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Flipped Classrooms switch homework and school work

10:59 AM, Sep 4, 2012   |    comments
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MARIETTA, Ga. -- On a recent afternoon, Jete Long, 13, received his 8th grade math lesson from his teacher on a laptop computer in the comfort of his home.

He watched as Dodgen Middle School math teacher Ashley Miller explained on video, "Our lesson for today is solving for a variable when you have parallel lines cut by a transversal."

Miller recorded the new math concept so students like Jete can watch on a computer, smart phone, tablet or anywhere they can pull-up video. They can watch any place, at any time and as often as they'd like.

The concept is called the "Flipped Classroom," based on the Flip Your Classroom concepts developed by Colorado educators, Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams.

"Not in the sense that we're going to be doing back handsprings in class, but in the sense that what you've traditionally done as homework, will now be done in school," Miller said as she explained to students what a flipped classroom is all about.

The math lecture Miller would normally give during a class period, she now does in front of a camera.

"I'm hoping that this will give me more time in class to sit down and work with you one-on-one," Miller told the class.

Dodgen Middle School is one of three Cobb County schools piloting the concept this year, although schools in other metro districts have tried it.

Miller's students like the idea of recorded math lessons - especially when they don't want classmates to know they don't understand something.

"I can watch it again, until I get it," said one student in her class.

"Sometimes in class, I have trouble focusing, or I don't get it at all; I can't really rewind a teacher," said another student.

Jete Long likes that it involves using his electronics.

"If we can just use it to relate to school, it really helps us think," he said. "I think I'm going to start to like math more."

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