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AI Role in Education

Why Flint

From Video Lectures to AI Tutors: Jon Bergmann Talks Flipped Learning's Evolution

Oct 1, 2024

Sohan Choudhury | LinkedIn

Jon Bergmann | LinkedIn

Flinterview cover image with Jon Bergmann about Flipped Classrooms

Over the past decade, the flipped classroom model has been quietly revolutionizing education. But what exactly is a flipped classroom?

In a flipped classroom, students engage with lecture content at home through videos or readings. This frees up class time for active learning, problem-solving, and deeper discussions. It's a shift from the sage on the stage to the guide on the side.

The benefits are clear: students can learn at their own pace, class time becomes more interactive, and teachers can offer more personalized support. This approach has gained global traction, challenging traditional notions of what school should look like.

Now, as artificial intelligence enters the education scene, we're facing another potential shift.

How might AI further transform the flipped classroom? What new possibilities—and challenges—does it bring?

To explore these questions, I sat down with Jon Bergmann, one of the pioneers of the flipped classroom. Our conversation delved into the evolution of flipped learning, the promise of AI in education, and what these changes could mean for the future of teaching and learning.

Jon Bergmann is a name many educators associate with innovation. As one of the creators of the flipped classroom model, Jon has been reshaping how we approach teaching and learning. With over 30 years in education, Jon has authored several books on the flipped classroom, presented at conferences globally, and continues to teach science at a high school in suburban Houston, Texas. His work has inspired teachers worldwide to reconsider traditional methods and put students at the center of the learning process.

As for me, I'm Sohan Choudhury, the co-founder and CEO of Flint (flintk12.com). At Flint, we're building an AI platform to enhance learning in K-12 classrooms. Our goal is to make cutting-edge AI accessible and useful for everyday classroom needs. Flint allows teachers to create customized AI tutors based on their specific content or curriculum standards, offering students more personalized learning experiences.

The Evolution of Flipped Learning

Sohan: Jon, you've been at the forefront of the flipped classroom movement for years. How do you see AI changing this model?

Jon: AI is poised to be the final tool that makes the flipped classroom model more practical and effective. The core idea of flipped learning is to do the hard stuff in the group space when you're face-to-face with students, and the easy stuff in the independent space.

In the flipped model, we have these two terms: independent space and group space. Students will watch a video or read the text or listen to a podcast or have some way to get information transferred in the independent space. When they come to class, they've been introduced to the content. One big misunderstanding about flipped is that students are supposed to come to class having known everything. That's not true. They're meant to get introduced to the content, and then we use class time to do more application- and analysis-level things.

Flipped Classroom concept showing independent versus group space activities. Photos generated using Dalle-3.

I think it's going to be particularly powerful in what I call 'mastery learning.' That's where I think we need to head with flipped learning, and AI is going to be the key to making it more achievable.

Sohan: Can you elaborate on this idea of 'mastery learning'?

Jon: In a mastery learning model, students progress through content at a flexible pace, moving on only when they've demonstrated understanding. I tell my students, "I don't care when you learn it, I care that you learn it."

For example, in my class, students have to achieve 80% mastery before moving on to the next topic. AI can help by providing adaptive assessments and personalized tutoring. If a student is struggling with a particular concept, the AI can identify that and provide targeted help.

Mastery Learning concept showing cycle of assessment, instruction, and correction/enrichment until students show mastery of a concept.

I've been experimenting with this in my geology class. I've created some tutors in Flint that I think will work. The tutors are designed to ask the person three questions to ascertain if they watched the video, and then ask four specific questions related to the topic. The AI then grades their responses.

Sohan: Jon, you've been at the forefront of the flipped classroom movement for years. How do you see AI changing this model?

Sohan: Can you elaborate on this idea of 'mastery learning'?

Sohan: Jon, you've been at the forefront of the flipped classroom movement for years. How do you see AI changing this model?

Sohan: Can you elaborate on this idea of 'mastery learning'?

The Promise and Challenges of AI in Education

Sohan: What excites you most about the potential of AI in education?

Jon: The possibility of true personalization is thrilling. AI can help tailor the learning experience to each student's needs in a way that's simply not possible for a single teacher managing a classroom of 30 students.

