So, I’ve decided to flip a class. [File this blog post under ‘Confessions’.] Specifically, I’m going to flip a course this Spring semester, titled “Design of Steel Structures.” It’s a fourth-year design class taken by civil and architectural engineers.
This is an undertaking that I’m both excited and nervous to tackle. The part that I’m really looking forward to the most is really, really focusing in on “what should students be able to do” when they’re done with the course. This is also the part that I am the most nervous about.
When I’ve taught this course in the past (seven or eight times), I have tried to keep this end-game in focus. However, I have found that it is far too easy to let “what do I need to cover” take front stage under the pressures of any given semester. I am expecting that flipping this class will pretty much make that recurring ‘slide’ impossible. Which is great, and a 100% worthy goal. And also a little terrifying.
I’m starting to think about how I am going to restructure the course for this spring. The class is three credit hours, and meets for “lecture” sessions twice a week for 75 minutes and once a week for a two and a half hour “lab” sessions. In the past, I’ve used the lecture sessions for presenting the theory and concepts behind designing steel structures. I don’t think these lecture sessions have been particularly bad; in fact, I am proud of many of them. We spend a lot of time in class working through examples — many of them I lead, and many of them students work through in small groups.
I am planning to move approximately 75% of this content outside of the class time. Instead of working through this material in-class, I am going to create a series of online videos that students will be asked to view before class periods. This is going to free up a lot of in-class time. This newly-freed class time presents a great opportunity to focus deeply on higher-order learning objectives. The question that this begs is “what is the best way to meet those objectives?” The answer to this question should drive how we spend our in-class time.
This is my first foray into flipping, and I promise to keep you posted on my progress — my thought exercises and implementation. I’m going to be wrestling with a host of new questions and challenges, and I would appreciate engaging in discussion with you on this forum!
Caroline Bennett is an associate professor of civil engineering and a fellow at the Center for Teaching Excellence.