Blended Learning: A Flipped Classroom

Introduction

Blended learning is a way of teaching that combines online resources with in-person instruction to create a more personalized learning environment. In a blended learning classroom, students work to master concepts before they move on, closing learning gaps and building a solid foundation for more advanced work. With blended learning, instructors create content that is available to students outside of the traditional classroom setting. By doing this, students are able to consume traditional lecture material at their own pace at home, while also completing traditional work assignments, such as homework, or activities like team-based or project-based learning, during class time. This is referred to as the flipped classroom model, because it flips what students do at home and in the classroom.

Blended Learning at Your Own Pace

By making the course content available online, students can move through the material at their own pace, fostering an atmosphere of personalized learning. This gives students the ability to move quickly through the lectures, while also being able to pause when necessary to take notes, re-watch concepts that are more challenging to grasp, and allow students the opportunity to call upon other resources to help them understand the concept being explained. Chapter 20 of Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology describes the engagement strategy of personalized learning as that which allows students to “progress through learning goals at their own pace” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2017, p. 177). With blended learning, students can choose to engage with the material when they feel most inclined to get the work done at their preferred hour of the day – satisfying both the early bird and the night owl. This approach is also beneficial for students with disabilities because they can take breaks when needed without having to worry about falling behind or distracting others in class. “Blended learning also presents the opportunity to accommodate heterogeneous groups of learners, particularly with those differing levels of self-regulation or who seek varying levels of social inclusion and social capital. Blended learning can meet diverse learner needs by accommodating differing learning styles and through the variety of activities available by using both modalities.” (McKenna et al., 2020) Personalized learning causes the role of the teacher to shift from instructor to that of a coach and encourages students to take the wheel of their own learning journey by motivating them to think for themselves and encouraging them to discover meaning in what they are learning. This shift is important, and when done correctly, blended learning can lead to a much more enjoyable and impactful learning experience for both parties.

Mastering the Learning Task with Blended Learning

From a learning science perspective, engaging in work assignments in the classroom as opposed to at home has a plethora of benefits. It is common for students to feel frustrated when they are capable of understanding a concept in class but are confused when they get home and try to put it into practice. This is because students learn best through active work, rather than passive listening. With blended learning, completing work assignments while in the classroom gives teachers the opportunity to be available for their students when they need them the most, which is when they are trying to apply their knowledge to the learning task. This support can promote confidence in students’ capabilities not only in the classroom, but at home as well, and inspire students to master their learning task while attributing their success to the result of their own abilities. “A central concept related to building confidence in mastering learning tasks is that of control. The belief or actuality of having control over a situation underlies locus of control (Rotter, 1966) and attribution theory (Weiner, 1974) which refer to the degree to which people believe their achievements are the result of their own abilities and effort versus luck or other uncontrollable influences.” Moreover, blended classrooms require face-to-face interactions between students and teachers which evolves the teacher's role from a passive instructor who delivers traditional lectures, to a more active role as a guide who interacts with students and directs them to an autonomous accountability of their learning task. “Blended, or hybrid, courses have often been touted as the ideal way to facilitate learning as they allow learners to interact in both face-to-face and online settings, thereby experiencing the "best of both worlds." (McKenna et al., 2020) By doing this, blended learning classes move from a teacher-focused learning model to a student-focused learning model.

Mastery-Based Learning in the Flipped Classroom

In a traditional classroom, teachers typically follow a time-based model with their students, meaning the entire class goes through the course content at the same pace. Students will receive the same lecture, be tested on the same material, and move on to the next topic at the same time, regardless of their individual comprehension or demonstration of mastery. In a flipped classroom, teachers can be flexible enough to approach their students with a mastery-based model. This mastery-based model ensures that every student reaches mastery in a learning concept prior to moving on, while also acknowledging that not every student will grasp the material at the same time. This flexibility boosts learner engagement and promotes experiences with satisfying outcomes for learners. “Feeling good about accomplishments and not feeling inappropriately bad when not successful is a result of several external and internal factors.” Students can achieve mastery if they are allowed to learn the material at their own pace, and by giving students as much time as they need on a topic, and letting them decide when they are ready to be tested, flipped classrooms can help to ensure that all students move forward only when they’ve shown confidence in their abilities and that they can apply what they’ve learned to the learning task. “While blended courses have the potential to integrate the most beneficial aspects of each modality, such course design requires diligence to successfully navigate a balance and ensure the optimal delivery mode is considered for each learning scenario.” (McKenna et al., 2020) As a result, students who are given time to learn and succeed are more likely to value perseverance, have confidence in their skills, understand their own learning needs, and feel accomplished intrinsically and extrinsically.

Conclusion

The flipped classroom is a type of blended learning that combines online resources with in-person instruction and promotes learner engagement through self-paced, face-to-face, mastery-based learning. This is an exciting and new approach to teaching, as well as learning, and when done correctly can lead to higher student achievement rates and positive student attitudes in the classroom and at home. “By understanding blended learning as an instructional delivery model that gives students some element of control over their learning and by leveraging the opportunity of personalization that blended learning can provide at scale, educators can start to address challenges and opportunities in their schools that will enable them to move the practice of blended learning forward.” (Maxwell, 2019).

References

Maxwell, C. (2019, February 6). What blended learning is - and isn’t. Blended Learning Universe. https://www.blendedlearning.org/what-blended-learning-is-and-isnt/

McKenna, K., Gupta, K., Kaiser, L., Lopes, T., & Zarestky, J. (2020). Blended Learning: Balancing the Best of Both Worlds for Adult Learners. Adult Learning, 31(4), 139–149. https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.1177/1045159519891997

Reiser, R., & Dempsey, J. (2017). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (What’s New in Ed Psych / Tests & Measurements) (4th ed.). Pearson.

Teachings in Education. (2017, June 20). Flipped Classroom Model: Why, How, and Overview. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCIxikOq73Q