My observations of flipped classrooms at the high school and college level have been that much depends (as with any instructional approach) on the execution. DC1 has had some excellent experiences with flipped classrooms at the university level, but also happens to have had a professor at the leading edge of using flipped classrooms at this level. Obviously, this prof is much more likely to be implementing the approach with fidelity, and a deep understanding of the value and purpose of each component of the model. And any professor who initiates using innovative instructional models is highly likely to be one who enjoys the pedagogical aspect of the role more than the norm.

From what I've seen, the best teachers use a combination of short, focused instructional videos, and similarly short and focused problem sets of basic practice (or relatively straightforward short reading check quizzes) for before class (pre-class homework, one might say), and then longer problem sets (or classroom discussion, analysis and/or writing projects) for working in class, with the instructor's active, direct guidance. That's also when collaborative peer learning dyads or small groups occur, again, with constant access to instructional support.

Ideally, this offloads passive, transmissive instruction to pre-class time, when students can re-watch as many times as they wish, and with whatever presentational accommodations are appropriate (slowed down video, repeat, notes provided, closed captioning, headphones, volume up or down, etc.), which allows precious synchronous instructional time to be reassigned to working through learning obstacles as they arise, instead of the historical situation, where students get stuck on their homework when no one is available to help them through those sticking points.

In theory, of course.

On the other extreme from the model flipped classroom, DC has also had a college professor whose idea of the (online) flipped classroom was to be available via email when working on problem sets. We jokingly contend that there is no evidence that this professor actually exists, and that they might actually be a professor-bot.


...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...