Isn’t a flipped class flipped learning?

GUEST COLUMN | by Kari M. Arfstrom

Turns out these terms are not interchangeable. The board and key leaders of the Flipped Learning Network™, all experienced flipped educators, released a whitepaper this week distinguishing between a Flipped Classroom and Flipped Learning. Flipping a class can, but does not necessarily, lead to Flipped Learning. Many teachers may already flip their classes, by having students read text outside of class, watch supplemental videos, or solve additional problems. The change occurs when educators move from a teacher-centered class to a student-centered environment with ongoing active engagement.

The flipped classroom is often simplistically defined as “school work at home and home work at school,” but Flipped Learning is an approach that allows teachers to implement a methodology, or various methodologies, in their classrooms. For instance, flipped teachers may then implement methods such as Mastery or Project based learning, host Socratic sessions, or writers’ workshops.

To counter some of the misconceptions about this term, Flipped Learning experts composed a formal definition of “Flipped Learning.” Explicitly defining the term may dispel some of the myths we repeatedly encounter.

The Definition of Flipped Learning

Flipped Learning is a pedagogical approach in which direct instruction moves from the group learning space to the individual learning space, and the resulting group space is transformed into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where the educator guides students as they apply concepts and engage creatively in the subject matter.

For educators to engage in Flipped Learning, the following Four Pillars of F-L-I-P  must be incorporated into their practice. FLN also created a checklist of 11 indicators for educators as they reflect on their own classroom practices.

For a downloadable PDF of the definition, Pillars and Indicators, click here.

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Kari M. Arfstrom is the executive director of the Flipped Learning Network. The mission of the Flipped Learning Network is to provide educators with the knowledge, skills and resources to successfully implement Flipped Learning.