Teaching is an art. Integration of technology in pedagogical approach is a common phenomenon. 21st century educational world promotes student’s centred teaching learning approaches. Flipped classroom is a pedagogical approach.  Educationists Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams introduced the concept of flipped classrooms in the famous book “Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day (2012). 

Flipped classroom creates an interactive learning environment. Flipped classroom breaks the traditional pedagogical pattern to provide proper learning exposure in the classroom using lecture methods and sharing other learning resources in the classroom at the end of the lesson. Earlier teachers used to be a master of the class sharing instructions in a group of students. Flipped classroom shifts the teaching learning process from the group to the individual.

Teachers share planning and learning resources i.e., reading material, specific videos, audios, worksheets well in advance with the students. Students gain knowledge and develop comprehension outside the classroom and explore, analyse, practice and apply in the classroom. Flipped classroom works like Bloom’s revised taxonomy (2001). In simple words, students get proper exposure before the classroom and do problem solving, critical thinking, analysing, and synthesizing in a classroom. 

Importance and Benefits of Flipped Classroom

1.       Flipped classroom provides adequate exposure by sharing learning resources with students in advance, before actual classroom teaching-learning process

2.       The process of flipped classroom provides ample time for students to prepare the topics for the actual class.

3.       Flipped classroom provides sufficient time and space for students to explore and experiment, to practice and analyse and develop comprehensive knowledge on a given topic. Flipped classrooms help students to develop critical thinking and higher order thinking skills (HOTS).

4.       Flipped classroom approach develops better tools to student’s knowledge and understanding.

5.       Flipped classroom provides opportunities for the teacher to organize appropriate learning activities for developing comprehensive knowledge and maximize learning outcomes.

6.       Flipped classroom is a suitable learning approach for the 21st century learners. Flipped classroom explores various tools and techniques of educational technology and integrates in ensuring learning outcomes in the classroom.

a.       Maximize meaningful interaction between teacher and student

b.       Maximize meaningful interaction between two students

c.       Minimize distractions in the classroom

d.       Maximize learning outcomes through student’s active participation

 Flipped classroom is one of the best pedagogical approaches which empowers teachers to engage students rationally, promotes individualized learning and saves instructional time for organizing meaningful activities, problem solving and developing cognitive thinking.

Technological integration in education is not new to the education world, however the way teachers take support of technology in developing cognitive thinking skills and higher order thinking skills to maximizing learning in the classroom actually makes flipped classroom a unique learning approach. Generally, students appreciate the assistance and collaboration they receive from learning resources and guidance from teachers in flipped classrooms. 

Flipped Learning-Importance and Benefits

Good Reading Website Links

https://omerad.msu.edu/teaching/teaching-strategies/27-teaching/162-what-why-and-how-to-implement-a-flipped-classroom-model

www.rajeevelt.com

www.rajeevranjan.net