Flipped Classroom model, which is a form of blended learning is catching up in streams where one cannot replace classroom teaching with eLearning example Medical. In this model students are required to watch videos and/or complete online activities prior to the class and focus on discussion and analysis during the face to face class, replacing the traditional form where lecturer would teach and students would take notes.
This is an excellent marriage of eLearning and traditional form of classroom-based teaching. This would help students in retaining knowledge, and will focus more on the application of the knowledge by way of discussion and analysis. When students come to the classroom they would expect an interactive session wherein they will collaborate and think as a group, the only requirement being they come with an open mind.
Faculty would move into a new role as the mentor in flipped classroom model and it can present challenges for faculty as they must move out of their comfort zone and spend considerable time and effort, designing courses and developing new teaching methods for the classroom.
The flipped classroom model shifts teaching to a learner-centric model in which classroom time is spent in exploring topics in greater depths and creating meaningful learning opportunities while eLearning is used to delivery content (course, discussions, research, videos, self-assessments) outside the classroom.
Flipped classroom also redefines classroom activities which are mostly missing in traditional forms.
There are some challenges to this model like any form of learning would have. Not all students would have self-discipline and such students might fall rapidly behind their peers because once they get into the classroom they would move straight off to discussing and analyzing the topic, and it would be expected that all students have gone through the content.
The faculty here would need to ensure that students do maintain the discipline.
