Flipped classroom: an experience to strengthen learning in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Flipped Classroom (FC) is a pedagogical model, which uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to interchange activities: what was regularly seen in class is then taken home and what was taken home is then addressed in class. It is known for optimizing classroom time and for allowing more development students in group work. The FC model implies a role change in the teacher-student relationship. The teacher is no longer the one who directs the class, but a mediator or guide who facilitates discussions and reflections, so learning is in control by providing support when the student needs it. When students get involved, they learn to work in groups, develop skills in hands-on and collaborative knowledge building. The objective of the study was to analyze the interaction through FC in the collaborative work and knowledge construction among Veterinary Medicine (VM) students. The study was conducted with 44 VM students, the topic was Classification of Fractures in Small Animals. They were divided in two groups: traditional classroom and FC. Quantitative results were obtained with SPSS software, while qualitative data were analyzed by categories. The FC was a model that built knowledge and increased collaborative work among students to a greater extent than the traditional classroom.