2.- THE TOP 5 BLENDED AND FLIPPED CLASSROOM TOOLS

Blended and Flipped Classrooms can give students more control over their learning path. Added to that, the teachers get more insight into the learning of the class and can intervene as required. Technology plays an important role in blending the classrooms. User-friendly technology ensures that the student has more control over the time, place and pace of the curriculum. It also ensures that the teacher has the necessary visibility and tools to intervene effectively.

A Quick Refresher
(for those of you who need it)

Blended Classrooms

Blended learning is an environment in which students study in a “blended” model of face-to-face instruction with a teacher and technology-based instruction to meet their educational needs.

There are essentially three aspects of a blended classroom:

1. Visible learning: Provide the teachers with the complete view of the learning process.

2. Formative assessments: Provide teachers means to give timely and effective feedback.

3. Blended learning: Combination of textbooks and online-resources to improve learning experience.

Flipped classrooms

The flipped-classroom is a pedagogical model that reverses the typical lecture and homework elements. A flipped-classroom is essentially a blended learning environment. Students view short video lectures at home and devotes in-class time to exercises, projects, and discussions.

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Establishing Your Blended/Flipped Classroom

Blended classrooms essentially have the following or few of the under-mentioned elements:

1. Learning management system (LMS)

An LMS is a software product that sits within a school’s Managed Learning Environment (MLE). The LMS is the school’s central hub of the teaching and learning activity. It allows teachers to direct learning path, create and manage groups and individuals, assess assignments, track progress, create and share course material and interact with students, etc.

2. Digital media tools

Text alone can’t deliver the subtlety and expression required for meaningful connection. Audio-visual or the digital content has a better impact than written works. For successful flipped classrooms, it is necessary to provide video lectures and audio-video reference material to the students. These tools don’t only support teaching, but students also have a better chance of expressing their learning.

3. Content creation and sharing tools

Students and teachers need to capture and share everything that’s important in a single, easily accessible place. Sometimes, they also want to share selective things with one person, a few people or the whole world. These tools allow teachers to introduce course content through multiple learning modes, and facilitate students to express in various ways.

4. Collaboration and social media tools

These tools allow teachers and students to foster online communities of learners to enhance the course content. The biggest advantage of technology-based learning is that the students, as well as the teachers have the option to collaborate on projects. Students may need to share assignments, discuss learning or teachers may want to share study material.