FLIPPED CLASSROOM

Flipped Instruction is a comparatively new method of teaching and learning.

If we go back into history, we must mention the name of Eric Mazur who developed peer
instruction in the 1980s. He found that computer-aided instruction allowed him to coach instead
of lecture. Than in 1993, King published "From Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side in
College Teaching and later, Lage, Platt and Treglia published the paper "Inverting the Classroom:
A Gateway to Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment" in 2000.
A flipped classroom is a reversed classroom, which is based on technology and task-based
learning. It means that it is not organized in the usual, habitual way where the teacher has to
lecture and the students have to take notes, go home, and do the hometask. In a flipped
classroom the teacher prepares the materials for a definite task (be it reading materials or video
recordings), which explain the content of the lesson. The students read or watch the proposed
materials at home, spending as much time on it as they need. This point is very important, as not
all the students learn at the same pace, some need more time, others less. The teacher has also to
provide the learners with a set of questions to check their understanding of the topic and see if
they did not miss anything. So this is the preparatory work. It is important that the students come
to classes prepared; otherwise, there is no sense in flipping the lesson.
It is important to establish a reliable connection with the students, so that they could ask
questions referring to the issues they did not understand. The teacher will analyze the questions
and prepare mini lectures trying to explain the problematic issues. In class, the teacher assigns
various tasks that require students to apply the material studied at home. The teacher can assign
group discussions, problem solving, or projects. It all depends on the objectives of the lesson.
While the students discuss, the teacher moves from one group to another and talks to students,
helping them to cope with the most difficult issues. This stage of the lesson is important, as the
application of the knowledge is done in class, not at home and the teacher can assist the learners
in this process. The learners apply knowledge in groups, sharing ideas and learning actively from
each other. Teachers can better identify each students needs during in-class tasks and give
individualized instruction. By coming to class prepared to ask questions and solve problems with
their colleagues after viewing the subject matter on their own, the students feel empowered to
direct
their
own
learning.
Finally, to enhance the skills acquired in class, the teacher can assign additional tasks, for
example to apply the newly acquired skill in a different field, or to make a project that requires
the application of the skills learnt in the class. The teacher can also assign additional reading that
would connect the things learnt in class to next topic, etc.
The stages of the flipped lesson:
1. Home assignment- students exploring the material in form of video, text, etc. where they
have to induce the core elements of the subject outside the classroom; in other words to
independently decode it.
2. Meaning Making is meant to fulfill students knowledge and to clarify things by means of
interaction that may take place in form of whole class work, group discussion, facilitator
s directions and extra-explanation in the classroom, on podcasts, blogs and other
platforms. Thats a great opportunity to fill in knowledge gaps, share ideas, and interact
with peers.
3. Experienced Engagement- students do various exercises, play games to practice what
they learn thus reinforcing their knowledge. This stage is meant to enhance students
fluency and accuracy as it implies language skills activation and development.
4. Demonstration and Application proves its usefulness by means of language / knowledge
application in different real life/communicative situation where they personalize language
structures and place them in their own contexts. So students get more class time to

reinforce and apply what they have learned thus developing critical and creative thinking
which is the cornerstone of language learning.
To sum it up, the flipped classroom is designed to meet the needs of all the students: fast and
slow learners, it can be adopted to all the learning styles of the students. If offers the learners the
possibility to learn together as a group and to share their ideas. It is common knowledge that
discussion contributes to a better understanding of the concept. The value of this type of lesson is
that the application stage occurs in class, it can be creative and common, as a group work. It also
gives the opportunity for creation and evaluation, as the students can go on applying the skills in
other
projects,
tasks,
discussions,
etc.
The Advantages of Flipped learning:
1. Students have to make efforts while independently exploring the material and inducing the
core, consequently becoming more autonomous-they may learn at their own pace, watch the
videos
as
many
times
as
necessary.
2. exploring authentic material gives students the real awareness of language use-they may be
proposed
newspaper
links,
documentaries,
documents,
letters
to
explore.
3. independent learning is more durable- that is due to the responsibility and the efforts they
make
while
exploring
and
decoding
messages.
4. textbooks are not given up-they help the teacher and students stay within curriculum
requirements
5. more time for classroom interaction-they may work in groups, pairs, teams exchanging
messages,
sharing
opinions,
debating
controversial
topics,
etc.
6. students become more active and participate- that is due to the fact that students come to class
informed
ready
to
share
impressions
or
ask
questions;
7. teachers have more time to spot and correct students mistakes, tailor individual tasks, get
students
feedback;
8. there is more time left to practice and knowledge extension- students will do more exercises to
improve fluency and accuracy, apply the language patterns in their own contexts, increase
cultural awareness-things that have little time for during a traditional lesson.
9. such lesson are usually funny and students are motivated to learn as it is highly interactive and
rich
in
activities
10. creative and critical thinking development is stimulated when students explore authentic
material and personalize language structures, play games, analyze situations, come up with
solutions.
11. there is much classroom communication as the lesson is learner-oriented.