Can all classes be flipped?
I was thinking about my 4 current preparations as to how I could flip them. For my math book I use Mathematics: A Human Endeavor by Harold Jacobs and it is an avatar of the self-paced learning days of the early '70's when I student taught. But that doesn't mean it is out dated; I have found no better text of mathematical problem solving that would be of interest to art students.
Intro to computers more than likely could be flipped. Students could find presentations on-line for the skills for that week's project, and then do them in-class with myself as their guide by their side. So this one is definitely flip-feasible.
The Physics of Light class I teach is a very "sage on a stage" experience. I schlepp literally a ton of demonstration objects from my basement prep room to my classroom over the course of a semester, and just turning on a video of these demos seems like a good idea.
But it isn't the real thing! You can make all the demos run smoothly after multiple takes, or totally fake them, or worse yet, totally computer graphics and have nothing real! But because the students can see someone sweat actually trying to make something happen, and then do it themselves, and look through optical contraptions and what-not, makes this class not amenable to flipping.
History of Photographic Technology also has its share of process demonstrations in class, and viewing of antique specimens, so it is similar to the Physics class above, although there are plenty of demos and tutorials on the process topics on-line. What could be useful for the student is to have a good selection of historical videos to show what life was like in each of the different photographic eras as far as how people lived and the politics of the time.
Which brings up the most depressing point of relying on on-line media; what I have seen in the fields of optics is that most of it is not very well done! Maybe Khan Academy should hire me to do their optics units!
Some classes would definitely be easier to flip than others. I would expect that classes that are "labs" would be more difficult to flip than those that are strictly didactic. However, I do believe that portions labs could be demonstrated via video first, and perhaps have a procedure that the student could print out and bring to class the next day (after first reviewing it) could work and the student would be more prepared than coming in cold.
I actually find it to be helpful to flip a lab class. The students get to see the video presentation first. No need to fight for space at the front of the classroom to watch me do the demonstration because they have already seen the correct way to perform a procedure. A brief review prior to allowing the students to try it themselves would be encouraged to ensure they all are on the same page. Of course they would need supervision to clean up technique but I may try this in some of my lab classes and see how it works.
Ed,
As Sheldon Cooper would say "Literally, really, Literally a ton". Ha! Ha!
Dr. Moody Crews
Dawn,
The lab class would provide additional challenges for certain but I agree that it could be done.
Dr. Moody Crews
Reshona,
I hope you will give it a try in your labs. I think you will be pleased with the results.
Dr. Moody Crews
I see your point exactly, which gives me a terrifically wonderful idea! I teach an expanded functions dental class in which students must learn to place fillings into life size teeth. The instruction on how to do this small yet very detailed demonstration is hard. I bought a projector which has made the job easier, but I think implementing a pre-recorded video of the filling procedure would be most beneficial for the students to view at home, that way in class, they can just get right to work with the performance.
