For today’s tech snack, I want to share with you a video feedback tool. Today’s tech snack can be found at the following url: http://fligrid.com
What is it?
Flipgrid is a free online tool that allows you to receive video responses and feedback from your students. It will work on any Internet enabled device with webcam technology including tablets and smartphones. If you are using a desktop/laptop, Flipgrid will work directly from any Internet browser. If you have a smartphone/tablet, you will need to download the free app to provide responses.
“Charles Miller, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and former co-director of its Learning Technologies Media Lab, created Flipgrid a few years ago. At the time he was traveling abroad for a research project. He wanted to continue in-class discussions with the 12 graduate students in a course he was teaching. So he set up an early version of his threaded video chat system and asked the students to send in video responses to questions instead, and he replied in kind from a distance.”- ( from Edusurge article)
How does it work?
You make a free account. Then you have what is called a grid. A grid can have as many topics in it. With a free account, you get one grid with unlimited topics. (If you have paid account, you have unlimited grids and more features.) So once you make your grid, you add your topic(the question you are trying to answer). You set your settings and then you can share your grid with students. Grids can be shared as a website link for desktops/laptops. For smartphone users, students download the free app and put in a pin to access the grid.
A testament to the quality of their product, Flipgrid is one of the few Web 2.0 tools company that has their VPAT(voluntary Product Accessibility Template) readily available on their website. Based on the results listed on the VPAT and my own experience using the tool, I would give this tool a strong B+ for accessibility. Transcriptions can be allowed for every topic and response to a topic. Transcriptions are computer generated powered by the IBM Watson computer. This is a fabulous feature, though I did find that if I didn’t speak clearly micues/mispronunciations would show up in the transcriptions.(examples: hear showed up as heir) I also discovered that the transcriptions did not use grammar or punctuation.
While the transcription of miscues may be problematic, it could be used as a valuable teaching moment. Students can re-record their submission as many times as they need to before it posts to the grid. Teachers/faculty members can stress to students to check the transcriptions of their video submissions. If any miscues appear, have the students re-record their responses. It is a good way to practice public speaking skills as well as inspire confidence in expressing ones’ beliefs/arguments.
Classroom implications
This tool gives every student a chance to provide commentary and ask questions. It is the perfect tool for creating a flipped/ or blended learning environment. Some other ideas of how you can use this tool in the classroom include:
- Setting up virtual office hours for questions.
- Collaborating and brainstorming sessions
- For comparing and contrasting items
- For expressing frustrations or need for clarifications on topics,
- Personal reflections on content shared
- Assess prior knowledge
- Make predictions and have students comment on those predictions