Tips for Effective Flipped Classroom Teaching for Marketing
Tip 1 = The focus of teaching and learning needs to be student-based
Rather than the teacher being the center of the class experience, students are actively involved in their own learning. This is achieved through a mix of hands-on learning experiences, including role plays, debates, marketing decision-making, sim games and other gamification tools, class and/or group discussions, supporting fellow students, and more.
Tip 2 = Class activities should be chosen to deliver deeper student understanding
By exploring marketing concepts and topics in a more active and decision-making manner, a richer and deeper knowledge and understanding is usually achieved.
This is because the students need to think about the information, how to use it, its for/against arguments, and how it works in combination with other factors. This is more challenging and more helpful for learning than rote learning of theory and models.
Tip 3 = A variety of tools, games, tasks, and exercises should be utilized
As we know as marketing educators, students have different learning styles. There is no one approach to teaching that is going to engage and interest all students at the same time.
This is where using a variety of teaching exercises is effective in flipped classroom teaching. And it is also an effective way of preparing students for the challenges of their dynamic future marketing career.
Tip 4 = The marketing educator should play an important support and facilitation role
Although the students “take the lead” on their learning in flipped classrooms, this does not mean that the instructor can sit back and relax.
On the contrary, the classroom teacher needs to be more aware and engaged. Their role becomes monitoring, guiding, supporting students and groups through their learning journey.
Tip 5 = Build flipped classrooms slowly and progressively
Depending on your student cohort, you may have students ranging from quite experienced to quite new to flipped classroom learning. If they are relatively new to the concept (and quite used to being spoon-fed information), then you need to start slowly with simple teaching activities.
And then, over time, add more complex challenges and progressively build upon existing tasks – that is, take the same teaching task to the next level.
Tip 6 = Encourage physical movement, debate, and even occasional chaos
It is a good sign when students feel confident enough to move around the room and engage with other students and groups – perhaps helping them (taking on the role of the instructor) or debating their points with them.
This creates energy and excitement and gets students looking forward to their classes, as opposed to students sitting at their desks with limited interactions.
Tip 7 = Expect different learning speeds of students and groups
Flipped classrooms are not a race to complete the task or activity. And often the fastest group to review a case study (for example) is the group that has only engaged in basic top-level discussions.
These students need to be guided to consider more in-depth issues, and very slow groups might need a prompt or a hint now and then.
Tip 8 = Students need to be prepared for class beforehand
This goes without saying. Students need a base knowledge of the relevant marketing concepts and topics before they enter the flipped classroom.
And how do we do this? By using a combination of short videos, multiple choice questions, a quick online course, short readings, and EdTech tools. Again, add variety and keep it interesting. I have found success with a student leader board, with points for online participation and completion of tasks.
Tip 9 = Keep it real
Marketing is a hands-on and very practical discipline. There are lots of examples available online and by observing major decisions, new products, marketing mix changes of both large and small businesses.
For example, put your students in the “hot seat”. Get them to be the marketing decision makers and ask them what they would do in that situation.
Tip 10 = Use EdTech tools
There are so many tools for teaching available, and the list grows every day. Search ‘EdTech Tools’ in Google and you will find lots of choices. Find the ones that suit your teaching and your student cohort, and you will find that this approach greatly enhances your flipped classroom success by increasing student engagement.
Tip 11 = Use the tools and activities on Great Ideas for Teaching Marketing
This website has 100s of teaching activities. Browse through and find helpful exercises for designing your flipped classrooms. Start here.
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