Enhancing Learning Through Flipgrid: A Creative Evaluation

 

I looked at Flipgrid, a video-based discussion site that a classmate shared with me for this blog post. Students can use Flipgrid to record short video responses to prompts, talk to each other, and have meaningful conversations at their own pace. This technique is great for elementary and middle school classes because it gets all of the children involved, even those who are shy about speaking in front of the class.

I used my evaluation system to rate Flipgrid on a number of different points. Flipgrid got a 4 on the TPACK alignment scale because it lets students show what they know through video comments, which is a good way to combine content, pedagogy, and technology. It also got a 4 on the SAMR scale, which means it reached the redefining level since it turns regular talks into engaging, multimedia events. Flipgrid got a 3 for critical thinking because it makes students think about and respond to prompts and other students' answers in a thoughtful way.

The tool got the best scores in communication, innovation, and engagement (all 4s). Flipgrid gives students a powerful voice in the classroom and lets them use text, audio, and pictures to share their thoughts in creative ways. It also keeps students interested because they like making and viewing movies. It did get a little lower scores for teamwork (3) and accessibility (3). Students can talk to each other, but they can't work together as much as they could in real-time group work. Students who don't have stable internet access or devices at home may also have trouble getting to school.

One of the best things about Flipgrid is that it makes it possible for all kids to take part. It's especially helpful for students who need more time to ponder before they answer or who would rather speak in a recording than in person. Some students may not want to be on camera, which could make them less likely to engage. Teachers would have to help and offer other options when they were needed. 

For things like reading answers, science reflections, or discussing math problem-solving solutions, I would use Flipgrid in my classroom. It fits in nicely with goals for learning that have to do with communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Also, it makes it easy for teachers to see how well students understand by looking at their recorded answers over time.

I discovered that my framework worked well overall after doing this evaluation. But I would think about adding a particular requirement about how comfortable students are with technology and participating in videos, since this is a big part of how well tools like Flipgrid work in the classroom.

References

Ferlazzo, L. (2020). The best of Flipgrid: Promoting student voice and engagement. Educational Leadership, 78(6), 24–30.

Schunk, D. H. (2020). Learning theories: An educational perspective (8th ed.). Pearson.