In my previous #flipclass post, Four ways to make your flipclass awesome, I shared four ideas that I had at the end of a term of my first class flipping experience.  These were not ideas I had done and tested, but more, thoughts that I had about what I should have done and committed to do in the next term.  In keeping with my Cut the Cool Card philosophy, I was pretty open about the need for much more work done on my videos and better communication with parents.  In fact, I made four claims about how to make the #flippedlearning experience awesome:

1) Make concise engaging videos

2) Start the year with the students creating the videos

3) Create an online culture of questions and learning

4) Make a flipped class parent video

What follows is my work on each of these points since that post:

Make concise engaging videos

I have begun to really hone in on the concept I would like the students to get from the video.  The video that follows is less than 3 minutes long.  I explain the concept I’m teaching, share some visuals and a question, explain the answer, and get out.

I am hoping that I can continue keeping the videos short and relevant.

Start the year with the students creating the videos

This next point is really the kicker of this blog.  I carved time out of a busy provincially examable course to have students make their own videos this term.  It was well worth it.

But second, as students participate in the video-making process, they become co-creators of the online learning space.  They take more ownership of the class and I am hoping get more involved in watching and commenting on all the videos…including the ones I have made for them.  This to me is Flipclass 2.0.

Create an online culture of questions and learning

The idea around creating a quality online culture is still something that needs some work.  At this point, I use Edmodo to deliver the videos.  I have students watch them and then then make a comment back to me.  I have always hoped that the comments would create conversation among the students.  Unfortunately, the dialogue has only been between the student and myself.  I would love to hear any suggestions as to how other educators foster this.

Make a flipped class parent video

Often my blogs become commitments.  If I share it here, it makes it tough for me not to at least make an attempt.  So I followed my own recommendations and made a parent video.  I thought to have it fulfill a couple of needs, not only explaining what the Flipped Classroom is but also what it looks like at home.  Here it is below:

I put a QR code on the course outline that I handed out Day 1 to be signed by all the parents.  The code led to this video.  Although I didn’t get much feedback from parents about it right away, I knew that it “got out there” when I was talking to a parent.  “We’ll see how this flipped class goes” was her comment.  To me, regardless of the parent response at this stage, I at least have had a chance to give my side of the story, to set the tone.

So that is where I am at today: my version of Flipclass 2.0.  And I’m excited to see what Flipclass 3.0 is as I keep at it!!!