The inverted classroom was applied to Marketing 291: Principles of Marketing in Fall 2008 on all Miami University campuses. This concept reverses the typical coursework, making lectures mandatory to view outside the classroom and instead doing group work during scheduled class times.

According to James Stearns, marketing chair and professor, the idea behind the inverted classroom is to take activities and move them outside the classroom. The idea of inverted classrooms was proposed to collaborate with President David Hodge's Top 25 Program.

According to Stearns, lectures students would normally follow during class sessions are now to be viewed before attending class, either on Blackboard or DVD.

"We are trying to get away from the lecture setting and take advantage of technology at the same time," said Timothy Brandabur, a marketing professor at Miami's Hamilton campus.

According to Brandabur, activities completed inside the classroom are typically classified as homework in other university courses. With the inverted classroom method, group work is now done inside the classroom.

"This way I, as the teacher, can act as a coach," Brandabur said. "I am here to answer their questions as they work."

Sophomore Vanessa Feigen said she didn't like the fact that while viewing the lecture, no one was available to answer her questions.

"If I were in a classroom setting, I could raise my hand," Feigen said.

According to Brandabur, many small changes have been implemented in the classroom structure since the fall 2008 semester.

One aspect of the new inverted classroom structure is a quiz at the beginning of each class. Brandabur then reviews the chapter material after the quiz is taken on the information.

"My instincts tell me that if we didn't have the quizzes, students would cram all of the material in before the final exam," Brandabur said.

Brandabur said the idea behind administering quizzes is to encourage students to do the work before coming to class.

Feigen agreed.

"If there were no quizzes, I wouldn't do the work ahead of time," Feigen said.

Brandabur said there are many advantages to the inverted classroom format. If a student were to miss a class, they are not missing the important information from a lecture. Also, students can collaborate with each other and with the professors online. Brandabur said using the technology Blackboard provides is very convenient.

"Students have a greater opportunity to learn," Brandabur said. "I like what Miami is trying to do with the classroom. I don't know if this is the right format, but I do think this is a step in the right direction."

According to Brandabur, many students have not fully adjusted to the new format of his classroom. Brandabur said he has received comments from students who feel as though they are taking an online class.

However, Feigen said she thinks the class has made her a more independent student.

"I have to master my organization skills and staying on track is really important," Feigen said.

Stearns said the inverted classroom helps to achieve the initiative to eliminate passive educational environments.

"In the long run this will be a significant change for Miami," Stearns said.

He added the marketing department saw success with the inverted classroom in an upper level market research course, and therefore saw fit to implement the idea to MKT 291.

Stearns said after reviewing student and university assessments, there are still some great strides to be made.

"There were things students and professors liked, and certainly didn't like," Stearns said.