Prior to this course I had never heard of the term 'flipped' classroom. There is some degree of online posting of materials online at my institution but it is not compulsory, nor is it sustained. It is up to the lecturer to put the materials online. I really like the idea of the flipped classroom. The use of videos or pod-casting to put classroom material for the students to view within a specific time. In addition to this, it allows students to take ownership of their learning. The flipped classroom replaces the traditional role of the teacher as the 'sage on the stage' to the guide on the side. This role of the teacher as a facilitator is highly desirable as we encourage students to collaborate to increase their engagement with learning tasks. The flipped classroom makes it easier for co-operative learning techniques to be practiced. The students and teachers could now engage in discussions and active authentic learning.
Being able to view the materials before hand enables the students to do further research, to think critically about the information before class time. It provides the opportunity for teachers to readily assess students' and clarify students' understanding and to put remedial strategies in place to enhance learning.