For instance, I had a student who was going to be absent. Because of our flipped model, he was able to work ahead and finish two lessons. He's now one lesson ahead and doesn't have to worry about falling behind.

However, it's crucial to remember that AI should enhance, not replace, the teacher-student relationship. The heart and soul of good teaching is about relationships, and that's something AI can't replicate.

Sohan: What about the challenges? What concerns do you have about integrating AI into classrooms?

Jon: One major concern is the potential for AI to be used as a shortcut, particularly in writing assignments. I recently demonstrated to our freshman class how easy it is to generate an essay using AI. We need to rethink how we design assignments and assessments in an AI-enabled world.

For example, I told our staff that one of the expectations they should have for students is better work. They need to expect more because of these AI tools. Why is there a grammatical error in this paper? You didn't take the time to at least put it in Grammarly? Come on, you need to take all those grammar problems out of it at the high school level.

Adapted from Dalle-3: Student holding an open backpack full of school supplies, including AI being a part of that school supply set.

Another challenge is helping teachers adapt to this new paradigm. Many educators worry that AI might replace them, but I see it more as a tool that can help teachers be more effective. It's about changing the definition of what teaching is.

In fact, I recently presented about AI to our staff. I showed them Flint, and quite a few teachers jumped into it. It's important to introduce these tools and get teachers thinking about how they might use them.

The Changing Role of Teachers

Sohan: How do you see the role of teachers evolving as AI becomes more prevalent in education?

Jon: Teachers will need to become more like orchestra directors. They'll be guiding the overall learning process, deciding when to use AI tools, when to facilitate group discussions, and when to provide one-on-one support.

The focus will shift even more towards helping students wrestle with harder concepts and fostering critical thinking skills. Information dissemination is no longer the primary job of the teacher - AI can handle much of that. Our job is to help students apply that knowledge, think critically, and develop higher-order skills.

Created using Dalle-3: Teacher acting as an orchestra director where instead of music the teacher is conducting learning to a classroom of students.

The Future of Learning

Sohan: Looking ahead, what's your vision for the future of education?

Jon: I see a future where learning is more personalized, more engaging, and more effective. AI will help us tailor the pace and style of learning to each student's needs. But the human element - the relationships, the mentorship, the inspiration - that will always be crucial.

I'm particularly excited about the potential of AI to help bridge educational gaps. For instance, a motivated student in an underserved area could use AI tutors to supplement their learning, potentially accessing educational resources that might not otherwise be available to them.

We need to embrace these technologies while also being thoughtful about how we implement them. The goal should be to use AI to enhance human teaching, not replace it. If we can do that, I believe we can create learning environments that are truly transformative.

Created using Dalle-3: Comic strip of AI being used for learning in a variety of environments (in a classroom, in a school, at home, on a bus, etc. by students of different backgrounds, ethnicities, countries).

Sohan: Any final thoughts for educators who might be hesitant about integrating AI into their classrooms?

Jon: I would say this: the AI revolution in education is happening whether we like it or not. It's like when calculators came into math classrooms - at first, there was resistance, but eventually, we realized we needed to adapt our teaching to this new tool.

The key is to focus on how AI can help us be better teachers, not replace us. Use it to free up time for more meaningful interactions with students. Use it to provide more personalized support. But always remember that you, the teacher, are the orchestrator of learning. AI is just another instrument in your educational orchestra.

Conclusion

My conversation with Jon highlights how AI is poised to transform the flipped classroom model. It's clear that we're looking at a future with more personalized learning experiences, improved mastery of subjects, and teachers able to focus on higher-level interactions with students.

This shift, however, comes with its share of challenges. Educators will need to adapt their teaching methods, reconsider assessment strategies, and find ways to maintain the crucial human element in education. Jon's emphasis on viewing AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human teaching is key to navigating this transition.

As we enter this new phase of AI-enhanced education, the flipped classroom is evolving once again. Tools like Flint, which allow teachers to create customized AI tutors, are paving the way for a future where every student can have a personalized learning experience, guided by the irreplaceable expertise and inspiration of human teachers.

The path ahead is exciting and full of potential. As someone involved in developing educational technology, I'm eager to see how we can shape a future of learning that's more effective, engaging, and equitable. The flipped classroom has come a long way, and with AI, it's poised to flip education once again.