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Flipping the classroom

flipped classroom diagram

What is flipping?

Flipping the classroom (also known as “inverting” a classroom) is a “pedagogy-first” approach to teaching in which course materials are introduced outside of class, and in-class time is re-purposed for inquiry, application, and assessment in order to better meet the needs of individual learners. Course materials might include readings, pre-recorded video lectures (using technology such as Panopto), or research assignments. In-class activities might involve helping students work through course material individually and in groups, among other active learning strategies for students to gain practice applying knowledge gained prior to class.

There are numerous ways to flip your class. Below are resources on how to get started and strategies and examples to help you determine what kind of flip is best for your courses.

Starting your flip

The main goal in flipping a class is to cultivate more deeply engaged learning experiences for students when the instructor is present to coach and guide them.  Emphasis is on higher-order thinking skills and application to complex problems.

Common activities include:

Additional resources

Additional resources

  • How and Why I Flipped My Classroom, Michelle Pacansky-Brock (2009), a PowerPoint presentation of a flipped art history course in a community college.
  • Leaving lectures behind, Jimmy Ryals (September 2011), on a flipped Physics classroom using the SCALE-UP model at North Carolina State University.