Flip It! is a professional development resource about moving direct instruction away from group learning spaces so that these spaces can be transformed into more dynamic and interactive learning environments.

1. Flip It
Moving direct instruction away from group
learning spaces allows these spaces to be
transformed into more dynamic and interactive
learning environments
with Rob Swain, Manager Education Technology

2. Today
2 main things to do in 90 minutes
• Understand the concept
A brief introduction
A group activity
• Learn some practical skills
I will lead some practical activities.
Depending on time/pace there are more practical activities
you can work through now and/or later.
ALL OF THIS SESSION’S MATERIAL WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE
FOR YOU TO GO BACK OVER LATER IF YOU NEED TO

3. What is Flipped Learning? 1
• TRADITIONALLY
– Instruction has been done in class
– Practice has been done at home
• WITH FLIPPED LEARNING
– Instruction can be done outside of class
– This creates more time for practice and formative assessment in the class with
support from the teacher

4. Briefly…
What is Flipped Learning? 2
Move away from “stand and deliver”
OR “one size fits all” teaching
LESS sage on the stage
MORE guide on the side
next block

5. What is Flipped Learning? 3
The teaching model begins with front loading the instruction,
assigning it as homework prior to a class so students come to
class prepared to use the information.

6. What is Flipped Learning? 4
The classroom or other group learning space then becomes a
place for problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking,
creativity and communication where the teacher serves as a
facilitator who dynamically interacts with students, actively
responding to individual and group needs for reteaching and
challenge.

7. Reasons to Flip
Group activity

8. Reasons to Flip
Teacher readiness
• The effectiveness of traditional models of one-size-fits-all delivery are being
questioned by teachers as they can result in limited student engagement and
limited concept understanding.
• Teachers want to reach students in formats that appeal to them (ie: more aligned
with a digital native)
Learner readiness
• Demand by busy learners for more flexible learning options for student learning
• It appeals to learners as digital natives. They typically want to consume
information via a screen and to access new media. This is not restricted to young
people as many baby boomers have embedded technology use into their lives.
• Learners can pull the content as much as they need it. They are not embarrassed
by going over concepts repeatedly in class.
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9. Reasons to Flip
Provides more support
• Teachers have more time to help students and explain difficult concepts in class.
• Teachers have a better idea of individual students levels of achievement given the
more collaborative nature of the classroom environment.
• Teachers are present to guide the students in the practice phase.
• Learning management systems can be used to track student activity and progress
– you know if they “don’t know”, or have not attempted the work.
• Teachers can revisit concepts students don’t understand, based on student
responses to the independent content review-questions and classroom activities.
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10. Reasons to Flip
Provides more support
• Students get less frustrated because they are working on problems in class with
access to a teacher.
• Students need most support when they are applying new concepts – traditionally
this stage of learning was assigned as homework when students are working
alone.
• Students can speed up or slow down the teacher’s instruction to suit their level of
understanding. They can replay instruction more times than they would
comfortably ask a teacher to repeat a concept. Good for overcoming some
problems of catch up after absenteeism.
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11. Reasons to Flip
Improves learning efficiency
• Research studies show that assessment results for students in flipped classrooms
is higher than those in traditional settings, due to improved retention and
understanding.
• Flipping is a way to space out study rather than cram it. Spreading learning out is
known to improve learning, as is repeated exposure to new concepts.
• Teachers do not need to be present for one-way didactic delivery.
Technological readiness
• Increased access to rapid content creation tools
• Improved bandwidth connections making larger files more accessible
• Improved access to increased quantities of relevant online resources made by
others
• Many people are connected to the web in multiple ways (home PC, smart phone,
tablets)
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12. Possible Objections to Flipping
Group activity

13. Possible Objections to Flipping 1
What if students don’t do the flipped work before class?
You set this as the expectation from the beginning. It’s a bit like homework tasks,
students will cooperate if it’s the only mode of participation. This is the same for any
teacher instruction. Also, if it’s engaging they are more likely to be interested and
participate.
We have students now who refuse to do homework. They wont do this either.
Agree, and that student is deciding their own fate either way. It is wise to explain to
students at the start of the course what your expectations are about their involvement
and behaviour; this is when you would explain how they will work with the flipped
content.

