Please note: This is a repost from Kevin Spachuk on Feb 1, 2020
I would rate this 5/5! I use this learning technology with my class throughout the school year. Last year, we used it school wide – including parents. It is such an amazing collaborative learning technology. It is very easy to use and learn. The value that this venture primarily generates is money as it is a Microsoft Office application, however, it has generated some good for society. This application allows for easy collaboration between students, and I have witnessed the learning that occurs through the use of FlipGrid!
By kevin spachuk on February 1, 2020
Charles Miller started Flipgrid when he was an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. Flipgrid is a video discussion tool that is considered by it’s leaders as a “social learning platform.” Originally launched in 2014 for class of 12 graduate students, now one in three teachers in US use Flipgrid in their classrooms (Forbes). Microsoft bought Flipgrid in the summer of 2018 and has kept the platform free for educators and students.
Dr. Charles Miller ethos at Flipgrid and in life is “everyone is a designer.” He has started several EVAs, Braingiants to assessment-oriented ventures such as Avenue built specifically for e-assessment of American Sign Language and then for other world languages. He also done work for National Geographic as a director at the University of Minnesota’s Learning Technology Media Lab. Another project he worked on was Passport, a platform for experiencing and discovering world languages and cultures instead of it being taught.
In his 2015 Ted Talk Dr. Miller discusses the importance of UI design in his life. The formulation that he arrives at in his Ted Talk is “the importance of content = the importance of experience.” Flipgrid is a great platform because it builds a community in the classroom. The potential to enlarge that community beyond the classroom is also very accessible through Gridpals, classrooms around the world can have peer to peer conversations. Students and teachers can creatively use augmented reality (FlipgridAR) and green screen their videos and projects for any number of formative and summative projects.
I have used Flipgrid for a several years in variety of contexts: for performance in Dramatic readings of sonnets and Forensics’ club–solo acting, for discussion/commentary practice in English and Theory of Knowledge, and for mini-presentations. It is great way to curate students’ voice in any class for formative or summative assessments. There are generic and customize rubrics with different options for feedback and commentary on assessments. It is great to see students using both in class and other environments, to see students uploading more polished and edited responses but also those that have less skill can easily use this platform.
Sources
Ark, Tom Vander. “Teachers Flip Over Flipgrid.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 1 July 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanderark/2019/07/01/teachers-flip-over-flipgrid/#693af51f641a.
Young, Jeffrey R. “Microsoft Buys Video-Discussion Platform Flipgrid – EdSurge News.” EdSurge, EdSurge, 24 Jan. 2019, www.edsurge.com/news/2018-06-18-microsoft-buys-video-discussion-platform-flipgrid.
I also enjoy using Flipgrid in my classroom and am particularly impressed that they are moving into the world of immersive experiences. Augmented reality is an amazing next step to ensure that students continue to find the experience of sharing videos online regarding and exciting. I like your idea of using Flip for theatre exercises such as monologues and wonder if a whole show could be staged through this platform using AR.
Flipgrid has seen much growth in the education space, especially through the remote learning times during Covid. This space allows students to engage more meaningfully with their peers using multimodal forms of communication. Charles demonstrates the importance of learning being experiential through Flipgrid as well as his other ventures such as the Passport app. I agree with his approach to learning being an experience and through the collaborative nature of Flipgrid, I can see the benefit of its growth and integration in all levels of education.
I first came across Flipgrid precisely because it’s a Microsoft Office application. It was easily accessible on Microsoft Teams when I was in higher education, and we began using it in an extra-curricular mentorship program during the pandemic. Given the circumstances at the time, this felt like the perfect tool to try and form some semblance of connection for new international students coming to Canada.
Miller’s quote about content equalling experience I think paves a strong vision for viability. It’s likely one of the reasons Microsoft decided to buy them and why they continue to innovate into different spaces like AR. Charles Miller understanding the importance of UI and having a background to support this makes him a great role model for an entrepreneur.