Xygen College starts ‘flipped classroom’ method of teaching

Alfred F. Gallardo

The traditional classroom setting in most schools in the Philippines is a carryover from the kind of education brought by the Americans decades back.  We all know that in this kind of setting, the source of knowledge is the teacher.  Again, there could be nothing wrong with this setup.  In the traditional classroom setting, there are some students who could easily grasp the concepts; others may not have been able to learn much. Also in the traditional classroom, homework is usually done at home.  Today, a new revolutionary way to teach is being adapted in schools in various parts of the globe. This teaching method is known as the flipped classroom.

Xijen College got inspiration from Lodge McCammon of North Carolina State University, U.S.A. McCommon has been advocating the flipped classroom learning experience across America.  So what is the flipped classroom all about? 

It is about reversing the traditional method of teaching wherein the lecture of the teacher is viewed at home or in school (not during the class hour) and the homework-to be done in the classroom.  In the flipped classroom, the teacher records his or her lecture on video.  The video is either uploaded on YouTube or any other online support facility (school’s e-learning site) or distributed on DVD or saved on computers in the school, for the children to watch.

So what is left for the students to do during their class?  In the classroom, the teacher now can facilitate group activities or students can work on problems with the teacher or their peers helping them out.  In this way, learning is facilitated not only by the teacher but the whole class as well. 

To prepare for the flipped method of teaching, Xijen College enrolled teachers who volunteered to adapt the flipped method in their class.  Video cameras and mobile phones are used to capture the lectures.  The video capture is a no frills activity; applying McCammon’s method of 1 take video. 

In the 1-Take Video, as much as possible, there is no second take during the video shoot of the lecture.  This helps avoid spending time of having to edit a video lecture.  It is thus expected that the teacher has already made a thorough preparation for the lecture prior to the shoot.  Visual aids are added if necessary.  In its simplest form, all the teacher needs is a whiteboard.  McCammon has provided many creative ways to teach in the Flipped Classroom environment- from singing to animation with pre-cut paper figures.

Since, this method is designed primarily to enhance active learning; it motivates and challenges the students to think critically and independently. Through online activity, the lessons being delivered, the students have easier access in receiving feedback. Right then and now, they are actively participating and engaging in creating their own knowledge and understanding. The video lectures sent to every student at home opens-up a space to make time more effectively used.

The ease of having the teacher and the students, share each other’s knowledge to harness an optimum understanding is first hand. It goes beyond even if students don’t have access to devices outside school; their classroom transforms the gap for them to watch lecture videos. After class-check understanding and extend learning follows through. 

While still at experimental stage at Xijen College, Dr. Lodge McCammon has already made researches, the result of which is positive both on the teacher and students.  Xijen College intends to conduct a similar research on the impact of the Flipped Classroom method in the near future.

(Alfredo F. Gallardo is public relations officer of XiJen College of Mountain Province, Inc.)