In the beginning of the 2000s, certain higher education institutions started adopting "inverted classroom" pedagogical strategies. These methodologies...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In the beginning of the 2000s, certain higher education institutions started adopting "inverted classroom" pedagogical strategies. These methodologies involved learners viewing pre-recorded instructional content outside of class while utilizing classroom sessions for interactive exercises and collaborative discussions. Numerous institutional leaders denounced inverted classrooms, claiming they created confusion and that conventional lecture-based instruction delivered superior results. However, academic scholars hold a contrasting viewpoint. They perceive inverted classrooms as an approach to enhance learner participation and strengthen educational achievements. They contend that this methodology enables more individualized teaching and more effective utilization of classroom periods for participatory education.
Based on the passage, what is the perspective of academic scholars regarding inverted classrooms?
They believe that inverted classrooms represent a successful approach for enhancing learner participation and strengthening educational achievements.
They believe that inverted classrooms demonstrated such effectiveness in initial trials that the majority of higher education institutions have subsequently implemented them.
They believe that inverted classrooms gained popularity because they enabled institutions to decrease their instructional expenses.
They believe that inverted classrooms resembled other pedagogical innovations that higher education institutions experimented with during that era.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In the beginning of the 2000s, certain higher education institutions started adopting 'inverted classroom' pedagogical strategies." |
|
| "These methodologies involved learners viewing pre-recorded instructional content outside of class while utilizing classroom sessions for interactive exercises and collaborative discussions." |
|
| "Numerous institutional leaders denounced inverted classrooms, claiming they created confusion and that conventional lecture-based instruction delivered superior results." |
|
| "However, academic scholars hold a contrasting viewpoint." |
|
| "They perceive inverted classrooms as an approach to enhance learner participation and strengthen educational achievements." |
|
| "They contend that this methodology enables more individualized teaching and more effective utilization of classroom periods for participatory education." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Academic scholars view inverted classrooms positively, believing they improve student participation and educational outcomes, unlike institutional leaders who criticize the approach.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes what inverted classrooms are, presents institutional leaders' criticism of them, then contrasts this with academic scholars' favorable perspective, supported by specific benefits they identify.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage clearly states that academic scholars have a "contrasting viewpoint" to the institutional leaders
- Specifically, scholars: See inverted classrooms as enhancing learner participation, believe they strengthen educational achievements, think they enable more individualized teaching, and view them as better utilization of classroom time
- So the right answer should reflect scholars' positive view and mention the specific benefits they identify - enhanced participation and strengthened educational achievements
They believe that inverted classrooms represent a successful approach for enhancing learner participation and strengthening educational achievements.
✓ Correct
- Directly matches what the passage states about scholars' perspective
- Includes the exact benefits mentioned: "enhance learner participation and strengthen educational achievements"
- Uses similar language to the passage while staying true to the scholars' viewpoint
They believe that inverted classrooms demonstrated such effectiveness in initial trials that the majority of higher education institutions have subsequently implemented them.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims scholars believe most higher education institutions implemented inverted classrooms
- Passage only says "certain" institutions started adopting them in early 2000s
- Makes unsupported claim about "initial trials" and widespread adoption
They believe that inverted classrooms gained popularity because they enabled institutions to decrease their instructional expenses.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests scholars believe inverted classrooms gained popularity due to cost reduction
- Passage mentions nothing about decreasing instructional expenses
- Completely introduces information not found in the text
They believe that inverted classrooms resembled other pedagogical innovations that higher education institutions experimented with during that era.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims scholars believe inverted classrooms resembled other pedagogical innovations of that era
- Passage provides no comparison to other educational experiments
- Introduces the idea of resemblance to other innovations, which isn't mentioned