Flipped Learning in Hi-Tech Studio Classroom

Hi-Tech Studio Classroom is a new learning environment at Fayetteville State University in which Flipped Learning takes place. Flipped Learning is one of the major components of the Studio Classroom. Flipped Learning is a pedagogical approach in which direct instruction moves from classrooms to the individual learning spaces such as homes, dorms, libraries, coffee shops. In other words, with Flipped Learning, what students used to do at home happens in the classroom, and what they used to do in the classroom now happens at home! Students read the course materials and view video lectures at home and do their homework and exercise hands-on activities in classroom where the instructor, the Learning Assistants and their peers are available to help. The classroom is transformed into a dynamic, active and interactive learning environment where the instructor guides students as they apply concepts and engage creativity in the subject matter. Because the role of the instructor is changed from presenter of the course content to the learning coach, the instructors spend more time talking to the students, asking and answering their questions, working with small groups of students, and thus, guiding the learning of each student individually. With the Flipped Learning in Hi-Tech Studio Classroom, the following achievements have been noted: (1) students' problem-solving ability and conceptual understanding is increased, (3) students’ attitudes towards STEM fields are improved, (4) students’ failure rates, especially for women and minorities, are drastically reduced, (5) "at risk" students are found to do better in later courses, (6) the top third of the class showed significant improvement in conceptual understanding, and (7) class attendance was found to be higher than 90%.

Hi-Tech Studio Classroom was established by funds from the National Science Foundation (HBCU UP TIP grant) and Fayetteville State University.