Virtual Learning Network

This post attempts to capture what was shared in the webinar. It's worth watching!

You can access a recording of the LIVE webinar here>>>

Have you considered Flipping your Maths program? A Flipped Maths program rethinks how and when maths instruction can take place, thus potentially changing the role of the teacher in the classroom. This workshop will give a background to Flipped Maths programs, give examples of the ways in which Flipped videos can be produced, options for incorporating these into your maths program and student voice regarding their experience with Flipped videos.

Guest presenter: Angela Stensness (Papamoa College).

You can access all the links that Angela mentions here in one document. This document describes what each of the tools mentioned is as well as giving the link.

What is a flipped classroom?

Flipped Mathematics

Point of the session - not to say “this is the way to do things” but rather to share a journey.

Angela has taught from NE to Year 10.

When students asked why they need to come to school:

• Students needed access to equipment from school.

• Need direction in terms of order of their learning.

• When things are challenging, need someone to help them.

• Collaboration and working together.

From these responses Angela started thinking about flipping the classroom. Moving away from the lecture at school and homework later.

With flipping the classroom the “lecture” is done outside of school, possibly at home. Then, when at school, students can access the specific support they need.

Angela was able to travel to the US and talk to people at the Stillwater Area Schools (SAS). They had implemented a programme for their Year 5s and had 6 teachers who wanted to have a go at flipping their maths. They ensured they had parent buy-in, contracts sent home to make it clear that this was what they were going to do for the year.

A year later they (SAS) were working on how far down the year levels they could implement this.

• Students would watch videos/lessons at home and then come to school for extra support.
• Videos were recorded on a DVD for those students who didn’t have internet access at home.
• Also considering flipping PD for teachers.

Angela came back to NZ and decided that she would start with videos from Khan Academy and TED Ed. A new place to look for videos is Zaption.

Angela found that some of the students weren’t really engaging with Khan Academy.

With TED Ed (free to register), look for YouTube clips that teach the concept you want and then flip it within TED Ed by creating questions. Still didn’t find the same engagement that she was expecting.

With Zaption you can pause the chosen video at certain points and ask a question. Can be manipulated a bit more.

Angela really found that it was all about relationships. Stillwater Area Schools talked a lot about the teachers talking head. This was what was missing with Khan Academy and TED Ed. We ahve a relationship with our students and they need to see us. If watching a video of some random person then the relationship won’t be there. Realised that she needed to record her own videos.

SAS were using a program called ScreenFlow. Really good but costs and time consuming.

Free option: Angela created a lesson on Prezi to get a chance to really think through what she wanted to share and how to present the content. Then went into QuickTime to record face/talking head and then do a screen recording to film the Prezi and then uploaded to YouTube.

Other tools that are good: Blendspace; ScreenChomp; Doceri.

It is quite a bit of work! You might start with just a few videos (don’t need to plan the whole year at a time). But you can re-use the videos year by year—building a bank of resources. You can also share within a syndicate/department. The students could still recognise the other teacher from the school.

Can also challenge the students to create the video tutorial as sometimes other students find that they’ll understand better if a peer explains concepts.

Q: Do you storyboard to plan your videos?

A: Not specifically, but use Prezi to plan them out (which could be a type of storyboarding). Need to think through explaining the concept carefully to students and ensure that students have an opportunity to check their understanding.

Benefits of flipping the classroom:

• Replay button! Students can go back and rewatch at any time.

• Parents can watch the videos as well and gain confidence. Builds the home-school relationships also.

• Self-paced learning. Students can move forward if required or move to what they need when they need it.

• Students off school unwell can keep up with school.

• Feel like you’re cloning yourself. Can be in front of all students in some way.

• Puts responsibility back on the students in regards to learning.

• Students engage! It’s a non-threatening way for students to learn.

• Can dump a whole lot of knowledge, fill gaps and give students opportunity to learn.

• Saves time.

Some students love it. Some don’t like it. There is no silver bullet. 
It’s worth pursuing for those students that do like it.

Q: What about students who don’t/can’t access videos at home.

A: Ensure access/opportunities to the videos is also available at school or in class.

During parent/teacher interviews it’s great to give parents the link to the videos as then the parents can direct students to videos. Also make parents aware that others have made great videos also. There are ways to access learning!

Watch the full playback recording here.