A recent classroom method pushes students to learn the curriculum outside of class.

Many teachers utilize videos and other online or electronic systems to expand their lectures, but a flipped classroom relies on videos and online activities to teach.

In “active learning” or “flipped learning,”  teachers and professors record their condensed lectures though a program called “Echo360” on a podcast or video, which students are able to listen to at home on their own time.

This allows students to learn by themselves, at their own pace, and to relisten to parts they are not understanding as many times as necessary.

During class, the teachers can review their lectures and engage students in progressive activities and touch on more detailed parts without worrying about time constraints.

Originally, this form of video learning was for students who couldn’t make it to class or  for students to catch up on lessons or ideas  without missing class, but now serves as a main teaching method.

A professor at University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacology used flipped learning as an experiment in the 2012-2013 school year, and his class’ results showed increased success.

Because of active learning, his students averaged 2.7 percent higher on their final exam, 93 percent said they believed flipped learning taught their content more effectively and efficiently, and 85 percent said they prefer flipped classroom system to conventional teaching.

The active learning system proves beneficial to both the teacher and the student. It applies technology and provides easy access to knowledge to students through always available podcasts. It also gives the teacher a full hour to review important points.

Students can use the videos and podcasts throughout the year.  The videos are useful for studying and can be rewatched as many times as needed. A student can relisten to part of a lecture if the student had trouble with it the first time.

Active learning is not as prominent in high schools as it should be. Online lectures help with homework and studying for tests, and allows class time free for other activities and review.

Teachers will no longer have to worry about losing class time because of fire drills, state testing, and other mandatory activities.

Flipped learning gives the student more responsibility as well. If students do not do their homework, they will be lost during review.

Using active learning would make class time more effective, lectures more meaningful and would increase focused learning during class periods.