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Series:   Elements of Paleontology

Flipping the Paleontology Classroom

Benefits, Challenges, and Strategies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2018

Matthew E. Clapham
Matthew E. Clapham
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Cruz

Summary

Lecturing has been a staple of university pedagogy, but a shift is ongoing because of evidence that active engagement with content helps strengthen learning and build more advanced skills. The flipped classroom, which delivers content to students outside of the class meeting, is one approach to maximize time for active learning. The fundamental benefit of a flipped class is that students learn more, but ensuring student preparation and engagement can be challenging. Evaluation policies can provide incentives to guide student effort. Flipping a class requires an initial time commitment, but the workload associated with evaluating student work during the course can be mitigated. The personal interactions from active learning are extremely rewarding for students and instructors, especially when class sizes are small and suitable room layouts are available. Overall, flipping a course doesn't require special training, just a willingness to experiment, reflect, and adjust.
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Keywords

Geoscience educationactive learningvideo lecturesstudent assessment
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements of Paleontology
Online ISBN: 9781108681421
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 15 November 2018

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References

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