14. Possible Objections to Flipping 2
I never give lectures to students?
Maybe you don’t call them that, however you would spend time explaining concepts
or giving demonstrations that could all be recorded for independent viewing.
Remember you can also pass on non-video resources as instruction (eg: read an
article, or explore a relevant online resource)
Our students spend most of their time in the workshop, not being lectured to.
as above
It wont work for students who don’t have computers or the internet at home or who
live in chaotic conditions that make it impossible to absorb new material?
Students can use the library at school or teachers could put the resources together
onto a DVD. Chaotic conditions at home are out of the schools control but more
engaging content may help.

15. Possible Objections to Flipping 3
Doesn’t flipping lecture content just replicate the ineffective lecture model it’s trying
to replace?
Flipping can do more than the lecture by engaging students with a format they like in
typically smaller, more efficient chunks. It can also include related non-lecture content
that is relevant and engaging (e.g.: an ad, a news story, or an industry story).
Parents/employers will not be happy seeing students watching videos for schoolwork.
They might buy in after seeing them more involved and engaged in the learning
process. If it improves skills and knowledge, then stakeholders will be pleased with the
results.
Video can never replace teachers.
Agree, but they can replace some of the inefficient practices of traditional teaching.
The human element is cited as the most important ingredient in education. Flipping is
designed to increase interaction and personalised contact time between student and
teacher. This will make teachers time more effective within the f2f environment and
make them more accessible to students.

16. Possible Objections to Flipping 4
Students don’t need to spend all their time on a computer screen.
Flipping can release students from the computer in the f2f environment for more
human interaction in groups or with the teacher one on one.
Videos take too long to produce.
It is true that initially there can be quite a bit of work getting videos created, but you
can curate some/all of these (collect existing ones) to save some time. The upfront
investment saves time on subsequent courses as the content prep and delivery too is
taken care of.
Not all videos need heaps of preparation either – you can record a video of yourself
explaining some key concepts at your desk very quickly and easily, or a quick video of
a short demonstration – consider how YouTube has changed our expectations of
online video.
Remember, you can flip non-video content also.

17. Possible Objections to Flipping 5
I need special tools or software to create content to flip.
You can use simple tools to begin with. A narrated presentation can be made with
PowerPoint and a headset. Or video can be recorded on a mobile phone. Free tools
are available online for recording the computer screen if that’s what you need. If you
flip content created by someone else (curated) then you don’t need any special tools.
I never had anything like this when I went to school and my schooling was fine.
If you keep doing the same thing you have always done, you will keep getting the
results you have always got. Flipping is about keeping the best parts of traditional
education and blending them with new engaging tools to solve some inefficiencies in
the ‘Fordism’ model of teaching.

18. Possible Objections to Flipping 6
There seems to be a lot of science and maths subjects that have been flipped. It looks
like not all subjects are appropriate for this technique?
If you can explain or demonstrate something in person then it can be flipped. For
example, science lessons can have heavy theoretical instruction followed by complex
or precise practical task activities – instruction on these very different activity types
can be easily captured as ‘flippable’ content.
The examples mostly show the technique used for secondary school students.
It was started in secondary school and spread from there; it’s also popular at primary
and university levels. Most new things start somewhere.

19. What content should I flip?

20. What content should I flip? 1
Any instruction that would normally be “stand and deliver”
For example:
• Practical demonstrations
• Lecture material
• Theory explanations
• Topic introductions
• Assessment instructions
• Industry information
• Guest speakers
Plus, any material that students could independently access and view without
the need for a teacher to be present.

21. What content should I flip? 2
Consider these areas of your instruction…
• Difficult or confusing lessons
• Fundamental and critical concepts that connect to other topics
• Bonus content
Consider what extra concepts you currently share with the
accelerated learners that could be turned into an activity or project
for all of the students.
• Boring or dry material
Note, flipping wont automatically make the content interesting.

22. What content should I flip? 3
Remember…
• You don’t have to flip the whole course, just pick a couple of lessons
to begin
• You don’t have to make everything yourself, you can also…
• use free content from sites like YouTube, TED, vimeo, etc
• purchase content from publishers, like Pearsons etc
• purchase or extract content from VET toolboxes (see here)
• You don’t have to use video. You can use any engaging content that
students can access remotely and will work through on their own.

