Having virtual classroom space where students can receive assignments, watch videos, upload and share resources with their classmates--are all aspects my students and I are exploring of a flipped classroom approach to learning.

I am currently using Edmodo as our virtual "facebook style" classroom where students log on and communicate with me and classmates at all hours of the day from a remote location. When students post something, I am notified by a text message on my smart phone. Students and I both can and are using mixture of apps on our iphones and/or ipads using the edmodo app to turn in assignments, for me to answer their questions so they don't have to wait until the next time they come to class to continue moving forward in their work, etc.

We are also using GLOGSTER as a means of students reviewing material from their chapters and create on-line posters that use academic vocabulary in a flashy, fun way that will also show a related video and even music.

The benefits of this are tremendous for students to be able to access their classroom from any location, at any time. They are able to communicate with me their instructor above and beyond normally scheduled classtimes. They receive immediate feedback with quizzes and polls they can take from anywhere. All of this with a new level of engagement as students feel more empowered.

Students are also given subjects to investigate in "open-ended" assignments using their own selection of Khan's Academy learning videos, or classroom safe filtered site of Gaggle's YouTube. Students can study entire chapters and complete entire projects before even coming to class.

I am exploring this concept in all of my classes, but it is especially helpful for a group of students that I only am scheduled to have class with once a week. In this capacity--students have the power to be "in class" all week, under their own direction on-line, and arrive to class once a week after having corresponded numerous times with teacher and classmates and completed assignments.