The power of 'Preview' in learning.

One of the most important things I learned as a student at a younger age was that 'previewing' what you are about to learn can be a very powerful tool.  Preview your learnings can look very different, from person to person; nowadays, in the so-called 'information age', previewing is made easier since many of us have access to digital medias and can operate search engines.  What did I do before I set off to build a shed in my backyard this past summer? I watched two videos on YouTube; then went to the local hardware store to chat with a few handymen; went home and build a shed.  I would not have known what to ask at the hardware store had I not 'previewed' what I need to do on YouTube.

#winning #scored

You get what I am trying to say, yes?  =) 

One of the buzz words in 21st century education is 'Flipped Classroom.' (For more information on 'Flipped Classroom' model, please check out this resourceful site and videos, as well as the pros & cons for flipped learning)  The concept of 'flipped' learning, put it simply: students 'preview' their learnings on their own, at home, the night before the lesson; the next day, students work in small groups or 1-to-1 with the teacher to consolidate their learnings through a series of practices or one larger inquiry task.

Now, what does this concept have anything to do with us in the intermediates?

We recognize that we all learn differently, and at different pace.  Through digital media, we can gain access to countless learning materials, most notably a non-profit organization called Khan Academy, before, during and after a lesson in the classroom.  Through our class blog, the teachers will share links that will allow the students to 'preview' what they are learning; but at the same time, these resources are also good 'review' links after the lesson.  Students can now learn at their own time, and follow their own pace, while still have the opportunities to meet with the teachers (and peers) to clarify any misunderstandings or consolidate their learnings.

Here is an example of what services, such as Khan Academy, has to offer for learners; this is a video lecture on Angles (basic information):


Angle Basics: Definition of an angle. How to denote an angle using points on the angle (including the vertex)
***NOTE: teachers will preselect what is suitable for our students; not all videos through Khan Academy, or similar services, are appropriate for our learners.  Some videos are meant for students in secondary and post-secondary education.
***NOTE: our views on the flipped classroom model may vary, from teacher to teacher.  What we are implementing in the intermediate classrooms do NOT fully comply with the 'flipped' model; rather, we are taking a 'Blended' approach.


So, what do you think about this way of learning?

Helpful? Confused? Excited?

Please share with us your views, and perhaps any questions/concerns.