Lost in the flip

  10:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, and I’m staring at a new chapter in my textbook. I have read the same paragraph four times, but I still can’t grasp the core concept. I click on a link to a 15-minute video, hoping for some clarity, but the fast narration with colorful diagrams only deepens my confusion. Tomorrow, my teacher will expect me to apply my new knowledge, but the truth is, I haven’t been taught the concept yet; I was just given the assignment.

This scenario has become all too common. In a growing number of challenging classes, the traditional model of education is being “flipped.” Students are now expected to learn new, often complex material by themselves at home, through readings and videos. Class time, once reserved for lectures and direct instruction, is now used for collaborative work and problem solving, which is essentially what we used to call “homework.”

Of course, the idea behind this method is supposed to be helpful. It is meant to make us more independent and use class time for engaging projects instead of lectures. While that sounds great in theory, it often doesn’t work in real life. The entire method relies on one big, risky assumption: that every student can actually teach themselves difficult subjects all alone.

For many of us, this assumption is false. The initial encounter with a new idea is the most crucial stage of learning, and it’s where the guidance of a teacher is most vital. A textbook can’t recognize the confusion on a student’s face. A pre-recorded video can’t pause to answer a specific question each student has. Real learning happens in thought-provoking exchanges between a student and a teacher. When we arrive in class confused from the night before, the “application” part of the lesson becomes an exercise in frustration instead of discovery.

Furthermore, this method isn’t fair to everyone. It’s based on the assumption that once the school day ends, we all have the perfect, quiet space to teach ourselves something new. However, what about a student whose roommate needs to practice a musical instrument? Or when the dorm internet slows down right before or during study hall? We are surrounded by friends and constant activities, which makes finding the deep focus needed to learn a new concept alone incredibly difficult. Without a teacher there to guide us, many of us feel like we’re just Googling our way through an expensive education. The classroom should be the great equalizer, the place where everyone receives the same amount of education.

Let’s refocus on effective learning. The classroom should be a space for discovery and guidance, where teachers use their expertise to bring subjects to life. Homework can then be used to explore those ideas further, rather than introducing them. We want to be challenged, to work independently, and to collaborate with our peers. But first, we need to understand the materials conceptually.

The most valuable resource in any school is the teacher at the front of the room. Let’s not replace them with a YouTube link.