EDUCATOR RESOURCE
The Educator's Guide to Flipping Your Classroom
Research-backed strategies for transforming passive lecture time into active, meaningful learning — and how accredited digital curriculum makes it practical.
THE CHALLENGE
Teachers Deserve More Time for What Matters
In most classrooms, the pattern is familiar: teachers spend the majority of class time delivering content, leaving precious few minutes for the individualized support students actually need.
Limited 1-on-1 Time
In a 50-minute class of 30 students, each student receives less than two minutes of individual attention — if any at all.
One Pace Fits None
Lectures move at one speed. Advanced students disengage while struggling students fall behind with no way to pause or replay.
Homework Without Help
Students tackle the hardest part — application and problem-solving — at home, precisely when their teacher isn't available to guide them.
THE FLIPPED MODEL
What Changes When You Flip
Flipped learning inverts the traditional model: students absorb content at home through video-based instruction, freeing class time for the hands-on work that benefits most from teacher guidance.
❌ TRADITIONAL MODEL
In Class
📢 Teacher delivers lecture
📝 Students take notes passively
⏳ Minimal time for questions
At Home
😰 Students attempt hard problems alone
🚫 No teacher available when stuck
✅ FLIPPED MODEL
At Home
🎬 Students watch video lessons at their own pace
⏸️ Pause, rewind, and re-watch as needed
🤖 AI tutor available 24/7 for instant help
In Class
🤝 Teacher guides hands-on activities
🎯 Individualized help for every student
THE RESEARCH
What the Evidence Shows
Flipped learning isn't a trend — it's a research-supported instructional strategy with over a decade of peer-reviewed evidence behind it.
74%
of meta-analyses report improved academic performance in flipped classrooms
+12%
average increase in exam scores for students in flipped environments
89%
of educators report higher student engagement after flipping
Key Research Findings
Students who learn at their own pace demonstrate stronger long-term retention of material.
Active in-class time correlates with deeper understanding and improved critical thinking skills.
Teacher satisfaction increases when class time shifts from delivery to mentorship and guidance.
Struggling students benefit most — the ability to re-watch content and receive targeted in-class help closes achievement gaps.
THE ALWAYSONLINE ADVANTAGE
Flipping Requires Great Content. We Provide It.
The biggest barrier to flipping a classroom is creating quality video content for every lesson. AlwaysOnline eliminates that barrier with 60+ courses of professionally produced, accredited video instruction — ready to deploy under your school's brand.
Professional Video Curriculum
Every course includes structured video lessons designed for self-paced learning. No need for teachers to spend nights recording their own content.
Sage AI Tutor — 24/7
When students watch lessons at home and have questions at 9 PM, Sage AI Tutor provides instant, personalized guidance — so they arrive to class prepared.
Pre-Class Visibility
Teacher dashboards show who watched the lesson, who completed the pre-work, and who needs extra attention — before class even starts.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Five Steps to Flip Your Classroom
You don't need to flip everything at once. Start with one unit, one course, or one grade level — and expand from there.
Select the Right Courses to Flip
Start with content-heavy courses where lecture time dominates. Sciences, social studies, and mathematics are natural fits. AlwaysOnline offers 60+ accredited courses across all core subjects, electives, and CTE — so your teachers don't have to create video content from scratch.
Set Clear Expectations for Students
Students need to understand the new model: watch the assigned video lessons before class and come prepared with questions. Pacing guides built into the platform help students stay on track and know exactly what's expected each week.
Redesign Class Time for Active Learning
Replace lectures with discussions, labs, group projects, one-on-one coaching, and problem-solving sessions. This is where teachers do their most impactful work — facilitating understanding, not delivering information.
Monitor Progress with Real-Time Data
Use teacher dashboards to track which students watched lessons, completed pre-work, and engaged with AI tutoring. Walk into class each day knowing exactly who needs your attention most — and who's ready for a deeper challenge.
Iterate and Expand
Gather teacher and student feedback after each unit. Use platform analytics to refine the approach. Once one course is running smoothly, expand to additional subjects and grade levels. Most partner schools start with one or two courses and grow from there.
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS
Flipping Elevates Teachers — It Doesn't Replace Them
The flipped model shifts teachers from information delivery — something video does well — to mentorship, coaching, and individualized instruction. The work only a human teacher can do.
