1. Flipped Instruction Description

Theoretical Link
Progressive Education: Progressive educators such as Alfie Kohn advocate for empowering students through increased democracy in the classroom.


28. Non-Verbal Gestures
Definition
Using non-verbal gestures are powerful ways to help students learn, as well as to manage the classroom. Educators can explicitly teach signs or use gestures common in society.
Benefits

• 
  Teachers can give individual students instant feedback that is subtle and does not disrupt the rest of the class.
  
• 
  Students feel acknowledged when small gestures are used just for them.
  
• 
  It is a non-intrusive way of prompting students.
  

Challenges

• 
  Cultural sensitivity required. Different cultures ascribe different meanings to non-verbal gestures.
  

Examples

1. 
   Nods of approval can let a student know you have recognized their good work without disrupting the flow of the lesson.
   
2. 
   Pointing can be used to direct students’ attention toward prompts around the room or on worksheets that may help stimulate thinking.
   
3. 
   Tapping a watch can remind students to pay attention to time limitations of a lesson.
   

29. Environmental Manipulation
Definition
Environments have a strong impact on learning. Temperature, lighting, seating plans, colors and posters on the walls can all affect learning.
Benefits

• 
  A non-intrusive way of supporting learning.
  
• 
  Helps students feel more comfortable in the classroom.
  

Challenges

• 
  Your classroom has limitations which may prevent the ideal environmental settings.
  
• 
  Different students may work better in different environments (e.g. heat settings)
  

Theoretical Link
Humanism: Teachers pay attention to the conditions required for creating an optimal learning environment.
Classical Conditioning (Behaviorism): Students are ‘conditioned’ by cause-and-effect mechanisms that are subtle and that they aren’t even aware of.


Example

1. 
   When a class is too loud, try subtly turning off the fan. It’s amazing how often this small environmental manipulation can quiet down a class.
   
2. 
   Ensure the classroom is not too dark. A dark classroom can impede reading, especially for students who do not have perfect eyesight.
   
3. 
   Heat and noise can both prevent learning.
   
4. 
   Calm colors on the walls can help students relax into the learning environment.