Abstract:

Aalto Online learning (A!OLE) is a five-year pedagogical development project currently ongoing at Aalto University. Our goal is to develop and test new technological solutions and pedagogical models for online and multiform learning environments. The Aalto University Language Centre has initiated a number of development projects for various languages. Here we would like to present the flipped classroom model we have developed for teaching beginners’ German. As part of the A!OLE Project, we have produced a comprehensive package of online course material pioneering new technological and pedagogical solutions designed for flipped classroom learning. What, then, happens in our flipped classroom?

The students autonomously prepare for each face-to-face session by studying the relevant online material before class. Our online material is designed to flexibly accommodate a variety of teaching and learning methods, combining autonomous study and face-to-face teaching in a didactically integrated package. Our aim is to offer students the opportunity to leverage maximum gains from the online material and thereby save valuable classroom time from what cannot studied alone: communication. The students also study grammar online. During class, we then revise and practice what they have learnt at home.

The beginners’ course is based on a Finnish-language textbook around which we have designed a new and varied package of online material. Thanks to the A!OLE project, the textbook now caters more thoroughly to students’ needs and provides a more effective tool for classroom work. Because beginners’ classes are normally quite large, there is usually little time for giving individual feedback during class. The interactive exercises in our online package are directly aligned with the intensive face-to-face sessions. The exercises offer the student immediate, individualized feedback on their skill level. The teacher also gains valuable information for planning future lessons, for instance the students’ online performance reveals whether they have mastered a certain skill or whether further practice might be required in the classroom.

The online material is also designed to improve the students’ listening comprehension skills, which are essential for any form of successful communication. The online package offers additionally exercises linked to the main unit texts as well as extra oral comprehension activities. We are currently also working on including a series of videos introducing German language and culture. The online self-evaluation sections provide teachers with added insights into the students’ attainment levels. Our project enhances the efficiency of both teaching and learning, while also offering students a wide range of options for autonomous study.

Keywords:

Flipped learning, autonomous learning, face-to-face teaching, communication, German language, beginners' course.