Implementation of a “true” Flipped classroom concept at the Norwegian Defense University College (original) (raw)

As a result of an extensive educational reform in the Norwegian armed forces, digital learning is introduced across the military system. Following a new defense educational strategy, one of the measures implemented at the Norwegian Defense University College (NoDUC) is Problem Based Learning (PBL) and flipped-classroom. The flipped classroom is one of the most well-known buzz words in education for the last 10 years at learning institutions all over the world. What does it really mean to implement flipped classroom as part of your educational strategy? Is putting PowerPoint presentations in the LMS together with digital copies of the syllabus enough to claim that flipped classroom is implemented? Is it really something totally new and is it only suitable for certain subjects? And how can PBL together with flipped classroom lay the ground for learning activities that results in deeper learning? This paper gives an overview of what a flipped classroom concept combined with PBL really means, why it matters and how it is meant to be implemented as an educational strategy. Furthermore, both pros, cons, risks and common misunderstandings are discussed and compared to traditional learning methods used at NoDUC and still existing in many schools and universities around the world. At the end the new educational strategy based on flipped classroom and PBL are discussed and the paper will highlight lessons learnt from the rebuilding of a Master of Military subject, based on PBL and a flipped classroom strategy. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Commander (CDR) Geir Isaksen has more than fifteen years in the field of Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) and is responsible for more than 30 defense projects in the field of digital learning methods and learning technology. He has published more than twenty papers covering different aspects of digital learning methods like mobile learning, student motivation, cognitive overload in e-learning and the use of video lectures. He has a master's degree in Information Computer Technology (ICT) & Learning from the University of Aalborg (2014) and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Vestfold University College (1998). CDR Isaksen holds the position as a Staff Officer for digitalization and pedagogy at the NoDUC/Faculty administration, where he is responsible for leading and coordinating procurement, development, and implementation of digital learning projects and use of the defense LMS. His military background is from the Navy, serving on submarines for six years as an electro officer and he is also responsible for international ADL cooperation at the NoDUC and MoD funded international ADL capacity-building projects.