To Flip or Not to Flip, that is the Question: Flipping the Classroom

This post would be embedded in a unit on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Students would watch it prior to investigating the BIG question: Is Jay Gatsby a hero?

The screencast recognizes stages of The Hero's Journey in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. I chose this film because it is one students are sure to have seen, or at least be familiar with. In addition to this screencast, I would provide students with links to resources that would enhance their understanding of The Hero's Journey (youtube video, readings, etc).

Upon watching this screencast for homework, students would bring samples of films and novels that include certain characteristics of The Hero's Journey to class and share/discuss their ideas. These ideas are what students would be assessed on because they would not be able to successfully identify films and novels with characteristics of The Hero's Journey unless they watched the screencast and/or browsed through the provided resources. After students share and discuss their ideas, they would then begin identifying components of The Hero's Journey throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, and ultimately come to the conclusion of whether or not Jay Gatsby is a hero.

The learning objectives embedded within this lesson are to prepare students for analysis of a character's development, or journey, over the course of The Great Gatsby, as well as utilize technology to enhance their educational experience. This lesson also provides students with the opportunity to analyze the structure of a narrative and be introduced into the world of archetypes.

I think flipping the classroom is an ingenious idea. The technique really takes advantage of technology and enhances the overall quality of education that takes place both inside and outside of the classroom. To Flip!