Does your organisation want to maximise efficiency and increase productivity? As the old adage says, ‘Time is money’. This certainly rings true when it comes to time spent on learning, development and training. To utilise one your most valuable resources, time, to its full potential, the flipped classroom might just be what you’re looking for.
History of the flipped classroom
For a brief history of the flipped classroom, let’s dive back to 2007. According to Trach (2020) the flipped classroom concept first emerged in Colorado. Two teachers, Jonathan Bergman and Aaron Sams, began to record their lessons as videos as a means to teach students who were out sick. Sams and Bergman credit the concept to the authors of a paper entitled, ‘Inverting the Classroom’ by Maureen Lage, Glenn Platt and Michael Treglia in 2000. Since then, there have been several studies on the flipped classroom methodology.
Lage et al., (2000) define it as events that have traditionally taken place inside the classroom now take place outside the classroom. Bishop and Verleger (2013) define it as a technology-supported pedagogy consisting of both computer-based individual instruction outside the classroom and interactive group learning activities inside the classroom. Lo & Hew (2017) give their own take on the flipped classroom. They suggest that the two key elements are the use of audio or video materials for out-of-class learning as well as regular face-to-face class.
So, how does all this apply to effective L&D training?
The flipped method is a blended learning approach. It incorporates both technology and in-person training in order to maximise the potential for learning. It makes optimal use of time by enabling your team to become familiar with the material before-hand so that consolidation, deeper learning and application of the new skills can take place in the face-to-face training sessions.
Let’s imagine a situation where you might use the flipped method for eLearning in your organisation. You would like your team to do Health and Safety training. First you share core content, including videos and online resources, with the team through your learning management system (LMS). The team then access the material online in their own time and work through it at their own pace. The organisation can track their activity to see whether they have engaged with the material. There might be a quiz to check understanding. You may even set up discussion forum, so the team can ask questions and discuss the topics with each other.
After the online component, a face-to-face training session follows. The team might work collaboratively and engage in active hands-on activities to apply their new skills or consolidate the new learning. At this stage the groundwork is done. The team are building on what they have learnt. Valuable time can now be spent clarifying queries, checking for understanding and building the bridge between the online material and real-world application of the new training in your organisation.
How can the flipped classroom help you?
If used appropriately, the flipped classroom method for eLearning could be both a learner-friendly and time-efficient alternative to traditional full-day training courses. With no time wasted, the flipped classroom method for eLearning can work to achieve the L&D goals of your organisation. Additionally, your staff can enjoy the benefits of having access to digital learning and resources while also being able to get together and actively learn in the classroom environment.
How could you use the flipped classroom method in your training? We would love to talk through your ideas.
