Flipped classrooms are relatively new, but they are increasingly more common. That’s because they offer educators the ability to teach students skills they actually need with higher quality interactions and applied learning projects. How?

Educators who flip the classroom are moving the lectures out of the classroom and moving homework in. That means lectures are prerecorded and available to students online, so students can watch the lecture as many times as they need to absorb the material. And students can come to class to get hands-on learning from their educators.

Flipped classrooms are particularly beneficial to students and educators in business education, as traditional teaching methods have resulted in college graduates who are unprepared for the workforce. And that means flipped classrooms are better for employers too.

Flipped classrooms create better students.

Flipped classrooms help students understand how their education will help them in their career and life outside the classroom. When students truly understand that, they are more willing to put in the work. They are more engaged in class, and since educators can spend quality time with students, everyone wins.  

Flipped classrooms create an active learning environment for students. Students who are active participants in class have reduced failure rates. The evidence is so persuasive that Eric Mazur, a physicist at Harvard University, noted: “—the impression I get is that it’s almost unethical to be lecturing if you have this data.”

Better students make teaching more effective.

Higher attendance is another benefit of a flipped classroom. When the bulk of class time is spent on lectures, many students don’t feel the need to show up. But with lectures moved online, students have to come to class to complete assignments and projects.

Because students are actually coming to class prepared, instructors can go more in-depth with the subject material. They are also able to work one-on-one with students, meaning the work assigned can be more challenging.  That means students are learning more in the same amount of time.  

Improved business education results in a more prepared workforce.

Traditional teaching methods in business education seem to be less effective than in the past. A recent test given to assess students’ skills in critical thinking, writing and communication, and analytical reasoning revealed that business majors are less skilled in these areas than STEM students.  Flipped classrooms are the answer to that problem.

Students can spend time in class on real-world problems, working together and with the instructor to find solutions. Those activities are exactly what employers are looking for, according to a recent study where 73% of employers said completing a significant applied learning project would help prepare students for the workforce.

Flipped classrooms can also benefit from the introduction of supplemental education material, like additional videos and online learning platforms. These materials can help educators go more in-depth on topics they may not have otherwise been able to cover. It’s clear that implementing a flipped classroom creates better students, and as a result, a more prepared workforce.