Homework Flipping & Blended Learning

What if out-of-school homework was the direct instruction from the teacher and the usual homework practice happened in the classroom as the teacher provided feedback?  This idea is called 'flipping' and it is catching on.

• Traditionally direct instruction occurs in the classroom and practice consists of homework assignments.

• But the practice of 'homework flipping' alters the sequence of instruction and homework practice as students receive direct instruction via internet podcasts and then the practice occurs in the classroom with the teacher providing ongoing feedback.

• The You Tube video clip below features Mr. Dale Eizenga, a chemistry teacher, as he describes how the implementation of educational technology using video podcasts or screencasts for homework as flipped his teaching methodology.  This has allowed him to alter the usual relationship between direct instruction and homework.

• It seems that across the pond a parallel idea for flipping was recently outlined in an article titled, "Think Thank: Flip-thinking - the new buzz word sweeping the US" published in The Telegraph on Saturday, January 22, 2011.  This article focused upon another teacher, Mr. Karl Fisch, who uses a similar methodology for instruction.