How to address violence in the news with your students.
Because of Flipgrid's asynchronous nature, it's a great tool for every learning situation, from remote learning, to BYOD classrooms, to classrooms with fewer devices than students. Try using Flipgrid to further classroom conversations by assigning questions as homework assignments, and then continue the conversation in class the next day. Ask students to weigh in on a critical current event for a social studies or civics class, or use Flipgrid in a math class to ask students to describe the process they used to solve a complex problem. You might also use Flipgrid as an opportunity for students to post reviews of books, movies, games, or TV shows. At the end of a unit, ask students to reflect on what they've learned.
If you want to create a video for students to view but don't want or need to collect video responses, check out the simple Shorts tool. Use the Flipgrid software to quickly record a video or screenshare, and then send it to your students with a link. The Flipgrid AR feature is another useful tool. From the teacher dashboard, you can print QR codes that link to each response. You can post these QR codes in a student art gallery or at a parent open house to share student videos. Participants must use the Flipgrid website or app to view the videos. You can also use the app to collect video responses from students and guests.
Teachers should be clear about their expectations so that students don't waste time trying to make a perfect presentation if an informal response is all that's desired. Use the rubric to be clear about what you want to see. Also, some kids may be anxious about being on camera; it's challenging enough to answer a question when called on in class, but for some, formulating a video answer may be more agonizing than it's worth. Students can also record "mic-only" videos or cover their image with digital stickers. As with any communication tool, focus on creating a culture of respect by setting clear expectations in advance. For more ideas, check out the Flipgrid blog and Twitter feed, which are full of great tips for using Flipgrid in your classroom. Or search the Discovery Library to discover topics in any subject shared by teachers around the world and corporate partners. Flipgrid also offers free educator training and badges.
Continue readingFlipgrid is a website and app that allows teachers to facilitate video discussions. Students are organized into groups and then given access to discussion topics. The topic space serves as an interactive message board where teachers can pose questions and students can post video responses that appear in a tiled grid display. Guests can also be invited to participate with a link and a password. Customizable security settings help protect student privacy. A variety of filters and tools allow for text, stickers, screen recording, and other possibilities. Via the immersive reading feature, students can see closed captioning and translations, too.
Users can participate on Flipgrid via the app or the website with any camera-enabled device or by uploading a previously recorded video. Responses can be 15 seconds to 10 minutes, and teachers can determine a maximum recording time. Teachers can also allow students to record replies to classmates' responses. There are a variety of moderation features you can turn on or off per topic. The CoPilot feature allows more than one teacher to be a group moderator. Teachers have access to a help center and two active teacher communities: Discovery Library for sharing topic templates, and GridPals for connecting with educators and classrooms around the world. Do note that some users report difficulty in uploading videos via the Android app.
Flipgrid offers a streamlined, flexible venue for teachers and students to communicate. Students can learn to articulate ideas with well-planned responses and consider alternative viewpoints as they listen to their peers' responses. It's a great way to gather students' responses at their pace without kids feeling "on the spot" in the classroom. Students can take advantage of the "sticky note" on the recording screen to type a short outline or key points before they start recording. Pause, trim, and re-record buttons can help students record their best effort. The customizable built-in rubrics are a great way for teachers to set expectations and provide feedback on student videos.
Because of its flexibility, Flipgrid gives students options around how they want to demonstrate learning, which can lead to more effective assessment and student engagement. And all of the accessibility features allow every student a voice. If teachers aren't sure where to begin or how to use it effectively, there are a ton of ready-made topics in the Discovery area. Plus, it can give a window into a student's thinking that an exit ticket or quiz might not. When used purposefully, Flipgrid is easy to use, extremely useful -- and fun.