James Figueiredo-Santucci

Why is this the 3rd time I am receiving the same prompt of "post what you have learned"? There aren't even pointed questions during this course? Does anyone even read these comments? Do they even count towards completion of this course? Do our answers matter at all? This course is very uninspired. 

The components of the "flipped classroom" have been repeated ad nauseam throughout this course already. Technology, student retention, student centered classes, flexibility, professional development, restructured learning environments, et cetera, et cetera. Once again, I do not see these concepts as mutually inclusive to the "flipped classroom" method and… >>>

I fail to see how the "flipped classroom" approach is mutually inclusive to Bloom's taxonomy, group activities, working directly with the students, student-centered learning, and other key components of instruction. The basic components are arguably the most important part of any topic and one cannot dive deeper into topics (analyzing, applying, evaluating, thought experiments, discussions, etc.) without a solid understanding of the basics first. If we lose a student at the basics because they struggled to work on their own for whatever reason (busy schedule, poor access to technology, lack of motivation, poor home life, etc.) then we will lose… >>>

I fail to see how "flipping the classroom" and concepts like student retention, engagement, and student responsibility are mutually inclusive. It all comes down to the instructor at the end of the day. A good instructor can make any topic or presentation and engaging. A bad instructor can make any topic boring and uninteresting. Saying that the medium of presentation is the issue is misguided. The texts specifically state this method is pedagogy and not andragogy. Adult education needs to have a level of collaboration between instructor and students. We need to be getting away from the computers, the boring… >>>

Flipping the classroom sounds good in theory, but it has its limitations in real life applications. It has a time and place and cannot always be fully implemented into every course and topic. Some of it is good (like working on assignments together in class instead of having students work on assignments alone at home) some of it is not good (lecturing "outside" of the classroom, planning classes based on the idea that all students completed their readings in full). In person classroom lectures are still a part of instruction and a good instructor can modernize their lectures to make… >>>

Being able to apply what they've learned in new settings is very important to adult learners. It is good practice to have students perform projects on topics you have recently taught them about. If you explain how to build something during a lecture the students will want to build that same thing themselves immediately. 

It is important to stay focused on the goals of the course and try to keep up a strong level of enthusiasm throughout the entire course, not just at the beginning. Adding some variety to the class schedule helps to keep the students focused on the class and increase their interest. It is more important to focus on all of your roles as an instructor (presenter, coach, mentor, designer, judge, etc.) rather than focusing on trying to be a perfect expert. 

Encouragement, camaraderie, and passion are requirements for students to stay focused and involved in the class. A good instructor can make even the most boring or dense material into interesting and digestible presentations. 

Every student is unique and an instructor must understand this. Everyone is enrolled in the class for a different reason but they all share a common goal of education and this common goal should be the focus. Students rely on their instructor to provide clear structure and rules and they also expect the instructor to adhere to their own policies as well. Andragogy is contingent upon the adult students being actively involved in their education. Adult learning is process-centered rather than content-orientated. 

I was already well aware of using these concepts in a class and I have seen the positive results they bring. I was introduced to more ideas and concepts... some I enjoyed and will probably try to implement myself and others I am not a fan of and will not try. It seems like there is a lot of focus on implementing RPG mechanics (XP, quests, etc.) or just using existing online games with the students. I personally enjoy modeling my classroom activities in other ways; I have mimicked a couple of game shows (family feud, the price is right,… >>>

My role is the help the students