How flipped classroom teaching methods in first year studying succeed

Abstract

Flipping the classroom is a method to let students study the science on their own and then take time to discuss their questions and do extended hands-on lectures or exercises in class – or in the case of the covid-19 pandemic during plenary online sessions. First year mechanical engineering students use different teaching materials (mainly lecture videos, lightboard videos and micro-module lectures) to study from a distance and comprehend the principle underlying science in theory. Then the online plenary lectures offer the opportunity to apply their knowledge and transfer different scientific aspects of the course to get the bigger picture. Exercises, worked solutions, self-assessed tests and peer-instruction during present time help students to check on their learning progress. However, the self-study periods and (online) plenary sessions need to be guided carefully. To meet the course learning outcome and overcome the diversity of a first year class various practical leads have to be fulfilled to turn flipped classroom teaching into success.