This past year I flipped my Chemistry classes with mixed results. My flipped classroom consisted of making videos of my traditional lectures using the past years’ PowerPoints, my iPad, and a program called Explain Everything. Students then watched the videos outside of class (or at least that was the plan.) Then using the class time that would have been dedicated to lecturing was used completing group activities such as POGILs (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) and on practicing skills such as mole conversions or pH calculations.
The reason I say that I had mixed results is that while my fail rate decreased from about 20% to less than 10% and I saw an improvement on several average test scores, but students complained about all the extra work they felt they were doing. Many students appreciated the hands-on activities, group work, and ability to take their own time taking notes from the video and being able to watch the videos over again. On the other hand, some students stated that they preferred lectures in class and they learn better when through direct instruction.
While I have many goals for my students… become informed citizens, understand the process of science, become independent learners, and learn a little chemistry along the way; I also need to get through a ton of content to prepare students to enter into AP Chemistry, use the same multiple choice assessments as the other Chemistry teachers at my school, and (I know this is going to sound horrible to say) I really want students to like coming to class each day.
So the information that I’m sifting through is student data (looks good), student feedback (some liked the flipped classroom others would have preferred I just lectured), my personal feelings about the year (trying something new is scary and exciting), and learning more from other teachers who also flipped their class. I just want to do what is best for the students. It is a lot to take in and there are so many possibilities…where to start?
The reason I say that I had mixed results is that while my fail rate decreased from about 20% to less than 10% and I saw an improvement on several average test scores, but students complained about all the extra work they felt they were doing. Many students appreciated the hands-on activities, group work, and ability to take their own time taking notes from the video and being able to watch the videos over again. On the other hand, some students stated that they preferred lectures in class and they learn better when through direct instruction.
While I have many goals for my students… become informed citizens, understand the process of science, become independent learners, and learn a little chemistry along the way; I also need to get through a ton of content to prepare students to enter into AP Chemistry, use the same multiple choice assessments as the other Chemistry teachers at my school, and (I know this is going to sound horrible to say) I really want students to like coming to class each day.
So the information that I’m sifting through is student data (looks good), student feedback (some liked the flipped classroom others would have preferred I just lectured), my personal feelings about the year (trying something new is scary and exciting), and learning more from other teachers who also flipped their class. I just want to do what is best for the students. It is a lot to take in and there are so many possibilities…where to start?