A Framework FOR Flipped Learning: Jenny Eppard and Aicha Rochdi
A Framework FOR Flipped Learning: Jenny Eppard and Aicha Rochdi
A Framework FOR Flipped Learning: Jenny Eppard and Aicha Rochdi
ABSTRACT
Over the last few decades, with the rapid developments of mobile technology, the advent of Web 2.0 sites, and the
expansion of social media, there has been an incremental use of technology in the classroom. One of the approaches for
technological integration into the classroom is via flipped learning. This pedagogical method has become increasingly
popular and there is a growing body of literature that is investigating the implementation of this teaching methodology in
the various classrooms. The present paper is an overview of the research related to the flipped classroom. The goals are
threefold: a) to provide a synthesis of the definitions of the concept of the flipped learning as used in field b) to review
the various theories and models that may explain the theoretical underpinnings for flipped classroom; and c) to develop a
tentative framework based on the literature.
KEYWORDS
Flipped learning. inverted learning, mobile learning.
1. INTRODUCTION
Over the last few decades, with the rapid developments of mobile technology, the advent of Web 2.0 sites,
and the expansion of social media, there has been an incremental use of informational technology in the
classroom to meet the needs of twenty-first century students. Indeed, these students “prefer to access subject
information on the internet, where it is more abundant, more accessible, and more up-to-date” (Paige,
Hickok, and Patrick, 2004, p. 11).
One of the approaches for technological integration into the classroom is via flipped learning.
This pedagogical method has become increasingly popular in the educational arena. There is a growing body
of literature that is investigating the implementation of this concept especially in the area of STEM subjects
(science, technology, engineering and mathematics). In a survey, Bishop and Verleger (2013) researched
flipped learning and listed 39 blog posts and online articles that focus around the flipped classroom as well as
11 websites that promote the flipped classroom or provide resources to help educators flip their classroom.
Yarbro, Arfstrom, McKnight and Mcknight (2014) referred to the Flipped Learning Networks community of
practice which showed that there has been a significant increase in the number of members. In 2012,
there were 2,500 members to 10,000 in 2013 and then another jump to more than 20,000 members in 2014.
Another example of this increase appears in a simple Google search. According to these same scholars,
when they carried out a Google search they found that the term “flipped learning” resulted in 244,000 hits in
June, 2014. When we put in the term ”flipped learning”, we found 412,000 in January, 2016 which is an
increase of about 200,000 in just under 2 years. In Google scholar, using the same terms they found 314 in
June, 2014. We found 5440 hits which is an increase of over 5000 in 2 years. Therefore, there does appear to
be an increase in interest in the concept of flipped learning at least.
As flipped learning, the type of learning that occurs within a flipped classroom, becomes part of the
academic vernacular so does the need to develop a clear definition of flipped learning and an understanding
of how it works or why it works based on theoretical frameworks. Thus, the goal of this paper is multi-fold,
a) to provide a synthesis of the definitions of the concept of the flipped learning as used in the field,
b) to review the various theoretical models that account for and explain learning in the flipped classroom and
c} to synthesize current information about flipped learning into a potential framework for flipped learning.
While we are far from fully understanding all of the areas in which flipped learning is successful or not
successful, this model is a first step in developing a better understanding of the process.
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As we can see from this table, the research shows that flipped learning may yield positive results in terms
of students’ engagement (Farah, 2014; Enfield, 2013), and differentiation of learning (Enfield, 2013).
As Bishop and Verleger (2013) suggested, the studies mostly focused on perceptions and feedback from
students and teachers. To our knowledge, there has been little research that includes empirical data. This is
uncommon. Indeed in a second- order meta-analysis, Tamim, Bernard, Borokhovski, Abrami, and Schmid’s
(2011) found that high caliber, detailed research evaluating the efficacy of specific methodologies and
approaches of blended learning to be rare. For the purposes of this study, we mainly focus on the narrower
definition of flipped learning, which includes recordings of either presentation software or lectures.
3. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Despite the increasing popularity of flipped learning, the concept itself as well as the methodologies utilized
to achieve it have not yet been comprehensively examined in the existing body of research and neither have
the theoretical underpinnings that could explain and justify the perceived success of this approach. The goal
of this paper is to address this gap in the literature by presenting how learning theories connect with the
concept of flipped learning and how components of these theories are operationalized.
