Cornell Experiments With the Flipped Classroom
Cornell
University in Ithaca, NY, is one of the latest higher
education institutions to explore the flipped classroom concept. As
part of
the university's Active Learning Initiative (ALI), this past semester
nearly
3,000 students participated in the pilot program involving physics and
biology
classes.
With the flipped classroom, traditional lecture
classes are
eschewed and students watch videos or read assigned material in
advance
of the class instead. That gives instructors the opportunity to use
class time
for what they are calling "deliberate practice," problem solving,
examining
case studies and discussion.
The instructors are also using audience response
systems like
Poll Everywhere during class to gauge students' success at comprehending
the
course content.
"Ongoing assessment is a key element of active
learning," said
Lisa Sanfilippo, a teaching support specialist at Cornell.
The ALI program is a five-year pilot project funded
by Cornell
alumni, Alex and Laura Hanson. Those involved in the initiative said it
helps
every student: Advanced students are able to delve deeper into the
course
material than they might have otherwise, midrange students have more
exposure
to the material, and students who are struggling have the chance to
study the
material at their own speed in advance of the class.
Although one semester of experience is not enough to
draw any
firm conclusions about the program, Associate Professor Julia Thom-Levy
said, "I
would never go back to the old approach. Active learning is a game
changer in
teaching."
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.