What is Flipped or Blended Learning?
Flipped learning happens when students view lectures at home over video, then they use class time to practice the concepts learned the night before. It is called flipped learning because in a typical classroom teachers often lecture during class time, requiring students to practice concepts on their own as homework. In a flipped classroom, however, students have the advantage of learning the lesson the night before, freeing up class time to engage with other students in an interactive learning environment.
How will it be used in Miss Gray's classroom?
We will be using a combination of flipped and standard lessons throughout the school year. My goal is to provide students with 2 - 3 flipped lecture videos each week. Each 5 - 10 minute video will be made available on the home page of this website at least 24 hours before the class period in which we will discuss it. Students will spend the majority of our class time participating in interactive activities and practicing new concepts with their peers. I will also provide one-on-one time with students who need extra help with difficult concepts.
What if my student does not have technology access at home?
For students with no computer: Students can access the lecture videos on a tablet or smartphone with access to a wi-fi network or large data plan.
For students with a computer (but no internet): Students may bring a flash drive to school and I will download each lecture video for students to view on their computers at home.
For students with no technology access: Students who do not have access to any of the above resources will be allowed to watch the lecture videos at school. Because the videos will never be longer than 10 minutes, this is something students can easily do before or after school, or during their study hall. Please let me know asap if your student will require access to the videos during school time, so we can make a plan that works best for you.
For students with a computer (but no internet): Students may bring a flash drive to school and I will download each lecture video for students to view on their computers at home.
For students with no technology access: Students who do not have access to any of the above resources will be allowed to watch the lecture videos at school. Because the videos will never be longer than 10 minutes, this is something students can easily do before or after school, or during their study hall. Please let me know asap if your student will require access to the videos during school time, so we can make a plan that works best for you.
Student Expectations
In order for the flipped learning experience to be as effective as possible, students are expected to watch the lecture videos before class time. Each class period will be planned under the assumption that every student has viewed the lecture and has at least a basic understanding of the content. Students who do not watch the videos will likely struggle during class time and may not master important concepts. If this is not something your student can handle, I would be happy to work alongside you and your child to make a plan that will work best for all.
Parent/Guardian Expectations
As parents and guardians, I hope that you will be active participants in your student's education. One way to achieve this would be for you to also watch the lecture videos, either along with your student or on your own time. You can also follow all of our classroom happenings on this website and on our weekly class blog, Great Adventures in Miss Gray's Class. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to address them with me using the contact information I've provided for you.
Assessment and Grading
Students will partake in a variety of activities and assessments throughout the school year. At the start of each learning unit, students will complete a pre-test in class. The pre-test will not be graded for accuracy, but will instead be used to help me gain a better understanding of each students' prior knowledge and allow me to better tailor each lecture to meet real learning needs. After the pre-test, students will participate in different learning activities and labs during class time to help solidify their knowledge of important concepts. These in-class labs and projects will be graded for accuracy, plus individual student participation/effort. Students may also be asked to anonymously help grade the work of their peers or to complete self-evaluations. Finally, at the end of each unit students will either take a final unit assessment or create a final unit project. Both unit tests and projects will be graded based on accuracy alone and both will cover the same material that was learned in class.