Why is FlipGrid my favorite platform you might ask? Just thinking and talking about FlipGrid gets me so giddy and excited. This is the one tool that I began implementing in my classroom with my 5th and 6th-grade special education students last school year that is still effective and continues to keep students actively engaged. I learn new ways to match it to my instruction that continues to excite and keep my students engaged in their learning. A few reasons I love FlipGrid is because it's a free platform, it can be used on any device at any time, anywhere, and my students have a voice.
All FlipGrid Features Now Free
Last year, FlipGrid was free, but teachers were limited to certain features of the platform. Our district was so kind to buy a few licenses for some of us so that we could have unlimited features and longer video recordings. This past summer, Microsoft bought FlipGrid and made it free to schools. It was exciting news that spread quickly in our district because we were limited to so many licenses for educator accounts. Like every teacher out there, we love anything we can get for FREE!
Any Device~Any Time~Anywhere
FlipGrid can be used on any device such as tablets, computers, and cell phones. FlipGrid also has an app that can be downloaded on these devices for easy access. What I love most is that my students can also go home and get on to FlipGrid to share their voice, whether it's for me or another teacher. It's also a platform that can be used at any time of the day. There is no time restraint. Another perk and point for FlipGrid!
Student Voice
My absolute favorite way to implement FlipGrid in my classroom is having them read to me every night during the week. About 90% of my students have a reading goal, and getting my students to read at home was a challenge. That was until I learned about this platform. I've always wanted a way to motivate them and hold them accountable for doing their job to read at home. That's when I thought about FlipGrid and having them record themselves reading to me from home. Not only is this my favorite thing to listen to at night, but it's my boys' favorite thing to do at night too. They listen to my students read from their books right along with me. Another feature that is my favorite in FlipGrid is providing feedback. You can either do it through a written response or a video. Most of the time I give verbal feedback because they really get excited seeing me at home listening to them read. I get a lecture from them if I miss a night of not listening to them. That's happened a time or two due to schedule conflicts.
Final Thoughts
If you are a teacher and you like free tools to implement in your classroom, then this is the platform for you. If you like that this platform can be used on any device, any time, and anywhere then FlipGrid is the technology tool for you. Last, if you struggle not hearing all of your student's voices and you want them to be heard, check out FlipGrid right now. I promise that you won't be disappointed!
Kari Mueller
Special Education Teacher and Teacher Leader
kmueller@okobojischools.org
No comments:
Post a Comment