In Spain, the culture of "traditional" learning is deeply ingrained among both teachers and students. A student who needs to pass exams and looks for a tutoring center generally envisions attending a classroom where a teacher explains the lesson and assigns homework at the end of the session. This has been the practice for decades and is the most widespread learning method in educational institutions. However, this method results in minimal student participation in their learning process. That is why, since the beginning of my career, I have prepared my students using different teaching models.
Many years ago, I began to notice that many students who follow this model have serious difficulties keeping up with the course. They come to class, listen to the professor's explanations, and understand the main points of the topic covered. But when they get home and have to do the homework, they don't know where to begin. They've paid attention in class, taken notes, and resolved doubts, and when they get home they think, "How do I solve this problem?!"
Many students arrive in class the next day with unfinished homework or many unanswered questions. Some don't know how to handle this and decide not to attend, creating a snowball effect that often leads to absenteeism and ultimately, dropping out of the course. So, after a while, I started wondering, "What if we do it the other way around? What if the students listen to the explanations at home and come to class to resolve their doubts and put what they've learned into practice?" That's how I launched the Bravosol Academy's Personalized Learning Systems® , based on the flipped classroom methodology.
What is the flipped classroom?
This method involves students completing lower-level preparation at home before attending class: watching explanatory videos, reading and summarizing the syllabus, and working through pre-solved guided practice exercises. The subsequent class session focuses on activities requiring higher-level cognitive skills, such as explanations of more complex topics, answering questions, and group practice of exercises and problems. This method emphasizes the student's active role in their learning process, promotes the acquisition of study skills, and helps boost their self-esteem.
An example
Let's imagine you have to learn how to solve a system of equations with two unknowns using the methods of reduction, substitution, and equalization.
In traditional education:
In most schools in Spain, you would come to class and attend a session where the teacher would explain on the board how to apply the corresponding solution method, using a sample exercise prepared for that purpose. You would resolve any specific doubts you had about that case, and the teacher would ask you to solve another 10 systems of equations at home. When you got home, you would try to apply what you learned in class to that exercise, but, as is normal, you would find it very difficult to solve correctly. At that point, without the teacher's help, the learning process becomes difficult to manage, as you would be assailed by many doubts for which you wouldn't find answers. The next day, you would probably have solved 4 out of the 10 systems correctly, had some doubts about the solution process for 2 out of 10, and not have done the other 4. Thus, the following day you would need the teacher's help to finish solving all the exercises correctly.
Result: Two class sessions were used to understand and solve systems problems.
Using the flipped classroom method:
At our academy, Bravosol, you'll first have access to a Virtual Campus where the teacher has uploaded a video explaining how to solve a system of equations using the three methods mentioned. Before coming to class, you can watch this video as many times as needed, as well as review other resources such as the course textbook, completed guided practice exercises , and other supplementary materials. During this study session at home, you'll take the opportunity to grasp the basic concepts of this topic and note down any questions you may have.
With all this preliminary work completed, during the next class session you will take the opportunity to resolve all the doubts you have noted down, and you will work collaboratively with the teacher and your classmates to learn how to solve different systems of equations, as well as tools and tricks to facilitate their solution.
- In an initial session at home, you review the textbook, explanatory videos, and other resources to understand for yourself the basic concepts and principles for solving systems of equations.
- You try to solve typical, guided, and partially solved exercises, which allows you to understand the process and increase your confidence.
- The next day, in class, you resolve any doubts you may have had at home and collaborate with your classmates and your teacher to understand the topic through practical cases.
Result: To understand and solve systems problems, a single class session was used.
A little bit of history
Studying, learning, and preparing for your exams with this method will be a game-changer in your academic life. By actively engaging in your learning, your self-esteem and confidence will grow day by day. You no longer need to go to a classroom at a set time for a teacher to explain the entire topic. Now you can receive that explanation at home, reviewing it as many times as you like, and come to the classroom where that same teacher can answer your questions about the material and help you solve exercises and problems. This way of studying promotes your autonomy and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, because it's a flexible method, it adapts to any kind of situation, such as combining it with work or other obligations. All of this means that your academic performance will be much higher than you expect.
Why does it work?
The creators of the flipped classroom were Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, chemistry teachers in Colorado. In 2007, they began recording their classes on video so students could watch them at home and use class time to practice and ask questions. Simultaneously, Salman Khan did something similar with his cousin, uploading videos to YouTube, which led to the creation of Khan Academy. Both initiatives promoted the idea of learning at home and applying that learning in class, the basis of the flipped classroom model . In fact, if we stop to think about it, we realize that the digital skills of teachers and students, along with the abundance of resources (YouTube videos, PDF course materials available online), have made it easy for any student who wants to learn a subject to begin their preparation at home, without waiting to attend class. This has meant that all educational institutions are beginning to offer their teaching through digital means: PDFs, videos, presentations, etc. In Spain, schools and universities have begun to develop teaching models influenced by this type of instruction. In Madrid, Academia Bravosol made a firm commitment in 2018 to the flipped classroom method, and it has proven to be an excellent way to prepare its students to pass their exams, boosting its pass rate above the industry average.
