What is a "Flipped Classroom"?

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the flipped classroom. But what exactly is it? Is it something we should be doing?  Read this helpful article from Education Next.org.

Education Next: The Flipped Classroom

Or if you don't really like to read, here's a graphic summary:

Graphic Summary: The Flipped Classroom

"Don’t use technology in the classroom, use it before and after, outside of the classtoom. Classrooms were never designed for technology.... Flip the classroom. Assign the short talks for homework, THEN use the classroom for the application of the concepts. The net result is that you humanise the classroom. It becomes a place primarily for learning, not teaching. Simple, but like most great ideas - brilliant." 
Read more at:   Donald Clark Blog: Flipped Classroom

Low-Tech, High-Reward Icebreaker

The activity linked below, from Skip Downing's On Course Workshop (On Course Workshop), leads teacher and students through a discussion of choices, expectations, and roles for the semester. It can be done as a first-day icebreaker, but it can also be a nice refresher of class rules or a way to discuss roles in depth a couple of weeks into the semester. It offers an eye-opening view of what students expect of professors and where expectations between students and professors may not match up.

Choices, Expectations, Roles: Semester Start

Meet a Fullerton College basic skills student

In this brief interview, you will meet Luis. This was his first semester at Fullerton College. He tested into the lowest level of reading, English 59, and Math 20. He and his brother are first generation college students. His brother is six years older and attends Cerritos College. Luis came to Fullerton College because he could be on the baseball team. He had a very successful first semester here at FC.

Video clip of Luis