Flipping Library Instruction- Secondary Schools
Middle and high school – now this is where I think flipped teaching can really shine. Not only are students developmentally ready to assume greater responsibility for their learning outside of class, their work is also more advanced and complex in nature.
Ways to Flip Library Instruction
Record introductions and instructions for major unit projects. Not only can these be used across multiple classrooms (ideal for large schools) and for students who were absent, they can be used in subsequent years.
Provide online tutorials for library procedures or instructions on using a particular database or educational learning tool. Students can come into library ready to use school databases for research rather than wasting valuable library time on learning how to use them (especially great for databases without at-home access - or when such access is prohibitively expensive for the library budget).
Have students create interactive pathfinders, tutorials, or videos about their research – share those with other students. What a great archive of student work!
Direct students struggling with a particular issue (e.g. fair use and copyright) to online resources that they can access at home to catch-up with their peers.
Classroom teachers can also use library-produced videos in their classes. This also has the pragmatic benefit of increasing the visibility of the library and underscoring its instructional importance.
Speaking of classroom teachers, don’t neglect them when flipping the library. If you provide technology instruction or other professional development for classroom teachers in your school, consider “flipping” that instruction too. Producing or curating videos, tutorials, and other online resources for teachers allows convenient access – at their point of need. Flipping isn’t just for students!
More Tips for Success
Keep videos short and focused – somewhere between 3-7 minutes is ideal.
Consistently evaluate whether flipped teaching is effective for your students.
Customize your students’ experience – avoid complete reliance on out-sourced materials.