This semester I've been blessed (ha, not really) by the concept of a "flipped classroom" by one of my professors. In my opinion, this is an excuse for a teacher, or professor, not to teach. I've taken online classes that are better than these "flipped classroom" ideas. If you're confused on what a "flipped classroom" is, let me explain. In their terms, it's giving you extra work or lectures online, or on an external website. Sounds great to have additional resources, right?
Wrong.
In my experience, my professor has used this to exclude lectures during class and just give us worksheets during class after only doing one online homework on it, and being told just to do them. Then, all the teacher does is goes over the solutions. I know everyone learns differently, and I've had challenging classes, but I've never felt so confused in a class, and I need someone to actually teach me the material. That being said, I like old school lecturing sometimes, and even if it's 8 am, trust me, the students will listen, especially if it's a difficult class.
In my example, my class is managerial accounting. Being a business major, but not an accounting type-of-person, I need guidance to know how you got these solutions without just writing them on a piece of paper and putting it on the overhead. In addition, the last two tests that we've had in the class, the averages were both D's. No curve, no anything. Obviously, if the averages are so low, your so-called "flipped classroom" is not working. OK, ending my rant.
My point is, that as the world is changing with new technology and new learning tools; it can be helpful, but it doesn't mean that it always is. You can now google something without looking back, do homework problems by just finding the solutions online, and learn a new subject all on the internet. However, some people's minds do not function like this, and some people just, in general, do not like it.
A flipped classroom proposes new learning tools, but uncertainty when learning. I pay my tuition for professors to actually teach me something, not for me to struggle to find online solutions just to pass the class. College is about learning, not grades (or that's how it should be anyway).
I plead to all of the future and current teachers and professors, please get the students' opinions about a flipped classroom, and don't just have that as your only resource. Some students may be left behind because they learn better on paper than online.
