Flipped Classroom

Flipped Classroom

By Jovana Combs

During my middle school years and high school years, I wish I had more teachers that used the flipped classroom approach. I would have retained more information. I would also have retained it longer. The use of lectures and one-sided discussions were a bore to me. Even though I know discussions involve more than one person, I did not feel like that in class. Teachers mainly talked and asked if we understood. If we understood, our discussion response would be yes or no. If our discussion response was yes, the teacher would move on to our next assignment due. If our discussion response was no, the teacher would lecture us more on the topic. This approach led to short-term memory for answering the tests. After finishing each test, we would forget the material. However, the flipped classroom approach causes students to present their assumptions or knowledge about the material. Moreover, I like that teachers serve as a guide. It allows teachers to assess their students’ knowledge. It allows them to understand their students’ perspective. Also, it gives room for different ideas to be shared among students. Students would be able to retain the information longer and know how to use it in the real world. As a future teacher, I will definitely use the flipped classroom approach in my class.

21st Century Skills

21^st Century Skills Blog by Jovana Combs

Initially, I thought 21^st century skills was based heavily on technology. After completing the 21^st century skills lesson. I learned that technology is just one aspect of it. It relies heavily on being competent within the world of technology. Sure, technology is great. However, it is our responsibility as people to use our critical skills while using technology. Technology was created to make our lives easier, but we should also have the survival skills that if our cell phone battery died at an important moment, we would have the skills to continue to function without the phone. In addition, I am glad that partnership for 21^st century skills aims to help students learn the 21^st century skills. That group is investing in our future by making sure millennials have information literacy skills, collaboration skills, communication skills, creativity and innovation skills, problem solving skills, and responsible citizenship skills.