The Flipped Classroom Model

Many teachers have begun using the flipped classroom model in their high schools. This new teaching approach has proven to be quite controversial among students, parents, teachers, and other school staff. Each individual’s values affect whether or not he or she believes high schools should utilize the flipped classroom model. This essay will first describe what a typical flipped classroom looks like; then, it will explain how certain values, such as individualized learning, responsibility and student ownership, equal opportunity, and face-to-face interactions, influence views about high schools employing the flipped classrooms model in their courses.

What is a flipped classroom?

The flipped classroom is “a pedagogical model in which the typical

There are many schools who are unable to afford computers for every student. In this case, one may see a digital divide amongst their students. A digital divide is defined as “the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not.” There are many students who do not own computers, and therefore it would be much harder for them to access online lecture videos. Though students can access the internet at public libraries or school computer labs, the ability for them to get internet access depends on transportation, buildings’ operating hours, computer availability, etc. For instance, if one is unable to find transportation to the library, or only has time after the library has already closed, he or she will be unable to …. In addition, there can be too many students compared to public computers, especially if every class is a flipped classroom. These factors limit availability for students without computers/internet and make it harder for them to learn course

When lectures are held in the classroom, everyone can ask the same person, their teacher, for help. However, at home, students most likely can only turn to their family, such as a sibling or a parent, to answer their immediate questions. Depending on their home life, some students might have a disadvantage because their families may have different education backgrounds or working schedules. As for extracurricular activities, those who participate in activities outside of the classroom have less time for learning. Whereas if learning occurred inside the classroom, everyone would be given an equal amount of time to learn the material being taught. (Closing sentence – wrap up equal opportunity)

Value 4: Face-to-Face Interactions

Many opponents of the flipped classroom model value personal, face-to-face interactions, especially when delivering lectures. Many teachers use body language and facial expressions to cue whether or not their students are understanding what they are trying to teach. If the teacher get the impression that their initial approach is not working, they will change their teaching strategy. With video lectures, teachers do not get the same sort of feedback from their students, so it is harder for them to determine whether the lecture is effective or not.

(Students also lose the ability