2.8- THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL

This lesson invited us to scrutinize the idea of flipped classroom in light of the concepts that were dealt with earlier like constructivism and TPACK models, and introduced us to  the blended learning concept of the Flipped Classroom.
I understood The flipped classroom as a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Short video lectures are viewed by students at home before the class session, while in-class time is devoted to exercises, projects, or discussions.

The flipped classroom indicates a drift from the traditional methods of delivery that were too much conventional. including the teacher in front of trainees for every class session. In the collaboration we debated about the importance of  teachers and classrooms in total existence and i was a hot debate. Since we need to change the learning to trainee centered and self motivating to the learner, i learnt that the flipped classroom engages the learner much more than having 40 trainees in a single class for every day schedule.

In the flipped classroom, students prepare to participate in class activities by collaborating on line and exploring very many on line resources as may be given by the teacher.I have learnt that this stage does not really need to be in class. learners can get much on line and use all the on line tools to get the concepts.
Then these trainees meet in class to discuss, do exercise and projects. Then they check their understanding together with the teacher whose role here is basically to facilitate.

In the process, the integration of ICT is observed as high and necessary enough for take home assignments and in collaboration.

I have learnt that as a teacher i have to convert my lesson notes into video format that the learners can watch at home and or interact, most importantly here the parents whose culture is to take their kids through home work will watch the video and this carries much more meaning and will provide the necessary guide through replaying. while this is better than the teacher in class whose audio some times gets deteriorating as the day goes by.

I realize that flipped classroom leads to four kinds of knowledge. These can be concrete experimentation of the learners, on divergent issues after which they make reflective observations. through collaborative groups they converge and make active experimentation 
this really keeps the learner engaged and on track. He/she feels is responsible for the results and they take on leadership role of the search for knowledge.
i was inspired by this class model and i have much hope we can have it in Uganda. 
 we were finally taken through making flipped lesson plans  for our classes and i realized that the class face book account (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Plumbers-Point-of-View/1571171516502844?ref=bookmarks) that i had opened earlier at the end of professional learning network course would help me to post the questions i have been and they also ask questions individually and this would promote individual attention to all the learners. 
Here they can still collaborate on line. 
i was a nice experience.
by
Niwamanya Gilbert
+256 774 22 88 71
Instructor- Nakawa Vocational Training Institute-Uganda