Collaboration and interaction with smart mechanisms in flipped classrooms

Purpose This study aimed to investigate learning behaviors deeply in flipped classrooms. In addition, it is worth considering how to help learners through recognition technology with natural language processing (NLP) when learners have question and answer (Q&A). In addition, the Internet of Things (IoT) can be utilized to make the physical learning environment more comfortable and smarter. Design/methodology/approach The authors developed smart learning environment (SLE) with smart mechanisms supported by recognition technology, NLP and IoT to help learners and employed scaffolding to facilitate their group discussions. This study is an explanatory research to investigate graduate learners' learning behavior when they are collaborating with group members and interacting with the environment in flipped classroom using the proposed SLE. Findings The results revealed that learners who collaborated more while coediting had significant learning achievement, and NLP sufficiently addressed their questions. Physical conditions of the SLE were comfortable for learners. They perceived that SLE could facilitate group discussions with scaffolding. Practical implications This study suggests to utilize flipped classrooms with technologies, e.g. Google Slides integration, to help learners to do more collaboration and use smart mechanisms, e.g. Q&A with NLP, to make learners more interacting during the discussion process. Originality/value The proposed SLE can record and analyze smartly their collaboration meaningfully with group members and interact with the environment. Accordingly, researchers found that collaboration in flipped classrooms can help their learning achievement, and it is worth being widely promoted.