Flipped learning in information technology courses: benefits and challenges

ABSTRACT

Considering the technological developments and the changes that these developments have brought in individuals’ lives, it has become important to make some arrangements in all areas of life. It’s also important to make changes in classes for 21st century learners. For students to have 21st century learning characteristics, they need to be actively involved in the class, unlike traditionally practiced classrooms where the teacher narrates the lesson and the students take notes and listen. This study was applied in eight Information Technology courses with 454 pre-service teachers. An online interview was created to investigate pre-service teachers’ experiences with flipped learning, the factors that lead to their learning within the flipped experience, and the factors that trigger frustration with flipped learning. After 14 weeks of flipped learning experience, 371 of the students completed the interview. Instructor observations were used to validate the data gathered from the interview. The study’s findings were organised into three major categories: pre-service teachers’ views on flipped learning, factors contributing to their learning, and factors contributing to their dissatisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Flipped learning
• information technology courses
• pre-service teachers
• online interview
• learning experience
• benefits and challenges

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zeynep Yurtseven Avci

Zeynep Yurtseven Avci holds a PhD in 2012 from North Carolina State University, Department of Instructional Technology. She is currently working as an Associate professor in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology at the Faculty of Education and director of Distance Education Center at Eskisehir Osmangazi University. Her areas of expertise include innovative educational technologies, development of instructional materials using technology, contribution of technology use in learning, communication and collaboration tools, and technology professional development. Dr. Avci has national and international articles, book chapters and papers on educational technology.

Funda Ergulec

Funda Ergulec is currently working as a faculty member at Eskisehir Osmangazi University in the Faculty of Education, Department of Computer and Instructional Technology Education. She received her Ph.D degree from Indiana University, Department of Instructional Systems Technology. Her master’s is from Cincinnati University, Department of Instructional Design and Technology. Her research interests include educational technology, instructional design, and design and development of distance learning courses.

Ozge Misirli

Ozge Misirli is a faculty member of Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology in Eskisehir Osmangazi University. She has an MA in Primary Math Teaching and a Ph.D. in Computer Education and Instructional Technology. She has offered several undergraduate courses such as Information Technologies and media literacy. She conducts researches on social media, effective use of social media by children and families, ICT integration and gender balance in ICT. She is still working as a faculty member at Eskisehir Osmangazi University.

Irfan Sural

Irfan Sural has been an Associate Professor in Department of Computer Education & Instructional Technology at Osmangazi University, Eskisehir-Turkey. His professional career has been a mixture of national and international jobs in various areas, which greatly enriched my knowledge and experience about Information Technology especially in the field of distance education. He has a strong practical as well as theoretical background in use of technology for learning. His research interest is educational technology and software development. Irfan Sural received both B.S and M.S. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department. He has a PhD degree in Distance Education Programme of Social Sciences Institute of Anadolu University. He also gives lessons about programming languages, computer networks, operating systems, android development, learning management systems, educational software development, and information and communication technologies in education as an instructor.