In Nick Schaumberg’s algebra classes at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, it is common to see students pull out their smartphones or iPads when class begins.
They do so to watch the videos Schaumberg creates for various math lessons.
The technology is a tool in what is decribed as a flipped classroom.
“To me, the flipped classroom is not just the videos. It’s more the kids trying to figure it out themselves, whether it is using the video, working with another student, going to You Tube or using the textbook,” Schaumberg said. “I feel it puts the ownership on the student.”
At a math conference last May, he learned how to create a video of what he presents in class and post it to the web.
Schaumberg decided to try it with his students before the end of the last school year and is now using the flipped classroom with all his Algebra I students this school year.
“I try to make the videos three to ten minutes long,” he said.
Schaumberg creates a video about every other day and says so far, he likes the flipped classroom idea.
Students are able to watch the videos on computers, smartphones, iPods and iPads during class, in study hall and at home.
If a student does not have access to technology at home, Schaumberg has an iPod and iPad available for use in class.
For the students, it is a shift in how they learn.
Nick Burton, a freshman at W-F High School, brings his smartphone to class and watches Schaumberg’s video as he does his work.
High school junior Brittany Durrant has access to a computer at home and prefers to use her textbook to work on an assignment at home or during study hall.
Elijah Rother and Ricky Schroeder are both freshmen at W-F High School, and both of them use technology to watch the videos but also work together on problems during class.
“I like it so far,” Rother said. “It’s new. It’s different. You can do it at your own pace.”
Schroeder is not too sure if he likes it yet.
Schaumberg knows some students are frustrated with the shift in learning.
However, in the flipped classroom, instead of lecturing to the students, he sees himself having more time to give students individualized help.
During a recent class, Schaumberg replayed that day’s video for all the students.
Some watched it on the Smartboard in the room, while others watched it on their own device.
After Schaumberg gave the students problems to work on, he made his way around the room, sitting next to students to check how they were doing.
“I can get a good read on how the students are doing,” he said. “I pick a certain problem to make sure they’re doing it right, and I know they’re doing it right.”
High School Principal Matt Wilbert said the flipped classroom idea is tailored to math.
“For about a year and a half, we researched this. We went to a few conferences. We also talked to some people who had implemented it before,” he said.
Wilbert said post-secondary education is changing with blended learning, online learning and distance learning.
“When they leave here, they will have an idea of what those classes are going to entail and have some experience in it, which will help their success rate,” he said of the students.
Wilbert also said parents, who may have forgotten concepts, may use the videos as a resource as well when their children have questions about homework.
“All learn differently. Now, they have the opportunity to use their learning style right now, which is a key to education. They’re learning how to learn. They’re becoming life-long learners,” he said.
Wilbert said the time commitment teaching in a flipped classroom is greater than in a traditional classroom.
“It’s a lengthy process to create these videos,” he said.
Wilbert and Schaumberg will be tracking the progress of the students this school year.
“We are going to see if this is paying off,” Wilbert said.