23. Potential Models

24. Potential Models 1
BROADLY SPEAKING…
PRIOR TO CLASS
• Students watch a video, read an article or explore an online resource at their
own pace.
• Students may also be required to answer some review questions or take
summary notes.
IN CLASS
• Teacher begins by briefly recapping the flipped content.
• Students then practice and apply what they’ve learned with the help of their
teachers who respond to the issue and inquiries students are having about
what they’re learning.

25. PRIOR TO CLASS
Potential Models 2
• Students watch a video showing the teacher demonstrating a practical task
• Students take brief notes highlighting the key steps of the task
IN CLASS
• Teacher briefly recaps the task requirements and reiterates the safety aspects
• Students begin the practical activity
• The teacher moves amongst the students and helps by responding to the
issues and inquiries students are having about what they’re learning
This example would suit a simulated work environment such as a
workshop, lab or salon.

26. PRIOR TO CLASS
Potential Models 3
• Students watch a video the teacher has found on YouTube that explains a
difficult but fundamental concept
• The teacher poses some questions to helps them focus on the key points
• Student answers are submitted to the teacher who checks their understanding
and adjusts the class activity as necessary.
IN CLASS
• Teacher begins by briefly explaining a practice activity based on the
fundamental concept
• Class is divided into groups
1. One group begins the practice activity immediately applying what they’ve learnt
2. Another group receives further teacher instruction to reinforce the concepts before beginning
the practice activity
• The teacher then moves amongst the students and helps by responding to the
issues and inquiries students are having about what they’re learning.
This example would suit a topic or concept that students always find difficult

27. PRIOR TO CLASS
Potential Models 4
• Students read an industry story that highlights a typical work problem
• The teacher poses some review questions to help students focus on key points
IN CLASS
• Teacher begins by briefly introducing what will happen in class
• Class is divided into groups
1. Teacher runs a discussion group activity to deepen understanding
2. Another group works individually on computers answering online quiz questions related to
the industry problem
3. The groups rotate at half time
• By focussing on a smaller class size in the class, the teacher can explore the
concepts more deeply
This example would suit a theoretical topic that is difficult
and benefits from a range of approaches

28. Tools

29. Tools 1
For creating video demonstrations or explanations
• Mobile phone, flip camera or digital video camera
• Optional: Tripod
• Could do this in front of a whiteboard or in a workshop, salon, studio etc
Katie Gimbar takes a low-tech approach.
She shoots her lectures with a flip camera
on a tripod. She uses handwritten white
boards and does no editing, just one
continuous take. Then she uploads to
YouTube and shares with her students.

30. Tools 2
For creating video screencasts that capture the computer screen
• Screen capture tool. Eg: Screenr (free, 5 minute limit), Camtasia (approx
$200)
• USB headset with microphone (say $50)
• Optional: PowerPoint or similar
• Optional: Webcam (say $50)
GTEC teachers use Camtasia to create
screencasts that teach students
how to use CAAD programs.
The videos are uploaded to YouTube
and embedded into Gordon Online.

31. Tools 3
You could also use the following iPad apps for creating video screencasts
• Explain Everything ($2.99)
• Educreations Interactive Whiteboard (free)
• Show Me (free)
Touch, tap, draw and talk
while you create an
animated lesson or tutorial
on the iPad

32. Tools
Other tools that are suitable for presenting flipped information
• Create a pdf with Word
• Create a PowerPoint and upload it to Slideshare
• Look for VET-related videos on HowStuffWorks
• Other ideas?
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33. Useful Links
VIDEO: Aaron Sam’s Flipped Classroom
VIDEO: Solving the Brain Flush Problem
VIDEO: Using video to humanise the classroom (first 7 ½ minutes only)
VIDEO: the Flipped Classroom is not…
VIDEO: Why I flipped my classroom
ARTICLE: Wikipedia on Flip teaching
ARTICLE: from Bergmann & Sams, originators of the method
INFOGRAPHIC: The Flipped Classroom
ARTICLE: Looking for flippable moments in your class
ARTICLE: 15 Flipped Classrooms we can learn from