eLearning and Flipping the learning at Christchurch Boys’ High School!

Students in a Year Nine eLearning Maths class at Christchurch Boys' High School regularly experience flipped learning. Flipped learning is a teaching approach which reverses the typical teaching and learning programme. Bergmann and Sams (2012) defined the flipped classroom as “that which is traditionally done in class is now done at home, and that which is traditionally done as homework is now completed in class”. Using this approach, students can gain the necessary basic knowledge before class, and class time can be better used to allow students to work at a level specific to their ability. 

Many researchers and teachers have reported positive outcomes of a flipped, approach to teaching (Baker, 2000; Lage, Platt, 2000; Bergmann, J., Overmyer, J., & Wilie, B; Wright, 2011; Pearson, 2012). While many of the reports are anecdotal, the sheer number of reported successful uses of a flipped teaching approach provides some evidence of a powerful method of effective teaching and learning.

In an eLearning Maths class at Christchurch Boys' High School, all students and teachers use Maths Buddy as a key tool for the 'pre-homework' phase of a flipped learning approach.

"The Maths Buddy program ... gives students the opportunity to watch, listen and re-do maths lessons again, to stop and rewind the teacher when needed. Maths Buddy allows the student to learn from an excellent teacher with the powerful help of sight and sound – a super effective combination where improvement is guaranteed." Information for teachers (n.d.)

In the pre-homework phase students are set Maths Buddy activities which involve animations, questions and worksheets about Maths content which is due to be taught the next day in class. Using this format, the teacher has found students are more prepared for the lesson, ask better questions in class time and may have more confidence to participate in class discussions. 

A Flipped learning approach appears to be beneficial for the students in the eLearning class, but perhaps even more beneficial for the teacher. Maths Buddy provides the teacher with a wealth of valuable formative assessment information. Students who achieve very high grades in the Maths Buddy pre-homework tasks work with similar high performing students in the 'experts group' during class time. Students in the experts group work on activities usually set for Year 10 students. Meanwhile students whose level of achievement in the Maths Buddy pre-homework was not as high, work in similar ability groups and are given extra help from their teacher to revise content. "Flipped learning helps teachers move away from direct instruction as their primary teaching tool toward a more student-centered approach" Sams & Bergmann (2013).

While one size does not fit all, and there are a range of effective teaching practices, a flipped learning approach looks to be a valuable tool for the modern teacher and is made much easier with the use of technology. With a clear focus on improving student achievement, teachers of eLearning classes at Christchurch Boys' High School have a wealth of tools at their disposal to continue their commitment to enhancing boys’ achievement.

REFERENCES:

Baker, J.W. (2000). The “classroom flip”: Using web course management tools to become the guide by the side. In Selected Papers from the 11th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning, (pp. 9-17).. Available online at http://works.bepress.com/j_wesley_baker/21/

Bergmann, J., & Sams, A. (2012). Flip your classroom: Reach every student in every class every day. International Society for Technology in Education.

Bergmann, J., Overmyer, J., & Wilie, B. (2011). The flipped class: Myths vs. Reality. The Daily Riff.

Enfield, J. (2013). Looking at the Impact of the Flipped Classroom Model of Instruction on Undergraduate Multimedia Students at CSUN. TechTrends, 14-27.

 Lage, M., & Platt, G. (2010). The Internet and the Inverted Classroom. The Journal of Economic Education, 11-11.

Pearson, G. (2012). Students, parents give thumbs-up to Flipped Classroom. Education Canada. Retrieved from http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/students -parents-give-thumbs-flipped-classroom

Sams, A., & Bergmann, J. (2013). Flip Your Students' Learning. Educational Leadership, 70(6), 16-20. Chicago

Information for Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.mathsbuddy.co.nz/info-for-parents.html

Wright, S. (2011). The Flip: why I love it and how i use it. Retrieved from http://plpnetwork.com /2011/07/25/the-flip-why-i-love-it-how-i-use-it/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ982840.pdf