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Educational Benefits of Flipped Classrooms in Teaching Settings: Lawrence Robinson, MD
The senior scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Ontario, provided clinical insight on the advantages of a flipped classroom, and why neurology educators should consider this approach. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 2 minutes
"It's (the flipped classroom) more effective at promoting self-directed learning, better at helping learners retain information, and it's a lot more engaging. Instead of a full hour of lecture, you’re spending maybe 15 to 30 minutes reinforcing and discussing what’s important."
Today’s medical students are distinct from older generations in their learning preferences, expectations, and access to resources. They are digital natives, accustomed to instant access to information and often prefer interactive, technology-driven learning methods over traditional lectures. Today’s students are more focused on efficiency and practical application, favoring active learning strategies like simulations and case-based learning that better prepare them for clinical practice.
These shifts have driven a transformation in medical education, emphasizing adaptability and responsiveness to diverse learning needs. At the 2024 American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) meeting, held October 15-18, in Savannah, Georgia, Lawrence Robinson, MD, presented a talk on the evolution of teaching the next generation of neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic practitioners. This lecture focused on some of the differences in older and younger generations of learners, and the ways in which medical students receive and digest information. In addition, he provided insights on different methods of teaching, such as a flipped classroom, which invites students to take control of the class.
Robinson, a senior scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Ontario, sat down to provide an overview of a flipped classroom model in education, and how it contrasts from traditional lecture formats. He highlighted how the flipped classroom encourages students to engage with material before coming to class, which then allows for more interactive and meaningful in-person discussions. Above all, he stressed that this approach enhances retention and understanding by actively involving students in the learning process, rather than them passively absorb information in a lecture.
