The challenge of unprepared students in inverted classroom teaching scenarios

Abstract

[EN] In higher education the more and more common teaching method “inverting classroom” comprises of 2 phases: the self-study phase prior to the course and second the in-class or online sessions where discussions take place and students work on projects, extended hands-on lectures or exercises in class. First year mechanical engineering students are offered different teaching materials (mainly lecture videos, lightboard videos and micro-module lectures) to study from a distance and comprehend the principle underlying science in theory. Presence or online plenary lectures offer the opportunity to apply knowledge and transfer different scientific aspects of the course to get the bigger picture. However, there are always students unprepared causing huge diversity, irritating the lecturer and classmates and therefore threatening to imperil the desired learning outcome. This paper offers different practical experiences with no, little and sufficient success from 10 years of experience with teaching inverted.