When you flip a STEM class of more than 300 students, students and teachers both learn important lessons.

Case Western Reserve University is one of the nation’s top universities. This independent, leading research institute offers world-class academic programs in Cleveland’s culturally vibrant University Circle. Technology plays a critical role in delivering that academic experience.  CWRU has moved beyond simple lecture capture to enable greater student interactivity and engagement in diverse curricula including law, accounting, chemistry and more.

The flipped classroom and its benefits has been well documented.  Published studies show that flipping the classroom works. But, is it possible to flip a large lecture class with more than 300 students?

This was the challenge taken on by Michael Kenney, Ph.D., and Senior Instructor in CWRU’s Chemistry Department.. In the fall of 2012, he decided to flip his freshman chemistry class. The goal was to take advantage of some of the new active learning technologies installed at the university to educate, connect, and collaborate.

The video below highlights the results achieved by Dr. Kenney and his students. As you can see in the video, students felt that the flipped classroom model pushed them to prepare more for class and take responsibility for their own education by developing better study habits.

What was Dr. Kenney’s reaction? While he admits that the flipped classroom required more preparation on his part, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. “I felt I became a better teacher,” he said. “ The results you get by actively participating in the learning process together (with the students) far outweigh the amount of time you invest up front.”

Watch the video to see the role Echo360 played in transforming Dr. Kinney’s large lecture classes into more engaging and interactive learning experiences.