Review by Melissa Powers, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2018
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Flipgrid

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Pose questions, spark thoughtful video responses with stellar tool

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Character & SEL
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
3–12
Great for:
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (15 Reviews)
Privacy (See details)
Use Responsibly Full evaluation
Price:  Free
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

5 images
Students click the plus sign to add their own video and click on their classmates' pictures to view their video responses.
Teachers create a grid per group, then add discussion questions called topics. Teachers can control a variety of response settings that are unique to each topic feed.
When students record their videos, they can use a "sticky note" as a prompt, crop length, and attach links.
Teachers can search a topic library to find ideas for any subject and grade level.
Before publishing a video, students can decorate their picture, which serves as the thumbnail for their video on the grid. This feature can be disabled.

Pros: Customizable video responses push students to plan their responses and speak thoughtfully.

Cons: The social media-style features that make Flipgrid fun can also distract students from the purpose of the assignment.

Bottom Line: A simple way for students and teachers to create online discussion, as long as your classroom culture is mature enough to use it wisely.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

The Flipgrid blog and Twitter feed are full of great ideas for using Flipgrid in your classroom. Or search the topic library, aka the Disco Library, to discover topics in any subject shared by teachers around the world. Use 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; use it 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, or television shows. Consider using a "grid" as a way to collect a range of students' responses on a single topic: Perhaps ask students at the end of a unit to reflect on what they've learned and what they'd recommend to other students.

Before you get started, don't forget to collect the consent form, available for download on the Flipgrid website.

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Put this tool into practice:
Standards:

Flipgrid is a website that allows teachers to create "grids" to facilitate video discussions. Each grid is like a message board where teachers can pose questions, called "topics," and their students can post video responses that appear in a tiled grid display. Grids can be shared with classes, small groups, or any collection of users interested in a common strand of questions. Each grid can hold an unlimited number of topics and each topic can hold an unlimited number of responses. Topics can be text-based or include a resource such as an image, video, Giphy, emoji, or attachment. Customizable security settings help protect student privacy.

Students can respond via the Flipgrid app or website with any camera-enabled device or by uploading a previously recorded video. Responses can be 15 seconds to five minutes, and a maximum recording time can be set. Teachers can also allow students to record replies to classmates' responses. There are a variety of moderation features teachers can turn on or off per topic. The CoPilot feature allows more than one teacher to be a grid moderator. Teachers have access to a help center and two active teacher communities: Disco Library for sharing grid templates and GridPals for connecting with educators and classrooms around the world.

Flipgrid offers a worthy, flexible venue for teachers and students to communicate. Students can learn to articulate ideas with well-planned responses and consider alternate viewpoints as they listen to their peers' responses. Flipgrid can be a great way to gather student responses delivered at their own 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, but 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. 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. As with any communication tool, focus on creating a culture of respect by setting clear expectations in advance.

When used purposefully, Flipgrid is an engaging way for teachers to foster discussion and collaboration in a space that feels like the best parts of social media discussion without the free-for-all feeling of Facebook or Twitter.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Seeing and hearing students' video responses can make discourse fun as personalities and ideas shine. Design is youthful and intuitive.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Students can jump right in to the discussion and even attach links to support their video statements. Teachers can turn on/off peer replies, filters, the "like" button, and more to fit their classroom needs.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

A short help video guides students through the process, and the extensive teacher resources make it easy to integrate the tool into classrooms in nearly any subject area.

Common Sense Reviewer
Melissa Powers Educator
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.K.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.K.4

    Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.

  • SL.K.6

    Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

  • SL.1.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.1.4

    Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

  • SL.2.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.2.4

    Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.

  • SL.2.5

    Create audio recordings of stories or poems; add drawings or other visual displays to stories or recounts of experiences when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

  • SL.3.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.3.4

    Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

  • SL.3.5

    Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid reading at an understandable pace; add visual displays when appropriate to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details.

  • SL.4.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.4.4

    Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

  • SL.5.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.5.4

    Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

  • SL.6.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.6.4

    Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

  • SL.7.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.7.1c

    Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.

  • SL.7.4

    Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

  • SL.8.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.8.1c

    Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas.

  • SL.8.4

    Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

  • SL.9-10.1

    Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

  • SL.9-10.1c

    Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.

  • SL.9-10.4

    Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.

  • SL.11-12.1

    Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11–12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

  • SL.11-12.1c

    Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; ensure a hearing for a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote divergent and creative perspectives.

  • SL.11-12.4

    Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks.

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 15 reviews) (15 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Kendra S. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Sheep Harney Elementary
Elizabeth City, United States
Engaging Students through video!
I love this app. My students enjoy the collaboration that they are able to do between classes as well as within their class. They also like that they are able to submit their tests with ease instead of having to play for the class. The app is easy to use and after the first try, it is set! Students are able to use this program to engage in collaborative discussions as well as submit video assignments.
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