Flipping Toward Success

Introduction: The flipped classroom methodology is based on students gaining first exposure to new material outside of class, followed by the assimilation of that knowledge through in-class activities and discussion. Flipped classrooms are thought to enhance learning through interactive activities among instructors and peers that lead to improved outcomes. Results from a 2018 study found EMT students have higher cognitive competency in a flipped classroom setting.

Hypothesis: 1) Increasing the amount of flipped classroom methodology in an EMT classroom will increase first-time NREMT pass rates; 2) EMT students in a flipped classroom will have higher NREMT first-time pass rates versus hybrid or traditional classrooms.

Methods: Surveys were distributed to about 1,600 EMS programs across the United States that are current Fisdap users. Each individual program was asked a universal set of questions to determine if their EMT classes utilize a traditional, hybrid, or flipped classroom model. Programs were also asked to share first-time NREMT pass rates for 2017 and 2018.

Results: The survey yielded 224 responses. One hundred and seventy-eight respondents had complete data and were included in the final data set. Thirty-two states were represented in the data. Sixty-seven percent of respondents self-identified as nonflipped (hybrid and/or traditional), and 33% identified as flipped. There was a positive correlation between increased flipped methodology in an EMT classroom and first-time EMT class pass rates. EMT students in classes with flipped methodology have higher NREMT first-time pass rates than students not exposed to flipped methodology.

Conclusions: The study revealed a positive correlation between flipped classrooms and NREMT scores. Also it was determined there is a thin line distinguishing the flipped from the hybrid classroom methodology. The sample size played an intricate role in determining statistical significance. In the future the survey will be sent again to programs to achieve a higher response rate, and then data reanalyzed.