Flipped Classroom Picture

I have been thinking about flipping my math class for several years. Last spring I finally did it. I completely flipped my MTH 120 class and will flip others as I find the time required to get it set up.

The main tool that has allowed me to flip my class is EdPuzzle (EdPuzzle.com). EdPuzzle is a free on-line app that allows me to embed questions into a class lecture. I was looking for a way to know that my students were doing the prereading and watching the lecture before they came to class and EdPuzzle provides this.

I can use a lecture that I recorded in a face-to-face class, I can make a new video, or I can use a video found online at YouTube, Ted Talks, Khan Academy, or anyplace else that has a good video. I upload that video into EdPuzzle and edit it. I can crop the video, add audio comments or written comments, and add questions. The questions can be multiple choice or free response. The app will grade the multiple choice and I grade the free response. These grades can be downloaded and put into my grade book. I count this prepare work as 25% of the class grade.

When my students get to class I can go over anything they had trouble understanding in the video and then the rest of the class time can be spent working on rich problems. This way the students are spending class time working on the concepts to see if they really understand them and getting their questions answered. I like this use of time.

I think the lecture is important. It gives the students my take on what is important in their reading. I can show them why things work the way they do and explain any hidden steps in a procedure. Students in a math class need to see this. However, they don’t need it during precious class time. I think watching the lecture makes better homework and rich problem solving makes better classwork. I am looking forward to flipping additional classes.