Investigating the perceptions of EFL teachers about the flipped classroom model in Iranian schools

Teachers everywhere are constantly working hard to invest in technological innovations to improve the educational standards and create new models and strategies of teaching and learning. One of these models that seem to rely heavily on technology is the “flipped learning” or “flipped classroom model”. The present study aimed at investigating the perceptions of EFL teachers about the flipped classroom model in the Iranian schools. Sample of the research were 72 teachers from 9 educational districts participating in an in service training course named "designing flipped classroom for English course". The quantitative results showed that the total degree of teachers' responses was (3.85) which suggested a moderate level of perceptions and there were no statistical significant differences at (α =0.05) on the total degree of perceptions between teachers due to gender, qualification and experience. On the other hand, the qualitative results revealed three major themes with regard to teachers’ perceptions and that teachers were somehow divided into two groups. The first group was in favor of using the flipped learning model but with mature students and after providing the required infrastructure. The second group was not in favor of using the flipped learning model because it might add more responsibilities and tasks to the overloaded teachers and it might distract students as well. In light of the results of the present study, the researchers offered some recommendations.