A flipped classroom consists of students completing direct instruction, such as viewing a lecture online, prior to the in-class discussion of the material. The intent is for students to see the material beforehand, also known as first-exposure learning, so they can learn the concepts at their own pace. By doing so, students are better able to focus on participating in class and receive feedback on their efforts during the lesson — not just after.

Teachers that utilize a flipped classroom model are better able to help their students engage in active learning. Students become much more involved during the lesson discussion with the flipped classroom style of instruction by engaging in debates, small group discussions, or in-depth investigations. In essence, a flipped class switches the activities traditionally done in class with those completed after class.