Perspective

Flipping the Nursing Classroom: Engaging the Students to Build Competency

Selvia Arokiya Mary A*

Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia

Submission: January 22, 2020; Published: January 30, 2020

*Corresponding author: Selvia Arokiya Mary A, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia

How to cite this article: Selvia Arokiya Mary A, Flipping the Nursing Classroom: Engaging the Students to Build Competency. Trends Tech Sci Res. 2020; 3(5): 555623. DOI: 10.19080/TTSR.2020.03.555623

Abstract

As with most strategies, the flipped classroom has a variety of ways to implement in the classroom. This article is a case study of the flipped classroom. It reviews and provides research on the implementation of the flipped classroom. In addition, the article provides a variety of implementation methods and tools to be utilized in a flipped classroom. The traditional classroom has always been “I Do”, “We Do”, “You Do” as a strategy for teaching but flipped classroom truly flips that strategy. The teacher uses “You Do”, “We Do”, “I Do”. Homework, inquiry, and investigation happen in the classroom. At home students participate in preparation work including watching videos, PowerPoint’s, and completing readings. After completing the preparation work, students arrive in class ready to start solving problems, analyzing text, or investigating solutions. The flipped classroom is new in the teaching field as a strategy for teaching.

Keywords: Flipped Classroom; Teaching Strategies; Education

Introduction

The flipped classroom is new in the teaching field as a strategy for teaching. It has been used by teachers from elementary school to graduate school. As with most strategies, the flipped classroom has a variety of ways to implement in the classroom.

Why the Flipped Classroom

According to Strohmyer applying flipped classroom strategy achieves many benefits. These benefits include that flipped classroom:

a) guarantees for teacher making good use of classroom period; so, he/she makes use of time in guiding and helping

b) enhances the critical thinking, self- learning, building experiences, communication skills, and cooperation among students

c) provides a technique to evaluate the students’ understanding because tests and short tasks that students perform are indicators of weaknesses and strengths in their understanding of content (Figure 1).

The other positives of flipped classroom that include:

a) developing the role of teacher as a lecturer to become a guide and supervisor, and developing the role of student to become a researcher participating in the teaching and learning processes

b) helping students’ self- learning according to their abilities and individual differences

b) helping students’ self- learning according to their abilities and individual differences

Flipping Your Classroom

Flipping your classroom does not mean you can never lecture or that your classroom is always flipped. The teacher is still necessary in the flipped classroom. The teacher still must plan and prepare for every class. The flipped classroom also does not require technology to use.

The following 5 tips for flipping your classroom:

a) Don’t get hung up on creating your own videos.

b) Be thoughtful about what parts of your class you decide to “Flip” and when.

c) If possible, find a partner to create videos with.

d) Address the issue of access early.

e) Find a way to engage students in the videos.

A common practice of teachers utilizing a flipped classroom is videos of the lectures (Table 1). The videos are used in various ways. Teachers found that the use of short 10-15-minute videos is the best way to incorporate the videos. Resources have surfaced on the web of content information in a wide range of subject matter. Some websites provide premade videos, tutorials, and interfaces on the subject matter. The most successful flipped classrooms report that they utilize videos of the content that they have gotten from a variety of places. By obtaining videos from other sources the students indicate they are more engaged and found the information refreshing (Figure 3). Videos from the same person can become mundane and boring. Students will disengage and are likely not going to watch them with their full attention. One means of making the videos is the use of simple “one take” videos [1]. “To create these videos, all you need is an inexpensive digital camera, tripod, white panel board, and dry erase markers. Teachers outline their presentation with visual aids on a series of small whiteboards. Then, they simply record themselves talking through the series of whiteboards. The benefit of this approach is that videos can be created quickly; and by having the teacher on camera, students connect with both the content and their teacher.” Budget constraints do not have to prevent a teacher from utilizing the flipped classroom [2].

The first consideration that must be made when incorporating a flipped classroom is what technology is available to not only the teacher but the students as well (Figure 4). If a teacher requires students to use the internet or view videos for homework, the students need to have access to this technology. Some teachers are shocked to discover how many of their students still do not even have a computer at home let alone access to the internet. Some teacher’s work addresses this by creating a means to provide access to these students while other teachers change their medium away from the computer. Whether it is watch videos or complete a reading, the teacher cannot just require the task to be completed. The student needs to be engaged in the process to assure its completion and the students acquiring the knowledge presented. This can be done in many ways. Teachers are even getting creative with this aspect of the flipped classroom [3]. It can be as simple as having the students complete a worksheet or answer questions as they read or watch the video. Having the students write questions about what further information they need is helpful in moving to the in-class portion of the lesson. Having the students identify and define words they were not familiar with is also helpful [4].

Why might you consider using the flipped classroom model?

a) Interactive learning -engagement of students

b) Assessment of student learning

c) Deeper ability to connect with each student

d) Real time assessment ability

e) Can correct errors of thinking

f) Moves the classroom in to the 21st century

g) Uses technology that students are already using

h) Research is proving it is effective -flipped learning is evolving and becoming more evidence based

When do I know I am ready to flip?

a) Can I access and use screen capture software?

b) Do I have space for the active learning I want to do in the live classroom?

c) Have I discussed this method with my students and me?

d) Do I have flipping colleague to help me

e) Do I have good tech support at my institution?

What technology can I use for flipping?

Flipping is not all about the technology but there is a lot of helpful technology to use, Some examples:

a) Screen capture software programme

b) Document camera

c) Whiteboards – can be high or low tech

d) Pickers – like clickers but with paper

e) Student self-made videos, wikis, interactive content pages in LMS

f) Apps (white boards, recording apps, A & P, so many)

g) Virtual technology for application in classroom

Conclusion

The IOM (2011) has challenged nurse educators to close the classroom – practice gap

Nurse educators can no longer rely on delivering content laden curriculum using traditional lecture style delivery methods, this flipped classroom method will Implement active learning strategies congruent with andragogical principles to improve clinical judgement nursing students [5,6]. The learning activities will bring clinical experience into classroom provide nursing students with the opportunity to practice making clinical judgments Address the classroom practice gap.

References

1. Brunsell E, Horejsi M (2013) Flipping Your Classroom in One Take. The Science Teacher 80(3): 8.
2. Ash K (2012) Educators View Flipped Model With a More Critical Eye. Education Week 32(2): S6-S7.
3. Flipped Learning Network (2012) What do teachers who’ve flipped their classrooms have to report? Technology and Learning, p. 12.
4. Fulton K (2012) The Flipped Classroom: Transforming Education at Byron High School. THE Journal 39(3): 18-20.
5. Millard E (2012) 5 Reasons Flipped Classrooms Work. University Business 15(11): 26-29.
6. Nielsen L (2012) Five Reasons I’m Not Flipping Over the Flipped Classroom. Technology and Learning 32(10): 46.