From a Failed Flipped STEM Classroom to a Flipped Students-Teacher Relationship:Reflections on a Journey to Student-partnered Teaching, Research, and Administration

Dave ToweyUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo China

Dave.Towey@nottingham.edu.cn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hong_kong_bruce_lee_statue.jpg

Acknowledgements• Ricky Ng• Vocational Training Council (VTC)• My students

From a Failed Flipped STEM Classroom to a Flipped Students-Teacher Relationship:Reflections on a Journey to Student-partnered Teaching, Research, and Administration

Flipped & Blended Learning

The Flipped Classroom

… “flipping the classroom” means that students gain first exposure to new material outside of class, usually via

reading or lecture videos, and then use class time to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge, perhaps

through problem-solving, discussion, or debates.

Brame, C., (2013). Flipping the classroom. Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/flipping-the-classroom/.

The Failed STEM Flip

Some background

A little about me …

Some background

A little about China, and Chinese Higher Education …

The Course• Software Engineering Foundations (SEF)• About 80 Junior Undergraduates

– Mostly Mainland Chinese• EMI SfHEI• 2nd semester

Initial Feelings

Enthusiastic, excited, confident, … and ready to try something new.

Initial Feelings

Enthusiastic, excited, confident, … and ready to try something new.

(Perhaps a little arrogant, too)

The Course Plan• Experiential • Challenging activities and discussions

– Project … and some tricks• Teams

– Pair -> Team-> Group • Feedback mechanisms• A flipped classroom?

The Flipped Classroom

A retrospective definition?

The Flipped Classroom

“… events that have traditionally taken place inside the classroom now take place

outside … and vice versa.” (Lage et al. 2000)

Goal & Rationale

I was sure, based on experience and study of the literature, that this would create

cooperative, communicative teams, familiar with the topics, and ready to really engage in

the classroom activities

I was very wrong!

I was very wrong!

Not only fewer motivated students and very limited engaged interaction; but interpersonal tensions, and hostility!

Learning from failure

So what went wrong?

So what went wrong?

Were there signs I had missed?Was there something in the literature

that could explain it?

What went wrong?• HEI-A compared with other HEIs• The “Chinese Learner” literature• Inadequate feedback mechanisms• Too ambitious?• Over-confident? Complacent?• …

I had certainly been humbled

Some lessons and questions …

• “Traditional” flipped class– Videos?

• No two HEIs the same– Teachers, students, majors, modules– Philosophy!

• Communication & Feedback

• The Chinese context!– “CHC/Chinese Learner” – “Western” concepts and beliefs

• The Geek/Nerd Factor?– “Individual” learner differences for all

CS-like students?

Some lessons and questions …

• Students hacked the lesson? • Hacked the teacher?

Some lessons and questions …

• Students hacked the lesson? • Hacked the teacher?

… but ...

Some lessons and questions …

• Students hacked the lesson? • Hacked the teacher?

… but ...was this a bad thing?

Some lessons and questions …

Moving forward

Stop trying to be the centre …

It’s OK to step back, and trust the students

Stop trying to be the centre …

It’s OK to step back, and trust the students

Teaching

Stop trying to be the centre …

It’s OK to step back, and trust the students

Teaching, Research

Stop trying to be the centre …

It’s OK to step back, and trust the students

Teaching, Research, Administration

The teacher’s role

Sage

Sage -> Guide

Sage -> Guide -> Meddler

Sage -> Guide -> Meddler

http://lonemind.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/brucelee.jpg

Thank you