Comments
This paper discusses
thoroughly the topic of Flipped and Blended Curriculum Models. This paper is significant
as it addresses current research on the topic and states the implications of such research on the future
of this curriculum model. This paper is being shared on the his the author's blog, where it can be accessed by all parties who are interested.
Revisiting the Flipped and Blended Curriculum
Models
Educators around the world have always wondered the best
way in which to get students to learn and study on their own away from the
teacher. With technology being as advanced as it is, educators over the past
ten years have been using the flipped and blended curriculum models to increase
student engagement during class time, differentiate instruction based on
student needs, spend more one on one time with students, and increased
convenience for absent students who might be traveling for school related
activities just to name a few. Although
more famous, Flipped Curriculum is a sub component of the more encompassing
Blended Learning Education Model. These curriculum model for many has caught the
attention of thousands of teachers as they have learned of its benefits. For
many other teachers, as soon as they hear the topic, their eyes begin to glaze
over and they soon change the subject. Flipped curriculum has been around for
over a decade, is it here for good or will it fade away? Let's look at the
current trends to see what is happening.
Trends
According to Harman Singh of InformationWeek, Flipped/Blended Curriculum technology was
forecasted as a top trend for 2015. What does this mean? This curriculum model
is here to stay. In fact, the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive
Innovation has published over a dozen case studies of school districts
nation-wide where options of the Blended Learning Education Model had been
implemented and increased student achievement. This shows that these models are
not going anywhere, as more school districts colleges and universities adopt
and implement these models at their own institutions.
Advantages
Kathleen Fulton (as cited in Herreid & Schiller,
2013) has identified over eight advantages to the flipped/blended curriculum
model being implemented into the classroom, and Herreid and Schiller shared six
more (Herreid & Schiller, 2013). Fulton also mentions several studies
performed at higher education institutions where the flipped model had a
positive impact on the students and their learning outcomes. These classrooms
were statistics, architectural engineering, and chemistry. This demonstrates
that the curriculum model can be applied to a wide variety of different course
contents and see increased student achievement. Also, in some blended models
students can go at their own pace. This is especially important for bilingual
students.
Disadvantages
Herreid and Schiller (2013), mentioned some possible setbacks to flipped and blended curriculum. First, there are times when
students will come to class unprepared because they did not watch the assigned
video to prepare them with the required course content. Second, videos used for
the course content need to be tailored for the class content. One concern that
teachers have had with this education model is that it can be difficult to find
good and appropriate videos that cover course content.
Implications
As we contemplate current research in regards to the flipped
curriculum, it is interesting to see what the possibility holds. The research
shows that there are enough teachers, educational institutions, think tanks,
and corporations who are beginning to use the flipped/blended curriculum model
in their own classrooms and organizations. Research shows that the advantages of
this educational model are more numerous than the disadvantages (Herried &
Schiller, 2013).
It is this author's opinion, that the school district
officials should make this educational model more available to its clientele.
School officials will have to provide professional development for their
teachers. As the popularity of this model increases, most school districts more
than likely have teachers practicing this method in their classrooms already.
School officials could have someone from within the district teach their
coworkers how to do this. The internet has several free resources where this is
available too.
School districts will have to increase technology costs
slightly as there are some school districts where there is not 1:1 computer to
student policy in place. This means that some students who do not have
technology at home can access it somehow at school. With the cost of laptops
and tablets going down in price, school districts could purchase C.O.W.s
(Computer on Wheels) to give classrooms access to this technology. In the
higher grades, students are more likely to B.Y.O.D. (bring you own device) to
class.
Conclusion
In my opinion, this
educational model is one that will increase student engagement and
differentiation because it will free up more time for the teacher to interact
with students on a one to one level. This model is growing in popularity and
giving students better options in order to meet their learning needs. The
flipped and blended curriculum model is here to stay until technology changes
again, but for now this model will adapt to technological changes as long as
the internet is still being used.
References
Christensen Institute. (2015).
Herreid,
C. h., & Schiller, N. A. (2013). Case studies and the flipped classroom. Journal
Of College Science Teaching, 42(5), 62-66.
Singh,
H. (2014, December 29). 5 Education Tech Trends For 2015 - InformationWeek.
