--Originally published at Flipped learning – ACEnglishteacher
Getting Started With Flipped Learning
If you read my blog post back in February Why flipped learning has got me excited, you will know all about my new found enthusiasm for flipped learning. After months of delving deeper, doing courses and webinars (including getting flipped learning certified) and connecting with people in the FL community, I’ve finally made a start 
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I decided to flip with one class to begin with as I neither have much free time nor much experience…
After getting the go-ahead from school in September, I started to plan out how I was going to introduce the idea of flipped learning to parents and students.
I had the idea of flipping from the off.
There was a whole class parents’ evening mid September with tutors, to give general information for the school year ahead; expectations, assessment, a reminder of school rules, any new implementations etc…
I decided to put an informative document on the school webpage about flipped learning and send a note home to parents explaining my intention to introduce a new model of teaching and learning and directing them to the information about it. I asked them to read the document before they came to parents’ evening and bring with them any questions or doubts that they had about flipped learning, essentially flipping instruction! A stroke of genius I thought, however, the date was changed and I couldn’t make it. As it turned out nobody seemed to have any doubts and they all thought it was a wonderful idea according to the tutor!
My idea however, had been to demonstrate flipping in action; the idea of accessing and engaging with the information at home and the importance of coming to class prepared (with your doubts and questions if you have any.) I was kind of hoping that at least one parent wouldn’t have done their “prep” highlighting (in a light-hearted manner of course ;-)) the importance of coming to class prepared!
As for the kids, I introduced the term “flipped classroom” in class without giving anything away. I checked understanding of the word “flipped” and we did a think-pair-share to discuss what a flipped classroom might be…
Students then went home and watched the video to check if they were correct. I embedded the video in a google form and uploaded it to our wiki. After watching the video they completed the quiz questions in preparation for class.
When students came to class we checked understanding using the cooperative learning strategy “folio giratorio” (I don’t know what this activity is called in English.) In teams students passed a piece of paper round adding anything they remembered about flipped learning until I called time (if students can’t think of anything I generally allow them to pass and have more thinking time and they usually remember something by the time the piece of paper appears next time round.) Teams shared their ideas in a whole class feedback session and any questions were answered.
Students then worked in their teams to come up with a kind of “protocol” (rules and guidelines) to ensure flipping our classroom would be successful. We discussed and combined all the ideas to create our final list.
And so it all began, full of hope and optimism…
I’d love to say that it’s going swimmingly, however, I’ve already faced one of my biggest fears 
. The next video and quiz I assigned for the preparation task at home was completed by 14 out of 25 students! Imagine my horror! What happened to the “protocol”??? Protocol Schmotocol … needless to say there were issues addressed in class that day…
Now, I’d like to say there’s a happy ending to this story, however the story is just beginning…
Things are looking up though, I’ve just assigned the next video task and although the deadline isn’t for another 2 days, half the class have already done it (including some of my “no shows” from last time and it’s bank holiday!) so I’m feeling optimistic 
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The only way is up…. (surely?)
