I Have a Dream

Six years ago, I had a dream.  When the new math text books were adopted, a wealth of videos and online resources became available to help students learn the subject and to help teachers help students.  For our books, a full copy of the text was available online.  Now anyone with an internet connection could do their math homework.  Not only that, but the author of the book himself made videos available where he taught each and every lesson in the book.  I requested a speakerphone for my room so that I could call in at the start of class; instruct a trustworthy student to press "Play" on the computer; and let Dr. Berger teach the class.  I could spend my whole workday lying on the couch eating popcorn! 

Well, I still have to get dressed and go in to school each day, but I am taking advantage of some of the concepts from that dream.  My Digital Electronics class involves a LOT of problem solving and trouble-shooting.  You just can't tell how long an assignment will take because you can't predict how many gremlins will reside in a circuit which a 16 year old constructs.  To be successful, my students need as much time practicing what I preached as I can get them.  This class is perfect for flipping.

 Flipping the class means that you switch the traditional learning environment.  In a normal classroom, the teacher delivers the material in the classroom.  With whatever time is left over, students work on their problems ("homework") and then finish at home.  However, parents are often incapable of helping with that homework.  This leaves students helpless and frustrated as they are unable to get answers to questions they have.  In the time between learning the subject and sitting down to practice it, so much more has happened and crowded out that knowledge that they thought came so easy a few hours earlier.  What could be worse is that a student could think he/she is doing great, only to discover much later that they did everything wrong.  Now, they have to unlearn all of the mistakes before they can pick up on the correct ideas.

To flip a classroom, students learn the theory outside of class so that more of class time can be spent practicing under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher.  Presumably, that is me.  On four different lessons now, I created a video to explain what the students need to know in order to complete the next assignment.  When they get to class, they can start right away (or at least, more quickly) in to practicing what they have learned.  I am available for when they get stuck, and I can monitor their work so that they don't repeat mistakes over and over again. 

At first, it was odd: standing in the front of an empty classroom to deliver a lesson to -- nobody.  The thought that someone would come by and ask if I needed to go see the nurse - or a psychiatrist - did cross my mind, so I was a bit subdued in the first ones.  After a few, though, I think I am getting more comfortable with it.  My voice is becoming more relaxed, and I am becoming more of the "me" that my students would see live in the classroom.  Response from students has been generally positive as well.  One even thanked me today for making the video so that he could do the work even though I was absent from class today.  (No. I was not at home on the couch, and I did not still have on my bathrobe!) 

I've always said that my goal was to get my students to the point that they didn't need me anymore.  If the only thing they ever know is what I - or some other teacher - teaches them, the world is in big trouble.  I want students to create their own knowledge and even challenge mine from time to time.  This concept helps with that.  Even without me there, they are capable of picking up a new and challenging topic.  I may never win an Academy Award or become the next YouTube sensation, but I am enjoying doing this and like the results, so far.  I'll keep you updated as to how it goes.