A Flipped Calculus Classroom

So I decided to try flipping my classroom for Calculus this year. I only have done this with Pre-calculus. I have found some differences.

My AP kids found the model of presentations to be too ESL, but I think some of them still need to work on their English. Although a lot of them don't because their is a high ESL requirement on AP classes. I also think some people really don't like it because it is such a different way of learning. I think they need to be exposed to new ways of learning.

Also these students are the top students who like to ask questions during a lecture which they can't do when watching videos. My Pre-Calculus class was with Chinese 10th graders who were just starting in an international program. So they were not used to asking questions for the most part and had some low English levels. So I wonder if the format worked better for younger and lower students than older and studious students.

One of my students said they worry when the content gets harder in AP Calculus they worry the videos will not be enough. So maybe the content of Calculus might be really tough to learn just through videos.

I am also finding that I miss the informal checks I get with each student during a lecture with my AP class. Since I want to them to do well on the AP test I need to know where they are and what to focus on. I also really want to see them use the calculators and make sure they have those calculator skills.

The presentation model scared one of calculus honors students. She switched from statistics to my class and after two days in my class she wanted to move back to statistics. I told her that we would be moving away from the presentation model and when I said that she was happier.

I think I will switch back to my normal lectures and powerpoints I used for three years in China in a week or two. I think I will still keep the presentations though. We meet for over an hour on Wednesdays so I think I will do presentations on the Wednesdays.