Flipping the flipped: the co-creational classroom

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Active Learning Strategies

Background:

• The flip teaching model is a popular active learning strategy in higher education, but it retains elements of traditional didactic methods.
• Further modifications to the flip model are needed to fully embrace active, student-centered learning and avoid reverting to passive instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a novel variation of the flip teaching model, termed the 'co-creational' model.
• To investigate the effectiveness of the co-creational model in enhancing student knowledge retention, perception, and career preparation compared to traditional lecturing and the standard flip model.

Main Methods:

• The co-creational model involves students actively searching, selecting, and assembling knowledge from literature to co-create class learning materials with instructors and peers.
• A quasi-experimental study compared the co-creational model against the standard flip model and traditional lecturing in a graduate-level medical devices class.
• Student knowledge retention, content reproduction, and perceptions of the learning methods were assessed.

Main Results:

• Students using the co-creational model demonstrated superior content retention and reproduction compared to both the standard flip and traditional lecturing methods.
• Participants reported positive perceptions of the co-creational method relative to traditional lecturing and felt they learned more compared to the standard flip.
• The co-creational model was perceived as superior in preparing students for job searches in high-tech industries and academia.

Conclusions:

• The co-creational teaching model represents a significant advancement in active learning, fostering deeper understanding and better knowledge retention.
• This collaborative approach enhances student engagement and provides practical skills development, positively impacting career readiness.
• The co-creational model also facilitates the integration of moral instruction and community building within the knowledge acquisition process.