The Flipped Classroom, Week 1

Wednesday morning, and the first group of students arrived in the classroom at 9 am with their keyword sheets filled in and ready to go. The plan was on the whiteboard "Find your group and share, swap or steal information on Masaccio and two of his paintings". Each group is named after a renaissance artist and made up of students with different learning styles so as to achieve successful peer teaching.

The students had been given links to videos on The Tribute Money and The Holy Trinity as well as handouts, a PDF of my PowerPoint presentation and some handouts to supplement their textbook. Some had also used the online quiz that I created to go with the videos. The idea was that they could use the resources to fill in a keyword template to bring to class. This was to encourage students to gain as much knowledge on the artist and his work before Wednesday's class so that they everyone could leave with the basis of a good essay to write up over the next two nights. Each would be graded on their own personal work but an average grade from their group essays would produce the winner of the week. 

So, for 15 minutes the room was buzzing with the students working within their groups, I watched and listened with delight at a really animated class discussed, explained and basically taught each other. It was one of the most rewarding days of my teaching career. Don't get me wrong, this was not me taking the easy way out as it cost me at least 12 hours of prep just to provide the resources for two 40 minute classes. But oh, what a joy to see it working. 

At the end of the 15 minutes I began the PowerPoint and my mini lecture. I would say that I did 60% of the talking and the students the rest. And a lot of my talking was asking questions. Almost every one was fully engaged and sharing what they knew including their own observations. One or two were a little quiet and that is my next challenge as I want everyone to feel included and their opinions valued. 

Friday is the day for essay submission, with five marks per day lost for failure to hand it in. One student said that she will be away tomorrow so she handed it in today, while others came to me to make arrangements help them make arrangements to hand them in at eight o clock in the morning before they head off on a school trip. The support has been great and the principal is making herself available to receive them before the bus departs. Whatever about the students, I feel so energised and excited by it all.