We have been running a series of tweets recently under the hashtag #FlipgridForFE. We have had many requests recently either via our one to one sessions or group sessions of "what's the best way to do..." "how can I get students to do..." and most of the time our answer is Flipgrid.
Teachers are working at an enormous rate to make lessons as great as they can make them. You wouldn't be hanging around working all these hours in these ever changing conditions were it not for the love of the job at the minute! Teachers want to replicate their face to face classroom online, but this may not be possible nor the best idea depending on the group. Thinking about Puentedura's SAMR model we can place our activities against this framework and see are we substituting or is it better to augment the planned task online?
Thinking about the key 21st Century 4C Digital Skills; communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking our SHED resources serve as a great tool for developing those skills. Sketching the problem creatively, critically highlighting key information, estimate a sensible answer using critical thinking. Followed by collaboratively communicating in a discussion to establish whose sensible estimates were correct. Flipgrid serves as a great tool for collaborative communication. Although students record videos individually whilst in lockdown they can collaborate by using comments, helping respond and reply to others ideas.
Flipgrid is great for giving feedback for students too. Anecdotally on social media we are seeing teachers herald the speed of their assessment and feedback with the use of video or audio tools. Recording a 30 second video of feedback is probably quicker than typing against a mark scheme, and more enjoyable! Video feedback builds social connection with learners, closing that physical distance bringing teachers closer to students. Students feel connected and the personalised nature of feedback
When setting topics on Flipgrid you can add in a custom rubric. This means that you can mark student video submission with a few clicks against your assessment criteria. They can also see the rubric as they submit the video. They old argument, how do students know what good looks like if they don't have a reference point! Both through model answers and the criteria they are being assessed against. Hattie says "The most powerful single influence enhancing achievement is feedback" Once students have flipped on the Flipgrid you can privately mark their work either through comments or a video response. Making feedback personal via video may help those messages form in the student longer term memory too.
We have blogged about using Flipgrid for staff reflection here but thinking about the new lockdown the issues still arise of staff isolation and staff lack of community. Staff may be missing that drop in to the staffroom to share how their lesson went, that offloading of class 1 on Monday morning who always put them through the wringer! Flipgrid could be a vehicle to support staff with this. Leaders could create a Flipgrid for staff communication could be powerful to help staff feel supported. A short video sharing how their foray into using a new tool could inspire another staff member who views it to give it a go. A positive comment underneath from a colleague saying I hear you and I am here for you may go a long way.
These are a few of our VERY long list of ways we encourage staff to use Flipgrid and the evidence that informs our thinking. If we can help you or your school or college with Flipgrid or any part of education technology please get in touch.