From: Content Deliverer
Standing at the front of a room repeating the same lecture across multiple periods.
Spending evenings grading papers with little insight into where students actually struggled.
Hoping students ask questions but running out of time to address them.
To: Learning Architect
Designing engaging in-class activities that deepen understanding through application and collaboration.
Using dashboard data to target support — knowing exactly which students need help with which concepts.
Building real relationships with students through meaningful one-on-one conversations during class.
BUILT FOR BLENDED LEARNING
Everything Teachers Need — Already Built In
Flipping a classroom with AlwaysOnline doesn't require teachers to build anything. The curriculum, student support, and progress tracking are all part of the platform.
Accredited Curriculum
Cognia and WASC dual-accredited, NCAA approved, and UC A-G approved. Every course meets rigorous academic standards — these are real credits, not supplemental materials.
Mobile Access
Students watch lessons on any device — tablet, phone, or laptop. Branded mobile apps mean students access your school's learning environment from anywhere.
Teacher Dashboard
See class-wide progress at a glance. Identify who's on track, who's falling behind, and who hasn't engaged — all before walking into the classroom.
Pacing Guides
Built-in pacing guides help students manage their pre-class workload. Students know what to watch and when — reducing the "I didn't know what to do" factor.
Seven AI Assistants
Including Sage AI Tutor, students have 24/7 access to personalized support. When they're watching lessons at 10 PM and get stuck, help is instant — not a day away.
Your School's Brand
White-label means students see your school's logo, colors, and identity throughout. Flipped learning feels like a school initiative, not a third-party product.
USE CASES
Schools That Benefit Most From Flipping
Flipped learning isn't one-size-fits-all, but certain school situations see outsized benefits.
Schools Facing Teacher Shortages
When qualified teachers are scarce, flipped learning with professional video curriculum lets remaining staff focus their limited in-class time on guidance and assessment rather than content delivery.
Smaller Schools Expanding Course Offerings
Schools that can't justify hiring for low-enrollment electives can offer 60+ courses through a blended model, with one teacher supervising multiple subjects while students learn from video instruction.
Credit Recovery Programs
Students recovering credits can work through video lessons at their own pace, then attend focused review sessions with teachers who address their specific gaps — a more effective alternative to repeating an entire course.
Schools Prioritizing Differentiated Instruction
When classrooms include students at widely different skill levels, the flipped model lets each student engage with content at their own pace while teachers differentiate support during class time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Common Questions About Flipped Classrooms
Answers to the questions educators ask most often when exploring the flipped model.
What if students don't watch the videos before class?
This is the most common concern — and the teacher dashboard solves it. Teachers can see exactly who watched the lesson before class starts. Combined with brief pre-class quizzes built into the platform, accountability is built in. Over time, students learn that coming unprepared means missing out on the most valuable part: the in-class activities and teacher interaction.
Doesn't this just mean more screen time?
The total learning time stays roughly the same — the location of each activity changes. Instead of passively watching a teacher lecture for 40 minutes in a classroom, students watch a focused 15–20 minute video at home and spend the full class period in hands-on, human-centered learning. The net result is less passive time and more active engagement.
Do we need to flip every course at once?
Not at all. Most schools start with one or two courses — often in subjects where lecture time is heaviest, like science or social studies. Starting small lets teachers build confidence with the model before expanding. AlwaysOnline's 60+ course catalog means you can scale when you're ready.
What about students without reliable internet at home?
Mobile apps allow content to be accessed on smartphones, which most students have. Schools also commonly designate library time, study halls, or before-school hours for students who need on-campus access. The flipped model is flexible — it doesn't require every student to complete pre-work at home.
Are the video courses really equivalent to in-person instruction?
AlwaysOnline courses carry the same accreditations as traditional schools — Cognia, WASC, NCAA, and UC A-G. Over 100,000 students have completed courses since 2013, with graduates admitted to universities including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Princeton. The content meets the same rigorous standards as any accredited classroom.
NEXT STEPS
Ready to Explore Flipped Learning for Your School?
Learn more about how AlwaysOnline's curriculum, AI support, and teacher dashboards make flipped instruction practical and measurable.