FLipgrid
Description:
Flipgrid is an amazing digital tool which provides students with the opportunity to record short video responses to topics, questions or prompts that have been assigned by their teacher. These responses can be as brief as fifteen seconds or up to a maximum of five minutes. However, teachers can set an exact limit for responses depending on the needs of the assignment. In addition to recording their own videos, students also have the ability to respond to each others posts, which allows for meaningful discussions to take place between students inside and outside the walls of your classroom. When students have finished their videos, the posts are relatively easy to access as they are housed on a classroom "grid" that students can access using a unique "grid code" created by their teacher. One feature that is particularly useful is the ability to password protect grids or topics if teachers require additional privacy for their students.
In regards to accounts, one of the best things about this tool is that it is completely free to use as it is part of the Microsoft family. As a result, all RCSD staff already have their own educator accounts that can be accessed using regular Office 365 credentials. Students also do not need to register or sign up, as accounts have also been created for them in the same way. All they need to do is select the "log in with Microsoft" option on the login page, and it will automatically sign them in.
Utilization:
Here are some practical ways to use Flipgrid in your classroom:
Flipgrid is an amazing digital tool which provides students with the opportunity to record short video responses to topics, questions or prompts that have been assigned by their teacher. These responses can be as brief as fifteen seconds or up to a maximum of five minutes. However, teachers can set an exact limit for responses depending on the needs of the assignment. In addition to recording their own videos, students also have the ability to respond to each others posts, which allows for meaningful discussions to take place between students inside and outside the walls of your classroom. When students have finished their videos, the posts are relatively easy to access as they are housed on a classroom "grid" that students can access using a unique "grid code" created by their teacher. One feature that is particularly useful is the ability to password protect grids or topics if teachers require additional privacy for their students.
In regards to accounts, one of the best things about this tool is that it is completely free to use as it is part of the Microsoft family. As a result, all RCSD staff already have their own educator accounts that can be accessed using regular Office 365 credentials. Students also do not need to register or sign up, as accounts have also been created for them in the same way. All they need to do is select the "log in with Microsoft" option on the login page, and it will automatically sign them in.
Utilization:
Here are some practical ways to use Flipgrid in your classroom:
Digital Book Reviews: Whether it's for a novel study or just for silent reading, book reviews can be an important tool to help students demonstrate their comprehension of the literature they read. These reviews can be relatively short, and could include prompts as simple as:
Demonstration of Learning: Instead of having students respond to an assignment in writing, you can provide students with the option to express their understanding through the use of a video. This is a particularly useful tool for students who have difficulty with their written expression, and by providing them with the option to record themselves allows them to better express their understanding of the concepts taught in class.
Self-Reflection & Goal Setting: Whether it's for Digital Portfolio's or updates on an inquiry project such as Genius Hour, Vlogs can be an incredibly useful tool for students to evaluate their progress towards a goal. The ability for students to record themselves allows for the physical presentation of learning artifacts or the demonstration of skills they've acquired, which previously wouldn't have been an option.
- What book did you read? Who wrote it? Tell us what the book was about without giving away any spoilers
- What were some connections that you made while reading your book? (self, text, world)
- Did you like the book? Please explain in detail.
- Would you recommend it to others?
Demonstration of Learning: Instead of having students respond to an assignment in writing, you can provide students with the option to express their understanding through the use of a video. This is a particularly useful tool for students who have difficulty with their written expression, and by providing them with the option to record themselves allows them to better express their understanding of the concepts taught in class.
Self-Reflection & Goal Setting: Whether it's for Digital Portfolio's or updates on an inquiry project such as Genius Hour, Vlogs can be an incredibly useful tool for students to evaluate their progress towards a goal. The ability for students to record themselves allows for the physical presentation of learning artifacts or the demonstration of skills they've acquired, which previously wouldn't have been an option.
Student Work Samples:
Digital Book Review: Student Video Sample
Demonstration of Learning: Math Concepts
Benefits:
Flipgrid is a beneficial tool to implement in any classroom setting for many reasons, but the biggest being student voice. Through the use of video responses, teachers are able to differentiate the ways that students demonstrate their learning, which in turn, can provide meaningful opportunities for those students who have difficulty expressing themselves in writing. Flipgrid also encourages dialogue between students through the commenting function and teaches students how to provide meaningful feedback through the use of the "3 C's and a Q" Model (see student example above). In addition to the learning benefits for students, Flipgrid is also a very easy program to learn and utilize for students and teachers, as there are very few steps required for set-up or recording. Also, as mentioned above, there is absolutely no cost to using this program as it is fully integrated into Microsoft, which provides all members of the Regina Catholic School Division free access.