Collaborative Learning: Flipped Classrooms A New Pedagogy in Inclusive Learning

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin

We, as instructors know that students gain knowledge more when they are enthusiastically and actively involved in the teaching-learning process. They retain information longer and their concepts get clearer in active learning. Active Learning is an endeavour that makes learners attentive and perceptive. It is a modern-day approach to learning in which students are engaged with the ‘content’ they study. It is divergent to the conventional mode of teaching in which teachers do most of the work or talking and students are passive receivers. Some of the strategies that facilitate active learning are the use of games, role plays, quizzes, student summaries, one-minute papers, brainstorming, and generating questions.

In traditional teaching, the instructor acts as the information supplier and it is considered the most unreceptive/passive version of the classroom as students rarely have the option to interact with the instructor.

A Flipped Classroom is one of the active, student-centric, collaborative learning strategies that is diverse from traditional teaching and redefines the role of a teacher in a classroom. It helps shift classroom traditions from the teacher who shares knowledge towards student edification. The most primary objective of a flipped classroom is to increase student learning and achievement by reversing the conventional/traditional model of a classroom, focusing on students’ perceptions rather than on instruction best engineering colleges pune. To achieve this, the instructor posts short video lectures online for learners to view and/or listen to at home before the subsequent class session. This allows the class time to be dedicated to delving deeper into or intensifying the learning through collaborative learning exercises, projects, and discussions. The time spent in the classroom can then be utilized for activities that check the student’s preparation and understanding of a topic. A flipped classroom can truly be innovative; provided it seamlessly blends in the course objectives and or outcomes which are reasons to learn the course.

Shifting to this new paradigm will be met with a certain degree of resistance and students could feel apprehensive to take the initiative to participate in this activity; however once they understand the significance, the outcome and more importantly being empowered with the ability to develop their own perspectives and raise an opinion in the classroom, students will engage actively. The activities thus conducted in the classrooms will help students internalize concepts and will be able to employ these across various disciplines as well. Since students are accountable for their learning, they cannot be forced or motivated externally. Their intrinsic motivation will play an important role.

Not unlike other teaching-learning pedagogy, the flipped classroom does pose few challenges. In a class, there are many types of learners; and this learning process could work wonders for visual and verbal learners but could be less effective for other learners. Besides, students may face difficulty in adapting the flipped classroom learning as they could find it difficult to concentrate on/understand the accent/pronunciation of the instructor. Also, the lack of personal/face-to-face interaction between students and instructors might reduce the effectiveness of learning. Though learning at one’s own pace could be a positive aspect it could deter students’ learning especially when they have to adhere to standardized and prescribed syllabi. Flipped classroom requires strong internet connection with proper speed as well as electronic devices like laptops, tablets or smartphones which could be an additional burden to economically challenged students.

Millennial learners expect to learn that which is beyond available on the internet or in book which will drive their curiosity and give them autonomy. This flipped classroom activity can be very helpful to fulfil millennial learners' expectations.

Prof. Bhushan Bhokse
Assistant Professor
Department of Electronics & Telecommunication