Flipgrid: Letting Everyone Join the Discussion

     

Seeing as we have all been using it for this whole semester I thought I would spend some time discussing Microsoft's Flipgrid and why I believe its future is bright in this ever-changing educational landscape we find ourselves in. Flipgrid on its surface is quite simple, the instructor creates a topic that can include a video of their own or just plain text to jumpstart the discussion. From there, the class can create their own pre-recorded responses to the discussion with a built in simple editing tool the students can use for a bit of post-production. Aside from its obvious uses in the time of Covid as a virtual discussion hub that allows students to join the discussion when they have free time, I believe a lot of Flipgrid's value lies in its ability to open up discussion to shyer students or students who need a bit more time to formulate their arguments.

    In my time substitute teaching I found that quite a few students best avenue for demonstrating their comprehension of a topic was through a verbal explanation, but struggle to put it in writing or express it on a quiz. Using Flipgrid these students could be given sufficient time to form their thoughts and put them out into the discussion. Similarly, students who might struggle to talk around their peers or in front of a class Flipgrid allows them to express their thoughts where and when they feel comfortable. Flipgrid is more than just a tool for virtual learning, it also fills an accessibility role for students with social anxieties and those that struggle putting their thoughts and words into writing.