Flipped Classrooms – A New Era of Learning

The flipped classroom concept, though a relatively modern educational approach, does not adhere to a strict definition due to its ongoing evolution. At its core, a flipped classroom reverses the traditional learning sequence: students first engage with new material outside of class, typically through digital means, and then apply that knowledge during classroom time by tackling practical, problem-solving activities.

Table of Contents 

1. What makes flipped classrooms better?
2. How to get started with virtual classrooms using Digital Samba?
3. Advantages and disadvantages of flipped classrooms

This method is increasingly favoured as it empowers students to digest content at their own pace and clarify doubts in a supportive environment. By utilizing flipped classroom video software, students can thoroughly grasp the lecture content in their own space, which prepares them for active and collaborative sessions in class where the teacher becomes a facilitator of learning rather than a traditional lecturer.

The term ‘flipped’ is a nod to the inversion of conventional education models, where the in-class time is devoted to lectures, and homework is reserved for problem-solving. The necessity for the traditional approach was primarily due to past technological constraints that made the recording and distribution of classroom lectures impractical. Today, however, flip classroom software has overcome these limitations, enabling a more interactive and student-centred learning experience. Contrary to some beliefs, the flipped classroom is not an activity confined to traditional settings; it leverages modern technology to enhance learning across various educational landscapes.

What makes flipped classrooms better?

People gain insights through blended learning – meaning that they retain a concept better if they understand it from multiple angles. Inverted classrooms bring control of the lecture into the students’ hands.

Instead of students being distracted by scribbling down notes as fast as possible to keep up with one real-time traditional lecture that they have in class, they can take the lecture home with them and learn at their own pace, and the ‘notes’ that they take on the lecture are questions that they will ask the instructor the following day.

This class redesign allows students the flexibility they need in order to mostly learn in their own way with the support of a teacher. This results in a deeper, richer understanding of the subject matter for students.

But that’s not the only benefit to the classroom.

The inverted class model is much easier on the instructor, too. There’s far less repetition. The instructor can record one lecture once, annotate it, and keep that lecture for an indefinite period of time, or extend it to a limitless number of students.

Additionally, since the students are there in the class when going over exercises, there are more opportunities for the students to self-grade, efficiently saving many of the tedious hours spent going over each individual paper for the instructor. Consequently, students’ work gets more appreciated in flipped classes.

How to get started with virtual classrooms using Digital Samba?

The flipped classroom model has revolutionised education, rendering it more accessible and engaging. This approach relies on technology, specifically the use of software to record and share lectures with students. However, choosing the right technology is critical to ensuring the success of this method.

Digital Samba, a leading provider of video chat API and SDK, offers a solution tailored to the unique requirements of flipped classrooms. Unlike standard video conference platforms, Digital Samba's offerings are designed to integrate seamlessly with educational platforms, offering more control and capabilities.

Hosted in the EU, Digital Samba's technology is GDPR-compliant and offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring the privacy and security of both instructors and students. These features are essential in today's interconnected world, where data protection is paramount.

Digital Samba's video room API and SDK facilitate embedding video call on website or products, creating a cohesive and interactive virtual learning environment. Instructors can host video lectures in sequential order, integrate exercises and interactive sessions, and create a learning experience akin to physical classrooms.

Unlike conventional online learning solutions, Digital Samba's tools are tailored to manage attendance, foster collaboration, and track watch time for student users. These functionalities enable educators to gauge the progress of each student accurately, fostering a focused and data-driven learning environment. The outcome is a more nuanced and effective flipped learning approach, allowing students to thrive.

If you are looking to transition into the world of virtual or flipped classrooms, Digital Samba's robust video conferencing solutions offer a feature-rich, secure, and integrated approach. Whether for exclusively online courses or a blended learning model, Digital Samba provides the tools and flexibility you need to create an enriching and effective educational experience.

Advantages and disadvantages of flipped classrooms

Flipped classrooms are excellent options, but in some cases, instructors try not to over-rely on them. Blended learning is best for the student experience, so occasionally traditional lectures during conventional class time can be preferable for some students.

Another potential drawback to flipped classrooms is the dependency on technology.

While the use of technology gets easier and more ubiquitous over time, it is possible that some students are less apt to use the internet at home, or are outright unable to for one reason or another. So while the course material can be comprehensive, it may not be able to actually get to every student under this model.

The general consensus though is that the benefits of flipped classrooms accelerate over time. Technology tends to improve and reach more people every day. Moving learning into the digital media space is a clear and obvious trend that teaching, in general, will necessarily have to adapt to. Young people are going to be more inclined to media-based learning in the future.

Recorded lecture content allows for excellent active learning and student engagement, too.

Consider a demonstration, or chemistry experiment, and the availability or costs associated with conducting that experiment multiple times a day. If that experiment or demonstration is recorded and to be replayed by each student in their own setting, you will definitely get the most bang for your buck if you adopt the inverted classroom model.

So while solely relying on this experimental learning model for teaching probably isn’t something that most instructors will wholly commit to right away, moving courses to the digital media space is a practical necessity over time. The right software can make that process more efficient.