Flipping Out for Flip Grid

This blog post accurately reflects my feeling for the latest EdTech tool to come onto the scene as COMPLETELY free and full-featured: FlipGrid.

What is FlipGrid? Well, in a short statement: FlipGrid is an online tool that allows an educator to post a topic in text or in video and have students post a response, recording themselves in a short, guided response.

So...for what can you use this? Well, this is a great tool for world languages, math, science, social studies, music, art, etc. etc. Let me give you an example of how I've used it.

My students are practicing regular, present-tense verbs. I posted two topics in the FlipGrid:
1. Describe your typical day, using as many AR/ER/IR verbs as possible.
2. Describe the typical day of a celebrity of choice.

Students chose a topic and then recorded a response. Then, I, as the teacher, moderated/watched each response. I had the option, as well, to email students feedback, or post feedback on the video. I set the limit as 1 minute, so the students were halted at the minute mark (though you can decrease or increase that time limit as well).

Some possible applications...

• You can have students respond to a literary passage in an oral response, instead of writing. 
• You can post a central question about history and have students respond. 
• You can ask students to critique a piece of art.
• You can ask students to make hypotheses prior to a science project. 

How about adult learning? 

• Veteran teacher advice for new teachers
• PD quick questions prior to PD sessions
• School-to-school mentorship programs
• PLN pen-pals

The uses are endless. The tech is easy. Here is a brief break-down of how to use...

Sign Up

1. Go to FlipGrid.com

2. Click "Sign up Today"

3. Sign up with Google or Microsoft

Log-In

1. Go to FlipGrid.com

2. Click "Educator Login" at the top of the screen

3. Use your account login (Google or Microsoft)

Getting Started

1. Click on "My Grids". 

2. Create a Grid for your courses. This is where your topics and responses will live. Mine was "7Y Spanish FlipGrid". 

3. Once in a created Grid, click "New Topic". 

4. Fill in the needed information (Title, Topic Tip, Set Response Time, description, and date).

5. Set privacy needs (moderation on if you want to have the sole ability to see others' videos). 

6. Add attachments, emojis, links, etc. 

7. Decorate (video features).

8. FINALLY, set type of feedback. 

9. Click "Create Topic". 

Sharing Out for Posting

1. Click "Share Topic" and post the link in a learning management system. 

2. Students, when clicking the link, will sign in using Microsoft and Google account. 

That's it! That's the quick and dirty setup. When you sign up for FlipGrid, there are great resources for PD and even Micro-credentialing. They continue to release new features such as "MixTapes" where you can compile a list of "greatest hits" responses. It's an amazing tool, but I know, as a teacher, time is of the essence so here is the quick start guide!

As always, tweet me at @SrBonito1 with questions or post on this blog. I LOVE this tool and am a convert (also, the students love the emojis they can add to their cover image). 

Until next time, 

Techfully and Innovatively Yours, 

Scott

20% Time and Student Reaction

So, the results are in! We had our first 20% time. Here is the narrative below and some resources for those who want to try.

I started the year with, "We always ask you (students), 'What do you want to learn this year?' and then get too busy to do it...so, here is your opportunity to do it". Eyes widened. "Could he be serious?" The students looked around, wondering if I was really willing to give that control back to the masses. I was, and I did.

This past Friday I gave a brief introduction to my students and followed with a video. I followed with passing students out a plan sheet. Then, I gave them half of the class to brainstorm. I was channeling my inner "design-thinking" guru. The ideas that came out BLEW me away:

-A beginner's guide to Fortnite, for Spanish speakers
-The evolution of medicine in the Spanish-speaking world
-A Spanish-language cast album of "Oliver" the musical
-How-to art tutorials, in Spanish
-Inventions to solve water pollution for Spanish speaking countries
-A Russian to Spanish dictionary

The list goes on and on. Time is short and precious for us, the educators. So, here are my lessons for you innovators:

1. Be comfortable admitting to students that you are "building the plane while flying it".
2. Don't say no to any idea but rather, "Yes...let's explore". The "yes, and..." improvisation rule.
3. Feed the innovation fire. Encourage and be in wonderment of student ideas. This will NOT be hard.
4. Do NOT overplan. (I'm taking this one to heart).
5. Sow the seeds across your building and build excitement. It's contagious.

Finally...

6. Have fun. This was the first time in SO many years that I had JUST as much fun as the students, and the students had JUST as much fun as me. The journey carries on. Follow along :).

Until next, innovative time
-Scott

*Click the links above for resources from me to you!

20% Time

Image credit: https://openclipart.org/detail/154075/light-bulb-icon

New year, new blog direction. The focus for the year will be my reflections on 20% time in my class.

Every year I ask the students, "What do you want to learn about this year"? in an effort to personalize my learning, and every year, the curriculum comes cascading down on me, washing away my efforts in this arena. This year, I will be making a focused effort to do the 20% time in my class.

What is it? Well, "the legend goes" that Google instituted a 20% time, during which staff members were allowed to pursue passion projects during their workweek. Some of the best creations came from the 20% time. Gmail is an example of a product of that time. What does that look like in the classroom? Well, in the classroom, this looks like setting aside time, at regular intervals, to allow students to engage in passion projects using the design process to explore, research, refine, and present. 

So, off I went. I asked students "What do you want to learn this year?" knowing that it would not be a question posed in vain. When I explained 20% time, I received excited looks (on the face of tired middle schoolers, no less!).

This blog will be mixed with technology and reflection on that 20% time (since technology is a great support for it). In the meantime, if you too are interested in 20% time (or a variation), here is an article that I used to launch off from this year, from Edutopia.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the kids do with their 20% time, in World Language, in order to bring some authenticity to their learning and meaningful application to their work.

Until next time,
Scott


Works Cited
Smith, Meshelle. "Genius Hour in Elementary School." Edutopia, 15 September, 2017,     
     https://amp.edutopia.org/article/genius-hour-elementary-school?__twitter_impression=true.    
     Accessed 6 September 2018.