Flipping Crazy: The Large Lecture Flipped Classroom Model at the University of Southern Maine
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-30-2014
Publication Title
Addressing the Millennial Student in Undergraduate Chemistry
Abstract
While the flipped classroom model has really taken off in high school and smaller undergraduate classrooms, it has been slow to develop into a model that can be utilized in a large lecture classroom. Starting in the fall of 2012 we decided to “flip” the general chemistry classroom at the University of Southern Maine (USM). By creating YouTube videos and assigning online pre-class quizzes, we were able to move much of the content delivery outside the classroom. A classroom response system allowed us to quickly gauge the level of student understanding of the assigned material, and to focus on problem areas. Online homework, a Google+ community, and a new course web space provided additional student support. During the first year, we found we were able to have students work in groups, complete more practice problems, build problem-solving skills, and have more in-depth class discussions. While these changes made appreciable improvements on student engagement and learning, we realized many students were still unsuccessful in the class due to underdeveloped math and study skills. In the second year of the flipped classroom, we added a recitation session with undergraduate teaching assistants, focusing this extra hour on math, study, and problem solving skills. These course changes had a major impact on student success and retention in the general chemistry course at the University of Southern Maine. Our D, F, W rates significantly dropped while the number of students passing the course significantly increased. Student responses to an end of semester survey found that many of the students found the course structure extremely beneficial to their learning and helped to alleviate many of the pressures (anxiety, and under-developed math and study skills) of the course.
Recommended Citation
Benedict, L.A.; Ford, J. R. Flipping Crazy: The Large Lecture Flipped Classroom Model at the University of Southern Maine. In Addressing the Millennial Student in Undergraduate Chemistry. Potts, G.E.; Dockery, C. R. Eds.; American Chemical Society Symposium series, 2014, Vol. 1180; pp 59-70.
Comments
DOI: 10.1021/bk-2014-1180.ch005
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