Op Amp Reverse Classroom Lesson

The reverse or flipped classroom refers to a teaching method where students watch a recorded class lecture at home and work on homework during class time. It assumes that watching lectures are basically a passive activity and working on homework interactively provides benefits in understanding that are not gained by solo work. We implemented a test of a reverse classroom slightly differently. Rather than have students listen to a 90 minute lecture on a new concept from the basics to its complex conclusion before beginning the lab, we tried to break the lecture/lab up into small chunks so students can build up their knowledge incrementally. For the Op Amps I class, we broke the 90 minute lecture into a series of shorter videos and have the students watch each video, then go into the lab to try out the circuits discussed. The idea was students could proceed at their own pace through the lectures. We had mixed results. Some students like the idea – others were bothered because they could not ask questions during the video lectures.

Op Amps I – Reverse Classroom Procedure

Here are the reverse classroom materials for the Op Amps I lesson (Chapter 6N in the book) in case you would like to try the experiment. You can watch these in addition to attending the class lecture or in place of it. If you want to try it, you should watch the first two videos (Introduction and Differential Amplifiers) before you come to class. However, you are welcome to watch as much of the lesson in advance as you want to. (These are called “Day 6” because that is when we started op amps in the old single semester version of the course.) The Lab exercises are available in Chapter 6L at http://LAoE.link/misc/Chapter_6L.html The Chapter_6_Lab_Parts_List cost is modest but you will need a +/-15V power supply, low frequency sinewave generator, multimeter and an oscilloscope to complete the lab. Here is a spreadsheet of parts (less the resistor kit) you can upload to Digikey or other electronics distributor to create an order.

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