Memorial Day Tribute
The Courier
PAGE 24
www.the-courier.org
a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota
May 2013 | Volume 20, Issue 10
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Flipped classroom model gains support By Collin Minshull ISD 15 integration technology specialist
For the past year, St. Francis High School teachers Steve Sebald and Lee Graves have been “flipping” their classroom instruction with a great deal of success. They have seen such positive results that the duo was asked to share their stories at the Minnesota Educational Media Organization’s “The Flipped Classroom & You” Conference April 12 at the TIES Conference Center in St. Paul. Sebald and Graves presented their session, “Flipping the High School Classroom,” to a standing room only audience. Part of the draw to their presentation was that each has been using the flipped model to teach very different content— Sebald teaches German and Graves physics and astronomy. Flipping a classroom has nothing to do with gymnastics, physical education or standing on one’s head. In its most basic form, it requires students to do at home what traditionally had been done in the classroom (lectures, note-taking, etc.), and to use classroom time for what had typically been done at home (working out problems, writing, etc.). The teacher creates or links to concise, online video content (typically between 10-20 minutes) that explains the material for the upcoming class sessions—what would have traditionally been the classroom lecture. This is now what students are required to watch for homework. Both Sebald and Graves have added a variety of short activities to the videos to assess student understanding or create discussion for the upcoming class. “I flipped my classroom because I was disheartened by watching my physics kids get so disinterested and bored with my class lectures they were falling asleep—not taking responsibility for their own learning,” reflects Graves. “I wanted to find a way to put it back on them and get them self-motivated. I came upon flipping sort of accidentally, but it worked!” Face-to-face time in the flipped classroom is where students ask questions about the online video content and then work through exercises based on that video. Students come to class with a foundational understanding of concepts, and they learn to identify and form questions they need to ask to check or confirm their understanding. During class, both Sebald and Graves are now able to help students with their work, quickly identifying and teaching students through difficulties which traditionally had been the burden of parents trying to help students with homework.
A family enjoys an educational app on an iPad at the Independent School District 15 booth at the April 6 St. Francis Area Business & Community Expo. Several iPads were available for children, parents and community members to experience what kindergarten through grade 5 students work on in the classroom. iPads are used district-wide to enhance learning and engage students. Photo: Janice Audette, The Courier
The last day of school for Independent School District 15 students is Friday, May 31. St. Francis High School commencement is May 31.
Continued, Page 5
Changes to deadline/delivery dates The Courier announces a change to deadline and delivery dates. By moving dates one week sooner, The Courier will now cover an entire month. The new deadline for the June issue is May 10. Look for the June issue of The Courier to arrive one week early (May 29-June 2). Find complete details at www.the-courier.org.
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May What’s Inside Schools in Action..........................................2 School Board Highlights.........................11 Community Education............................13 Mother’s Day...............................................17 Community & Business...........................22 Sports & Outdoors....................................30 Life..................................................................33 Classified.......................................................36