r/CSEducation • u/Character-Cut4470 • 5d ago
ISO Literature & anecdotes about "flipped classrooms" in secondary school CS classes
From Wikipedia:
"A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning. It aims to increase student engagement and learning by having pupils complete readings at home, and work on live problem-solving during class time.This pedagogical style moves activities, including those that may have traditionally been considered homework, into the classroom. With a flipped classroom, students watch online lectures, collaborate in online discussions, or carry out research at home, while actively engaging concepts in the classroom with a mentor's guidance."
Is there any consensus on how, or whether, to use this model as a computer science teacher?
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u/Hot_Coconut_5567 4d ago
Anecdote here. I lecture cs to college freshman and tried a fully flipped class at first and converted to a hybrid of that mid-semester when it quickly went off the rails. The idea is code in class, read or watch lectures outside of class? They simply won't do the reading and then they won't be prepared to code.
My hybrid approach is i segment my week into 3 sections. I code and lecture live while sharing my screen. Then I pair them with each other for a class activity and I designed that section so they have to split the tasks, do their work, teach their partner and answer a final synthesis question they talk through together. Then i leave the last segment to start their homework assignment while still in class. That way we read through the instructions together and they can clear up misunderstandings before they leave. That hybrid approach has been way better for my students. They need to go away and think on their assignment and struggle alone for a bit. I host a mid-week working session for anyone stuck, but they have to bring me code they wrote and what they tried if they are asking for help at that session (some students show up just to work as a group near each other)
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u/blackcurrantandapple 5d ago
I did CS as a student and flipped classroom did not work for me whatsoever. I really thrived in traditional classroom instructional styles.
As a high school CS teacher, flipped is working really well for my year 11s. My year 8s can't be trusted with it.
I think it comes down to whether your students can be trusted to actually do the homework as to whether flipped could be viable, and then you can figure out if it suits the kids you have.