Beginning the Process

• Expanding our thinking of the potential for a flipped classroom
  • Most technologies simply aim to replicate the traditional classroom.¹ How can a virtual environment magnify the learning experience for students instead of replicate it in a new setting?³
  • Integrated, or Backward, Course Design is a recommended pedagogy for developing learning goals, then teaching & learning activities. (Check out this article from the Chronicle of Higher Ed to learn more)
  • Transitioning to a flipped classroom provides an opportunity to analyze your course content and identify how your learning objectives can be heightened through online educational platforms
• Re-defining our roles as teachers and educators²
  • Develop knowledge in new learning theories and adapt to a quickly changing system of learning environments; Change our ways of thinking about student learning and engagement to keep up with new opportunities¹
  • Recognize that learning management systems are one aspect of providing engaged online learning (see model below)¹ and provide training to help educators recognize the 3 aspects to develop engaged learning online
• Developing clear goals and needs
  • Many times, educational tools have been selected out of proximity, low cost, or ease of implementation. This can lead to the selection and implementation of a program that does not work with current systems or does not fulfill needs of all stakeholders.
  • Identify necessary infrastructure and data storage to support cloud-based learning²
• Select a lead person that oversees committees for evaluation, implementation, and follow-up assessment

Research & Exploration

• Take a bottom-up approach, rather than top-down.
  • Identify stakeholders: Student utilization should be examined, as well as teachers. Typically these decisions are made my upper-level administrators. How can it become a group decision? By involving parents and students, issues regarding access and the digital divide can be included as part of the research process.
• Recognize that relying on anecdotal suggestions from colleagues is only one aspect of selecting an educational tool that meets the goals and needs of your situation
  • Ask for narratives or contacts of people who have used the platform in similar aspects that you intend to use it for
• Understand it may be more than one platform or program to meet needs and testing out a few platforms.
• Examine various platforms to see how different goals and needs are met through various tools.

Narrowing & Selecting

• Utilize a chart with all stakeholders goals and needs to assess potential platforms
  • Ask each group of stakeholders to practice and evaluate
• Communicate the shared vision
• Develop a holistic strategy of implementation
  • Consider professional development and training
• Evaluation committee works to provide a comprehensive review
  • Get buy-in from all stakeholders throughout the process
• Follow-up assessment committee aims to ensure continued utilization and evaluation of the educational tool

Citations

¹Rusch, A. [Adam Rusch]. (2017, June 10). Engaged Online Learning: The Future of Teaching [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CiwLTIQcr4.
²Britland, M. (2013). What is the future of technology in education? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/19/technology-future-education-cloud-social-learning.
³ Bush, T. (2012). Future Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning. Microsoft UK Higher Education Blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ukhe/2012/03/09/future-impact-of-technology-on-teaching-and-learning/.