While this activity provides an overview of the steps of a titration, using the on-screen burette is like clicking a button rather than turning a burette tap, so how can this help?

Carrying out a first titration can be a massive challenge for students as they're required to do some tricky manual manipulations of equipment, string together multiple steps and know which readings to take, all in a short space of time. Practising on the screen titration can make students more familiar with the order of steps they're taking and the reasons, give them practice in taking readings, and make them appreciate aspects such as not refilling the burette to the zero mark each time. This can save them time during the practical session and allow them to concentrate on developing new practical techniques – like turning the tap of the burette.

Is the log book from the screen experiment useful?

The log book allows students to keep a record of their progress and to show that they've completed all or some of the task. It could be useful for teachers to see where areas of difficulty lie for their students in order to support them. For example, a student may have progressed straight through the experiment set-up and recording of data, and their log book may show that they have needed more attempts at the calculations.

Has this type of flipped classroom approach been shown more widely to benefit students already?

Yes, there are some useful educational articles to read about this type of teaching approach, and research to show the benefits. Some examples are given in the articles listed on the next page, Applying Understanding.