5 Myths About the Flipped Classroom

Separating fact from fiction can be hard, even when it comes to education. Luckily we’re here to help!

The more famous something is, the more misinformation about it that tends to exist, and the flipped classroom is the Julia Roberts of teaching methods.

Even though it’s not brand-new, for teachers who have never flipped a class before, this article will clear up any myths about the flipped classroom you might have. Let’s bust some myths!

Myth #1: You Need to Flip Every Class

The first fear that teachers normally experience with the flipped classroom is that it’s all or nothing. The good news is – nothing could be further from the truth!

Start small, and choose one lesson in your unit to flip first. That way you have plenty of time to plan without the pressure of flipping more than one class in a row.

As you and your students become more comfortable with the flipped model, you can flip more lessons and ease into the flipped routine as you go.

Try flipping one lesson per unit for the first half of the year, and for the last half of the school year, attempt flipping one entire unit.

Flipping your class in manageable morsels will get you pumped to flip your classroom year-round, but only when you’re ready.

Myth #2: Students, Parents and Admins Prefer the Traditional Teaching Model

Another damaging myth is that students, parents and schools actually prefer the traditional teaching model to the flipped classroom method. While you might get some initial pushback as with any new methodology, the flipped classroom has nothing but benefits for all involved.

For students, they can work at their own pace in the comfort of their own homes, which means eliminating anxiety about keeping up with the rest of the class for slower students or preventing the faster students from getting bored when they finish their work early.

Then, when they get to class the next day, they’ll be able to get more individual attention from the teacher as the class works on projects and practical exercises to put their knowledge to the test.

Where parents are concerned, they don’t have to worry anymore about helping their child with a homework topic they don’t understand either. They can watch what their kids are learning and take a more active role in their children’s learning.

What admins love the most about the flipped classroom is that students use technology in a positive way and experience differentiation in the best way. And, grades go up because students are getting more personalized attention and feedback from their teachers.

This also busts one of the most common myths about the flipped classroom model: that it stops face-to-face teaching. On the contrary, it actually allows teachers to interact with their students on a highly personalized level.

Myth #3: It’s More Work for the Teacher

If there’s one thing that will make a teacher shudder, it’s hearing that their school is about to implement a new technique or technology. Why? Because it usually means an avalanche of extra work!

One of the most common misconceptions about the flipped classroom is that it creates more work for the teacher, but it’s actually the other way around.

It’s true that videos are a crucial part of flipping your classroom, but you don’t have to create them all (or any of them) yourself. Use a platform like Edpuzzle to find incredible interactive video lessons from sources like National Geographic, Khan Academy, Crash Course and TED Talks, so you can connect your students directly with the experts.

Another technique to use is to share the workload with your fellow teachers. Get on the same page about flipping your classrooms and share material, so everyone wins.

If you do decide to record your own teaching videos, you may be looking at more work initially, but for every year after you’ll have your own video library to pull from, meaning you’ll be able to dedicate more time to what really matters: giving your students the most personalized attention possible.

Myth #4: You Need to Be Very Tech Savvy

There’s no denying that technology plays a huge role in the flipped classroom, but you don’t need to have any tech knowledge to get started.

It’s quick and easy to learn how to use platforms like Edpuzzle, and for those teachers who have never used much technology in the classroom before, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll pick it up and how much easier it will make your teaching life.

If you are a technophile, on the other hand, you can go wild: QR codes, virtual reality, green screen technology – anything is possible!

Educational technology is often met with fear and apprehension, but there’s absolutely no reason to be afraid.

Myth #5: It’s a Passing Trend

If there’s one myth that really gets under the skin of flipped classroom fans, it’s this one.

The idea of the flipped classroom has actually been around since the ’90s, and it’s only gained in popularity since then. The boom of educational technology, the interest in personalized learning and the move to give students more agency in their learning mean that the flipped classroom is so much more than just a passing trend.

Reach out to your colleagues or your personal learning network, and you’ll see that flipped learning is everywhere.

So, now that you know how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the flipped classroom, the only thing that’s left to do is get started! Your students’ results will speak for themselves.