COVER STORY refining and reinforcement of flipped classroom techniques and the use of Google platforms, which many teachers already employed.
BREAKING THE MOLD
While taking a Teaching for the 21st Century( T21) course through EdTechTeacher, Middle School mathematics teacher Corbin Orgain’ 96 had an idea that would change her entire classroom structure. She was inspired to reconstruct her teaching methods to adhere to the concepts of the flipped classroom, a pedagogical model in which the traditional lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed.
“ In study hall every day, I was getting bombarded by 55 students coming to ask me about lessons,” she said.“ There wasn’ t enough of me to go around, so I had to figure out a way to help each student individually and still cover all the content I needed to get through. Then I heard about the flipped classroom.”
In connection with the model’ s theories, Mrs. Orgain films 6- to 12-minute videos of herself teaching a lesson using the app Explain Everything. Students are instructed to watch the videos in their entirety as homework while taking detailed notes in which they must write down all steps, examples, definitions, and hints / tricks. Then, class time is used for checking notes and practicing the concepts taught in the video, giving Mrs. Orgain time to go around and check in with each student individually.
Mrs. Orgain said this model presents multiple benefits for students: first, they can learn a lesson at their own pace by rewinding, fast forwarding, or re-watching the video as often as they would like. This way, students who learn at a slower pace can take the time they need without feeling pressure to understand immediately, and students who learn more quickly can move on to the next concept as needed.
Second, it frees up family time at home because students will not spend the evening doing hours of homework— in fact, parents have told Mrs. Orgain that they enjoy watching her videos with their child so much that it’ s become a family event in their home. Third, the videos feature a familiar face that students can connect with rather than an unknown third party.
“ A huge aspect of blended learning is the relationships that are built between students and teachers,” she said.“ This model allows students to go home at night and hear my voice as they’ re learning— the relationship is still there. They know I’ m coming from a place of love and support as I teach them.”
Upper School Chemistry teacher Leslie Kovach often uses the flipped classroom model with her Upper School chemistry classes, and Middle School English teacher Elizabeth Gibson uses it to teach vocabulary. Other teachers have expressed interested in adopting the model in their classes as well.
In addition to flipped classroom activities, Mrs. Kovach utilizes digital resources in her role as coordinator of senior projects. The year-long project is an opportunity for students to explore and experience a topic of their own interest. To assist them as they gather information for their formal research papers and presentations, Mrs. Kovach has students use Google Sites to store and organize their research.
" At Steward, we embrace the idea of community and being able to form meaningful relationships between teachers and students. We enjoy that face-to-face warmth and feeling of belonging."
Seniors create their own websites, which include pages for their project proposal, a list of assignments due, journal entries, a“ file cabinet” to store various research materials, a photo gallery, and a goal and progress page. Mrs. Kovach regularly checks students’ websites to grade them on their progress throughout the year.
“ I see my senior seminar students twice in the eight-day rotation, so it would be difficult for them to check in with me in person every time they work on their project,” Mrs. Kovach said.“ But with Google Sites, they can work online from anywhere and do assignments wherever and whenever it’ s convenient for them. So they get the best of both worlds— they get the periodic in-person contact, but there’ s all kinds of assignments they can get done by themselves online.”
Depending on their project topic, many seniors present a tangible product as their final presentation. Topics for this year include creating an original hot sauce recipe, writing a book on soap making, studying music therapy through playing the ukulele, and redesigning a bathroom, to name a few.
ENHANCING CLASSROOM STUDY
To support learning that is already taking place in the classroom, the Lower School has adopted several online education programs that strengthen students’
SAY WHAT?
ONLINE SKILL AND DRILL SERVICES provide the essentials of basic grammar, usage, and mechanics
ONLINE CONTENT PROVIDERS: a website or organization that handles the distribution of online content( such as blogs, videos, music, or files) that is made accessible to users
PLN( PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORKS): an informal education system that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a personal environment
LMS( LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS): a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of digital technology courses or programs
MOOC( MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE): a web-based distance learning program that is designed for the participation of large numbers of geographically dispersed students
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