Students’ Perception of Flipped Classroom Approach in Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Flipped classroom is a form of blended learning which aims to promote active engagement in learning. This study is intended to determine students’ perception of flipped classroom approach in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Padlet is an e-learning tool that is widely used in education. It is a user-friendly digital canvas, which compiles information in a single wall and is accessible at any time convenient to the learners. A series of Padlets was created to share resources and learning materials with the students. The uploaded materials include tutor’s lecture notes, engaging videos, and articles. The links were made accessible to the students via Microsoft Teams channel, which provides a platform for student-tutor interaction for queries and discussion. A set of quizzes was also assigned as a reflection of their understanding of the materials given. Following this, a virtual session was allocated to discuss the topics with active participation from the students. After the session, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the students, on effectiveness of learning materials and perception towards flipped classroom. Data were analyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis. Results indicate that the majority of the students found the learning materials were relevant and engaging. Most of them agreed that flipped classrooms approach increased self-motivation and helped them understand the topics as it enhanced active and independent learning. In addition, 80% of them suggested that flipped classroom should be implemented in other subjects. These findings help to better understand the learning needs in preparation to produce knowledgeable students in the future.