Flipped learning: Turning medical education upside down.

Background: Flipped learning is an approach in which core teaching is delivered using online material viewed prior to face-to-face learning, applying knowledge gained from online material. Core teaching in a module for third-year undergraduate medical students was based around a 1-week course comprising 32 hours of lectures. Feedback suggested that students were poorly engaged and attendance was poor.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a programme of learning for medical students using flipped learning.

Methods: Core lectures were videoed and students were advised to watch online at home in the morning prior to a case-based interactive discussion session in the afternoon. Feedback was undertaken prior to and following change in delivery; changes in Likert scale feedback were assessed. Thematic assessment of free-text feedback was undertaken. Results of in-course assessment examinations were compared prior to and following change in delivery.

Results: Student feedback showed a significant improvement in satisfaction with flipped learning compared to standard lectures, both in scores and free-text feedback. Results of in-course assessments did not change between the two methods of delivery.

Conclusions: Flipped learning can improve student satisfaction and engagement with teaching, but our study has not demonstrated an improvement in assessment scores.