The University of Jordan News UJ President Calls for Adopting Flipped Learning...
  • 29 - May
  • 2023

UJ President Calls for Adopting Flipped Learning Approach in HE

​The University of Jordan (UJ) President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, called during the scientific forum of the School of Educational Sciences, for adopting the flipped learning approach in the Jordanian universities to alleviate the burdens of the educational process.
The pedagogical approach emerged in higher education in the early years of the 21st century and has witnessed rapid growth since then, Obeidat said during the forum which was patronized by the Chairman of UJ's Board of Trustees, Prof. Adnan Badran.
During his speech, he posed several questions and ideas regarding the future shape of education and UJ's vision for it in the near and distant future, stating that this form of education allows students to engage with new materials through self-directed learning, enabling them to utilize their free-time in meaningful learning experiences.
He pointed out several challenges in implementing this form of education, including the need to formulate a common definition of flipped learning, the necessity of conducting rigorous experimental research that determines outcomes related to the effectiveness of this type of education, the need to establish a global library of open educational resources that support this approach, and the necessity of creating a global network of individuals and academic communities interested in its application.
Obeidat also discussed the future trends that govern higher education, noting that the rapid changes occurring in societies create significant pressures. He emphasized the pressures imposed on universities to provide an environment that takes into account the technological revolution, especially in light of the fourth industrial revolution we are witnessing.
Regarding the funding needed by universities, Obeidat explained challenges resulting from the increased cost of classroom education and numbers of students without a corresponding rise in government support. He highlighted the difficulties universities face when deciding to raise tuition fees.
He also emphasized the importance of taking change and its implementation seriously, as it has become crucial to see fundamental changes in educational programs and their outcomes, stressing the need to prepare students for the job market by ensuring their mastery of skills related to their profession and specialization, in addition to general knowledge.
Addressing the challenges, Obeidat also proposed several solutions to reduce the costs of education. Alongside implementing flipped learning, he suggested partial or complete adoption of e-learning, reducing the duration of programs and minimizing the number of needed buildings.
As for other possible solutions, Obeidat mentioned resorting to formative assessment instead of high-stakes examinations, explaining that the majority of students would somewhat fail during examinations because they do not measure the extent of their learning but rather measure the information they retained within a specific time frame.
Obeidat also concluded his speech by expressing his wish for the university and the School of Educational Sciences, which made great efforts in organizing this forum, to achieve their shared mission aimed at advancing and prospering the educational system in all its fields, domains, and forms.