Inspiration
As college freshmen, we struggled with the flipped classroom model, which prioritizes independent learning but often leaves students without immediate support and guidance. Many students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, face challenges adapting to this model. We wanted to create a solution that brings back structured, interactive learning. Instead of passively watching videos, students should have guidance and the ability to actively engage with the content.
What it does
Unflipped is an AI-powered virtual professor that transforms flipped learning into an interactive experience. Unlike traditional chatbots, it enhances engagement by allowing students to interact with lectures in real-time. -Students can ask questions as the video plays, making learning active rather than passive. -Additionally, Unflipped administers automatic pop quizzes to reinforce key concepts through active recall, providing instant feedback and explanations for incorrect answers. -Students can also rename and save videos to a library for easy access when it’s time to revisit content for tests.
How we built it
We started by working on having a code that would transcribe a video into a .txt file which was done using the Whisper API (transcibelocal.py). This started as the foundation for the back end of the project. We then made a chatbot that would use the .txt file to be able to answer questions that the user has (chat.py). Then we decided that active recall would be helpful so we made another file that used the chatbot to generate questions that would appear throughout the video for the user to answer (generatequestions.py). We then drew up a rough draft of what the front end should look like. Actually coding a working front-end was much harder than anticipated. We used the flask application to do so and integrated the front and back ends together to get our final product.
Challenges we ran into
During the project, our group ran into a couple of problems. For example, using the online Whisper API led to the transcription of the video taking much longer than we wanted. We decided to download a local version of it in order to speed up the process making it significantly faster. Additionally, getting the chatbot to generate meaningful questions and explanations was more challenging than we had anticipated. The bot had to know exactly where you are in the video and give you a response with only the contents prior to where the user paused. We also ran into many challenges when dealing with combining the front and back ends. Making the front end visually appealing was not something that any of us were familiar with making.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
-Our app improves student-teacher interaction by allowing teachers to engage in deeper discussions rather than repeating the lesson the next day. -We help bridge racial gaps in academic performance by providing direct guidance and support to students from underrepresented backgrounds. This ensures that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. -We take pride in having developed a valuable tool for students that optimizes learning through techniques like active recall. This tool encourages engagement with video content, helping to clarify questions before they escalate into mistakes on tests.
What we learned
-Students require structured support, direct guidance, and immediate clarification of questions to succeed in flipped classrooms, especially since professors may not respond promptly.
-AI saves time by optimizing and personalizing lessons to meet individual students' needs. By integrating active recall techniques, it enhances understanding and retention, leading to improved academic performance.
-As AI improves, so does our website, resulting in higher quality questions and explanations. By continuously incorporating user feedback, we ensure that our inclusive and accessible education tool evolves to meet the needs of all students.
What's next for UnFlipped
In the Flipped Classroom model, students often feel isolated when they most need help. To address this, we’re creating a social ecosystem where students can connect through an interactive chat room to be vulnerable and ask for support. Unflipped aims to foster a supportive environment where students receive help and uplift each other. We also plan to add a Study Planner feature that allows you to input test dates, and the AI will create a study schedule using spaced repetition, helping you study a little each day instead of procrastinating.
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