Thoughts and hopes

By J.P. | June 21, 2016 | 4

--Originally published at Trevis' Flipped Classroom

I consider myself a good explainer: if given enough time, I think I am capable of explaining anything to anyone. But, the thing is that I am usually not explaining just anything to anyone, I am teaching engineering students, and usually there isn't enough time. I read about the Flipped Classroom technique (FC in what follows) I thought it might help me improve my teaching. I have a couple of thoughts about FC, and a couple of hopes on this course, so I thought it would be fine to make a list.
  1. Thought: I teach in English, so I guess it is a good idea to have this material in English. Although I am not a native speaker, and sometimes do hilarious mistakes, I do a good job in general.
  2. Thought: FC is not something new, probably my dad had this applied in high school. However, I know very little detail and I want to learn.
  3. Thought: I have read that FC can be a very powerful tool to keep people alive in classroom, and maybe most importantly, to place the spotlight on the students, rather than on me. After all I guess I should be more of a coach.
  4. Hope: This course will help me learn an alternative to what I have been doing in the classroom for years.
  5. Hope: They will forget me, but not the material covered: after all they are the ones starring the film.
 Well, I guess that says it all. I include a video here which includes these same ideas. 
I hope to read from you soon.

JP
Posted in Blogs, Syndicated

4 Comments

  1. Ken Bauer on June 22, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Thanks for the thoughts, I’m really curious about #5, can you elaborate on that?

    – Ken

    Reply
    • Pablo Trevino on June 27, 2016 at 3:02 am

      Hy Ken. I didn’t see the question before.
      About #5: A lot of people i have worked with are proud of having kids remember them over the years. While i don’t thin this is bad or wrong, i believe that the idea of centering the class in the student rather tan the teacher makes us somehow transparent ant maybe more forgettable. Also, the goal is that the students keep the ideas/concepts/knowledge, rather than remembering the funny or smart or ugly teacher. Summing up the idea, the goal is that they remember the material of te course, and not me.

      Reply
  2. Lehrersimon on June 26, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    Hi there JP. , I recognize your thoughts on this item, for being in a way in the same position as you are.
    I´m open to new ideas, if they allow me to be better in the things I do. But it´s not so easy to implement them in a classroom as it may look like. Sometimes for me it´s struggeling , but i keep on trying.
    About your #5, I´m 50 now, but still remember some of my teachers from decades ago, because they had a way to inspire me, or because I really thought to be learning something or just their way to make a class intreresting.
    It goes together, I remember them AND the material covered.
    Good luck with your goals on this course.
    Simon

    Reply
  3. Benjamin on July 5, 2016 at 5:25 am

    Wiggins and McTighe (2005) claim that it is better for students to uncover content than teachers trying to cover it. I tend to agree. Students will remember uncovering content more so than simply covering it. Covering vs. uncovering content implies two very different educational philosophies.

    Reply

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