT sector. For
greater awareness and understanding. In the TEN group, elements of flipped learning Students’ ability to understand the resources. the course programme and desired learning more information go to www.disquietdog.com or
ELT, it could mean pre-teaching difficult ‘tend to be employed as a way of saving time, teaching point and conduct background It seems that with flipped learning, as in outcomes. follow him on @disquietdog.
32 November 2017 editorial@elgazette.com 33