MIFLIP Conference (1st annual!)

MIFLIP Conference

I spent much of the  first semester feeling like I was on an island as a flipped instructor.  Communicating with my flipclass tweeps (twitter PLN) was the only outlet I had to communicate with others who were flipping.

THAT ALL CHANGED THIS WEEKEND!!!!

I attended a FREE (YUP...FREE!) flipped class conference held in Byron Center.  I found out about this conference on Twitter (of course!)  I was literally giddy last week in the days leading up to the conference to finally meet all of my #flipclass PLN.  

The Conference did not disappoint!   Not only were there great pre-planned sessions, but also several in the EDCAMP style (post what you want to learn/facilitate about) and talk to other educators about that topic!  The topics are determined the day of the conference!

Things I learned at the conference 

•  There are so many passionate flipped educators in Michigan (and I am following them all on twitter now!)
• Before implementing a flipped class, you need to teach students how to watch the video.  This might take a week or two in the class.   Teach when to pause, what to summarize, and how to ask critical questions
• 20% assignments-students choose a topic that falls under a power standard and determine how to best show they know that standard.  
• Google forms is a quick and easy way to track student viewing progress each night.
• If you create an ibook (need a mac with ibooks author), students can see the book and videos without wifi!
• There is no excuse to not flip.  Clintondale High School flipped their entire school with no budget, no new computers, no wifi, and over 50% of students with free and reduced lunch.  Their math test scores went up 8% in a year!
• Symbaloo is a GREAT place to store bookmarks for students.
• Collaboration with other passionate educators is just what teachers need half way through the year!
• There is no one right way to flip.  It is all about flipping from teacher centered to student centered.  "The one doing the reading, writing, and talking is the one learning"
• Educators from my high school (Charlotte) are getting excited about the flip.  There were at least 6 of us there and I know they are excited to try the flip! 

 This week marks the end of our first semester.  I plan to survey my students about their likes/dislikes in the flipped classroom and let you know next week!  Stay tuned!