Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom

Group photography session

The Centre for Learning and Teaching in collaboration with the Faculty of Accountancy and Management organised a talk titled “Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom” at Sungai Long Campus on 24 May 2018. Present at the talk were Centre for Learning and Teaching Chairperson Er Pek Hoon, Organising Chair T. Saraswathy, Deputy Organising Chair Dr Tan Pei Meng, a speaker from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Assoc Prof Dr Robert Chen and lecturers from various faculties.

The talk aimed to provide UTAR academics with a platform to discover the Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom and to give an understanding about the importance of implementing the Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom approach for a better learning and enhance the teaching quality.

Participants interacting during the game session 

The talk began with an ice-breaking session among lecturers who participated in the getting-to-know-you game. The game required participants to exchange names and faculty while answering questions based on the card given.  

During the event, Dr Robert Chen gave an introduction on Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom through video presentations before proceeding with the comparison between the conventional method of learning and the Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom method. He mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of practising the Blended Learning and Flipped Classroom method in classes. Some of the advantages of Flipped Learning include students collaborating with peers, hands-on projects in the classroom, students preparing topics before entering the classroom and many more.

Dr Robert Chen delivering his talk

He said, “The traditional method of learning creates passive learning whereby practice is separated from teaching. There is a lack of collaboration among students which leads to fast learners getting bored and slow learners getting left behind as there is no individualised attention for the students. Flipped learning, on the other hand, enables students to review the course material for further understanding and learn at their own pace because not every student are the same. This way, we cultivate students who are responsible for their own learning and it will encourage them to practice at different levels.”

The participants were also given a group task to create a flipped learning session based on the present course and it was followed by group presentations and Q&A session. Dr Robert Chen also shared tips in handling flipped learning classes and creating videos as learning materials. 

Group discussion on Flipped Classroom  

Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan presenting the token of appreciation to Dr Robert Chen while Er (far right) and T. Saraswathy (far left) look on