Blended and flipped learning in basic education - Applying the flipped course method as an integrative education offering
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In recent decades, digitalisation has had a tremendous impact on the way the education sector has evolved. Concepts such as online teaching and e-learning have emerged.[1] The continuing advancement of computer technology and the rapid pace of Internet use provide the technical basis for various forms of e-learning, including the concept of blended learning.[2]
Flipped learning or flipped classroom is one part of this model.
What is flipped learning?
Flipped learning or flipped classroom refers to a teaching method developed by Bergmann and Sams in the United States in 2007.[3] The core idea was that of simply turning traditional teaching upside down:
Fig. 1: The concept of the flipped classroom, illustration by BuL
Since that time, there have been a number of further iterations on the original concept, including flipped learning.[1]
Accordingly, the concept of flipped learning is rooted in the field of e-learning. The following diagram illustrates how the concept of flipped learning fits into the overarching structure of blended learning (integrated learning) and e-learning.
Fig. 2: Contextual placement of flipped learning, illustration by BuL
Flipped courses are seminars, courses, or workshops that employ a flipped classroom design.[1] Flipped course can only be used as a way of contributing to the diversity of methods and media or as an integrated teaching concept.[2]
Until now, flipped learning as a pedagogical method has primarily been applied in the school and university context. In the process of further developing the educational offers in the domain of basic education as well as specific educational offers for educationally disadvantaged women within the scope of the learn forever network project, this innovative method has now been applied to women with basic education needs in the form of integrative educational offers.
The “modular learning arrangements” model developed in learn forever and implemented as part of the adult education initiative, the innovative models for teaching in basic education and literacy from the “In Bewegung” (In Motion) project, basic education courses offered within the organisation, e-learning best practices, as well as the digital skills of the project partners provided the technical foundation.
Under consideration of internal quality standards, basic education requirements, as well as the requirements for e-learning offerings, the learn forever network modeled two course offerings, along with developing teaching and learning materials tailored to the target group and applicable for flipped learning.
The models and the materials were tested in a flipped course format, both as an integrated concept of teaching units as well as a means of contributing to methodological diversity in the form of flipped learning sequences.
To conceptualize a flipped course, the group first analyzed and compared different flipped classroom concepts and studied national expert platforms, technical literature, and best practices. The appropriate and established models were adapted and combined. This resulted in the following two model descriptions or curricula:
- Virtual (integrative) basic education course
- Flipped learning arrangement
For more information, please visit: https://www.learnforever.at/unsere-methoden/
The development work was characterised by innovation, flexibility, digitalisation, and a motivation to learn on the part of all those involved. The following process steps provide a broad description of how the flipped courses were implemented:
- Developing digital competence
Using learning management systems - Learning to learn – learning with videos
- Introduction to flipping (in-class flip)
- “Flipping” the self-learning phase (acquisition, resources for learning, and so on)
- Attendance phase (immersion, projects, and so on)
- Reflection
Fig. 3: E-learning, illustration by BuL
The educational offerings that were developed were repeatedly piloted, and suitable self-developed learning resources were made available for use in a virtual setting in basic education, which the learners accessed under their own direction and in other types of media.
What is flipping’s added value for learners?
- Promotes digital skills
- Fosters self-directed learning skills
- Reinforces the capacity for self-organisation
- Promotes the ability to reflect on one’s own learning processes
- Boosts beliefs about self-efficacy
All of the resources for learning are compiled in the toolbox that can be accessed at www.learnforever.at and www.alphabetisierung.at. They are made available as open educational resources in compliance with the terms of use (CC-BY licence).
Fig. 4: Screenshot of the learn forever start page, www.learnforever.at
About the author:
Silke Jamer-Flagel has been developing resources for learning and facilitating learning processes in the learn forever network of experts since 2019. During and after her studies in economics at the Alpe-Adria University in Klagenfurt, she worked in media consulting and personnel marketing before specialising in the areas of growth mindset, learning motivation, and online learning. As an e-learning expert, she is passionate about developing and implementing new and innovative concepts in education.
About this blog:
This blog is based on a presentation at the EPALE and Erasmus+ Conference 2022: Life Skills as a Focus in Adult Education as part of an idea and networking pool. Further information
Sources:
Aschemann, Birgit (2018): “Digitalisierung, Didaktik, Internettechnologien”, on: the BFI website, URL: https://www.bfi-ooe.at/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/Band5-Digitalisierung-Didaktik-Internettechnologien.pdf, accessed on 2 April 2019.
Bergmann, Jonathan/Sams, Aaron (2012): Flip your classroom. Reach every student in every class every day, Eugene: International Society for Technology in Education.
Buchner, Josef; Schmid, Stefan (2019): Flipped Classroom Austria (2019): … und der Unterricht steht Kopf. Ikon Verlag.
Werner Julia and Christian Spannagel (2018): Design Patterns – Erfahrungsrezeptbuch für den Einsatz Flipped Classroom (Flipped Classroom – Zeit für deinen Unterricht, Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2018), URL: https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/BSt/Publikationen/imported/abstract/ABS_978-3-86793-790-0_1.pdf, accessed on 2 March 2019.
[1] See Baumgartner/Häfele/Häfele (2002): E-Learning, pp. 4–6.
[2] See Revermann/Georgieff/Kimpeler (2007): Mediennutzung und eLearning in Schulen, p. 34.
[3] See Bergmann, Jonathan/Sams, Aaron (2012): Flip your classroom, p. 1ff.
[4] See Buchner, J.; Schmid, S. (2019): Flipped Classroom Austria, p. 15.
[5] See Aschemann, Birgit (2018): Digitalisierung, Didaktik, Internettechnologien, pp. 47f.
[6] See Werner, Ebel, Spannagel; Bayer (2018): Flipped Classroom – Zeit für deinen Unterricht, pp. 26ff.
