Flipped classroom in year 1 Physics- How undergraduates will be learning this year

I contribute to physics teaching in the School, and part of this role is teaching physics to the new intake of year 1 engineering and physical sciences students. There are around 250 students in Edinburgh, 150 students in Dubai and 100 in Xidian. In this talk I will discuss the teaching approach of the ‘Flipped classroom’ that I have used for several years at the Edinburgh campus, how this compares with traditional lecturing, and also with Problem Based Learning, an approach used in Medical Schools. I will explain the changes made to the format for this coming academic year in the context of Heriot Watt University’s approach of ‘Responsive Blended Learning’, which will enable students to learn asynchronously or remotely, with live (synchronous) teaching opportunities to support the learning.

The talk may be of interest to academics preparing for the upcoming academic year and PhD students and RAs who will be undergraduate tutors or demonstrators.