3.2 Constructivism
Vygotsky viewed learning as a process that occurs when a learner is assisted by others who are more
competent in the skills being learnt, and that learning is optimized by collaboration within the learner’s zone
of proximal development. Vygotsky (1978) defines the zone of proximal development (ZDP) as "the distance
between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of
potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with
more capable peers". In other words, learning occurs when a student works either with a more skilled adult or
peer to solve problems that are just beyond her/his actual abilities. Hence, while using the flipped classroom
technique, students are assigned problem-solving tasks where they need to utilize the information they learnt
through watching the video outside of the classroom. To solve these tasks students either work individually
or in groups under the supervision of the teacher.
Research shows that students learn best when taught according to their particular learning style that may
be dependent, collaborative or independents. Piaget's theory of cognitive development is based on a belief
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that learners are like scientists trying to make sense of reality. Learners, in order to acquire new knowledge,
are not directly presented with information they are supposed to immediately understand and use. Instead,
learners must "construct" their own knowledge. They build their knowledge through experience. Experiences
enable them to create schemas or mental models in their heads. These schemas are changed, enlarged, and
made more sophisticated through two complementary processes namely assimilation and accommodation.
According to the Piagetian cognitive constructivist theory, to reach a higher level of learning, students need
to interact with peers with the main mechanism driving development being “cognitive conflict” to reach
accommodation of knowledge.
These two key principles of cognitive constructivism are practiced in the flipped classroom. The first
principle is that learning is active. Practically, prior to attending class, the teacher gives the students a video
that introduces the information that needs to be learned. This information is introduced an aid to problem
solving. It is a tool that furthers and facilitates.
Gannod (2008) conducted a study in which they investigated the use of the flipped classroom in a
software engineering class. They made 65 podcasts available to students and they devoted class time to
collaborative learning where students collaborated to create, analyze and evaluate software. They designed
in-class activities that require students to work in pairs or in groups and to utilize the information gained
from the video to solve real problems. Their methodology reflects the precepts of a Vygotskian approach to
learning.
Lage, Platt and Treglia (2000) carried a study where they explored the use of the inverted classroom to
teach economics. Lage, Platt and Treglia (2000) designed in class activities where students worked in groups
under the supervision of the instructor to conduct economic experiments. During the activities, the students
brought to the task their different understandings of the information presented, and worked together through
continuous assimilation and accommodation of new information to reach an understanding of the
information. The results of the study showed that students positively perceived the use of that methodology.
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Figure 2. Synthesis of the models and theories associated with Flipped Learning.
When viewing flipped learning through Bloom’s taxonomy, the skills highlighted at the base of the
triangle (remembering and understanding) occur outside of class without teacher supervision. Students can
watch videos as many times as needed to remember information and to understand concepts. The stimuli
being the information that is needed to function in class appropriately; a reversal in the way students view
learning and the actions of those participating in the learning environment and a change in the way students’
approach a new learning environment learning (Skinner, 1974). During the beginning of adopting a flipped
learning environment, this is especially significant. The middle levels of the pyramid – analyzing and
applying – occur in class with the help of a teacher or peers and is more collaborative than the bottom levels.
The top levels – evaluating and creating – while can still be collaborative they are moving toward student
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autonomy. They would still occur in class but as students master a concept, theoretically they should be able
to complete tasks independently and accurately. Theoretically, at least, students can re-watch presentations as
often as needed and at their own pace in order to master the first two levels. The top four levels will be
mastered under the supervision of instructor with possible peer influence at varies times.
5. CONCLUSION
It is difficult to capture all of the methodologies incorporated into a flipped classroom context. There is a lot
of freedom in the manner in which teachers present information and plan lessons, and students synthesize the
content. This is both a benefit and a drawback to the field of flipped learning. It is a benefit because it
provides a vehicle for differentiated teaching and learning. However, it is a drawback, because it is difficult
to research which factors, it any, contribute to its effectiveness or lack thereof. In the future, research should
be conducted into the connection between differentiated learning (DL) and flipped learning.
DL refers to the process of designing different instructional material to meet the needs of student with
varying levels and abilities. DL involves offering individualized and meaning content through multiple
modalities of instruction where students have flexibility to study at their own pace (Keefe, 2007). Flipped
learning does not necessarily target differentiated learning. It is a tool that could be used for achieving
differentiated instruction. A research study could look at the effectiveness of flipped learning in a classroom
where students have mixed abilities. Students with lower abilities would be given support material such as
instructional videos and recorded lectures that can be accessed outside the class in a flipped learning format.
The goal of this support material is to help students achieve parity with the rest of the class. The performance
of the students that were given the videos would be compared to the rest of the class.
Research into the fields of learning styles and personality types and their role in the way materials are
presented and assimilated in a flipped learning scenario might be beneficial. In addition to differentiated
learning, more research attention needs to be given to subjects outside of the STEM arena. This could
possibly increase our understanding of how flipped learning could be used successfully across and within
subject areas.
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