Characterisation of flipped classroom teaching in multigrade rural schools

Abstract

Multi-age classrooms are student-centred classrooms. Flipped classroom teaching promotes active learning. In the research reported on here, we analysed the characteristics of flipped classroom teaching in the context of multigrade rural schools. Two main questions were raised: whether the characteristics of rural multigrade classrooms require adapting the flipped classroom method, and whether there is a particular framework for applying this method in such classrooms. A questionnaire was administered to and interviews held with teachers who used flipped classroom in their multigrade classrooms. The data show a typology of flipped classroom strategies adapted to multigrade classrooms. It is also concluded that applying flipped classroom in multi-grade classrooms requires significant changes in the instructional design and classroom learning phase. No changes were detected during the previous phase of individual work outside the classroom. A regular framework for the application of the flipped classroom method in multigrade rural schools could not be determined due to the heterogeneity of this kind of class.