Turning the Class upside down

It’s been a bit since I have last posted with regards to my action plan but have been actively thinking about my next steps and planning my game plan. My thoughts so far:

• I will be flipping a lesson in my Grade 12 Chemistry class in the Energy change & Rates of Reaction Unit. This unit is heavy in calculations so what better way to enrich the learning then providing them class time to work through problems and inquire about the process with the help of classmates and teacher.
• I am still figuring out exactly what the flipped lesson will be but here are a few ideas which are running around my head:
  • Taking a PPT and recording it while discussing the concepts
  • Using a webcam, record a video of myself teaching the lesson and have students watch along with the PPT
  • I do want to provide a few examples of solving problems while getting the students to inquire about their surroundings
  • Once I have become comfortable with flipping, I would like to try to flip a lab and see how this may enrich learning by demonstrating chemistry is all around us. (This may be something I look into for the new school year – Thinking about a lab where students research the effects of salt and sugar on baking and conduct an inquiry based on their research)
• Through my thought process, I have made a few changes to the layout of my class website. I have enhanced the discussion section in respect to this unit. I will be posing one or two thought provoking questions which get the students chatting and thinking about the impact of chemistry around them. I have also posted a “Homework Struggles” section and am encouraging students to post any struggles they have encountered and/or recommendations to various resources which have been helpful.