Teaching a Lab Class in a Flipped Classroom

A flipped classroom requires students to engage with course materials before class and then use class time for active learning activities and opportunities for deeper engagement with the content and each other. Begin by introducing students to the flipped classroom model, providing clear expectations, and discussing the roles both they and you will play.

Before Class – At Home

Instructor

• Develop and curate all pre-class learning materials. Consider including the lab setup and safety instructions as well as the required course content. This can be done with text written by the instructor or other authors, short video lectures, online animations, etc.
• Design the lab activity and the lab report requirements.
• Create short quizzes to ensure students understand the material.

Students

• Read the lesson content, watch all videos, and take the quiz.

During Class

Instructor

• Begin class by answering questions about the content and explaining the lab activity.
• Circulate to answer questions, ask probing questions, and provide mini lectures as needed.

Student Assignment

• Work in groups to complete the lab activity and record the collected data.
• Engage in group discussions to analyze results and troubleshoot issues.

Note: since the teaching and learning is occurring at home, there is more time to work on labs, so if practical, the labs can be more in-depth and span multiple class periods.

After Class

Students

• Complete and submit an individual lab report to Canvas.
• Reflect on learning and how theoretical concepts were applied in practice.

Instructor

• Offer additional resources or office/student hours for students who need further assistance.
• Implement regular feedback sessions to help students improve their lab techniques and understanding.

While this example is about labs, a flipped classroom can be used for almost any class or activity, from analyzing a Shakespearean sonnet to debating solutions for climate change.