Flipped learning - pros and cons in my experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdKzSq_t8k8

Flipped learning has gradually become an integral normal part of BLP's business language training offer, as our clients use internet resources more and more for self-study, bringing their findings into our sessions, where we then clarify doubts and can focus on practice and fluency - the real proof and the part the student really needs a teacher, trainer or coach for.

Flipped learning started to appear in my work during the financial crisis, when many people desperately needed to improve their English, either to be competitive in the work place or to prepare for exams, at as low a cost as possible. In fact while they were doing anything up to 10 hours/week of self study (normally guided by us) they were just touching base with us once a week. And so far, everyone doing exams has passed.

Now, more recently, we have cases of professionals needing to boost their competence and English skills related to their jobs and, again, we can use the very many, and varied, internet resources for the self-study input or for the excercising phase. This then allows us to fully focus on disussion or role plays during the sessions, which can be physically face to face or on-line by Skype.

BENEFITS.

1. Deeper learning - In my experience, students and clients who are committed will make sure they fully understand the concepts or vocabulary etc. presented before coming to class to practice it, so by the time they come to us, they have discovered the subject in their own way, and at their own pace, which has an amazingly deeper and longer-lasting effect than listening to a teacher explain it in class, no matter how good that teacher is.

2. Personalisation - This balance allows us to focus much more on the personal needs of the individual, clearing up their personal doubts or confusions, and also to fully customise the programme when they are with us phsically. And as a result, I am seeing an increase in commitment, confidence, motivation, accuracy, fluency and confidence.

3. Flexibility - As my clients generally have more than one need or objective, I provide them with a series of different resources, so that they can choose which to do, how and when, depending on the time they have to dedicate, the need to concentrate or not, whether they're doing quick, fun activities to fill the time, or longer exercises that require more time and concentration - personal preferences at any particular time in the learning journey are key!

4.Empowerment - This approach gives the student freedom of choice, they can work at their own pace and pick and choose what they feel like doing, how and when.

5. Better focus - all of the above boost morale and engagement, therefore bringing a more committed and confident attitude to class, and to the students sharing their thoughts and discoveries with us. As a result both study and the results obtained are highly focused

6. More democratic - The student/teacher relationship takes on more of an equal basis, rather than the teacher being the official imparter of knowledge. This sharing of responsibility I have found to be both positive and enriching on both parts.

DRAWBACKS

1. Technnology - It's true tha not everyone wants to use You Tube, see Ted talks or work on-line, some people, still prefer to do old-fashioned pen and paper exercises. And not everyone has permanent access to internet. Due to this, the teacher/trainer needs to have an extensive materials bank and should continuously be adding to it, desiging new worksheets and reference sheets as you go along. The pitfall here is that some teachers or institutions may rely too heavily on tehnnology if they don't have these other resources properly developed.

2. Disempowerment - Some more traditional teachers and trainers fear this methodology as they feel disempowered . They feel they can lose control and positioning as the "expert". However, I would encourage those teachers to move out of their comfort zone and rise to the challenge.... sharing their knowledge and developing other people's abilities is more powerful, effective and long-lasting than students relying on their teachers and the source all knowledge, which of course we are not!

3. Discipline - as in any self-study programme, you need to be responsible and disciplined to fulfill all the required tasks. It's not magic, and it does require effort. But I feel the the advantage of being able to pick and choose what you do, how and when, is a major plus, which can help offset weaker motivations.

4. Group work - it is key that the teacher identifies different types of excerices to suit all preferences; the same size dosen't fit all. Also, it is even more crucial that everyone in the group responds and prepares all the work, on time, if not, they will either hold back the rest of the group while the teacher spends valuable "practice time" explaining - therefore annoying and affecting the progress of those who did do it, or they will get left behind...

CONCLUSIONS

In my experience flipped learning has provided excellent results so far. I realise it's not necessarily for everyone, but I feel there is a growing tendancy for busy professionals to prefer to find their own time for the "input" part of learning, with activities they enjoy, and then to make full use of the sessions to clear up doubts and put the language into practice.

As part of my research, I would love to know of any experience you have had, be it positive or negative, and either as a teacher/trainer /coach or student/language learner....