App Smashing Tech Tools: Breaking the Mold

Ever run into a brick wall? My senior year of high school's final theatre performance ended with a high-speed collision between a brick wall and my head during the end-of-the-year senior one-act plays. A freshman boy tasked with flying me across the stage, unintentionally pinned my arms to my side and then failed to realize that my head would hit the wall before he stopped running full force. Naturally, my head produced a resounding thud, and I was left with a concussion. Ouch.

Sometimes, my eyes still see stars when I consider the countless number of educational tech tools that are available to us. That headache reappears whenever I attempt to navigate uncharted educational waters and help teachers determine what tools are worth our time, energy, and money. With a plethora of webtools and educational apps at our fingertips, implementing and using these tools in our classroom feels overwhelming. Which tool is right for each learning target and objective we set? Will students navigate these tools with ease, and how do we utilize them to ensure engagement with course content is possible?

Often, I see teachers feel overwhelmed by the number of tools available and worry that when implementing tech tools in their classrooms, students will focus on how to use the tech instead of how to access the content. The secret to discerning what tech tools to use is to implement a few tools purposefully and use them to their full capacity. My go-to's for remote and online learning were Flipgrid, Pear Deck, Padlet, and EdPuzzle. 

While each of these tools is powerful and assists in making learning visible and more interactive for students when used in tandem, the lesson becomes more than just a way to disseminate information; The lesson becomes an experience. Much like my head smashed against the walls behind the auditorium stage, app smashing leaves a lasting impact and can give teachers a bigger bang for their instructional buck.

App smashing allows you to gather formative data at the moment. 

Delivering content often necessitates partial direct instruction and time to put new information into practice. Remote teaching involves utilizing webtools such as readings, slide decks, and pre-recorded videos can become passive if students are challenged to demonstrate their learning while reading or watching a lesson. One of my favorite app smashes involves running a Google Form through Pear Deck. Students can take quizzes while participating in Pear Deck, with a slide on the left that contains content while completing the formative quiz on the right side of the screen. Kahoot can also be embedded to provide students with practice implementing content as well. Data produced by either of these platforms can measure student comprehension and progress. 

App smashing makes lessons more interactive. 

Another one of my favorite app-smashes involves running videos created by Screencastify and WeVideo through EdPuzzle, an app that challenges students to be active. The more students interact, the more likely they are to retain the information gathered.

 

Padlet is another tool that is versatile and has countless uses. Padlet is a curation tool that several contributors can post and share resources, documents, pictures, videos, and ideas. Padlet can be used as a backchannel chat, collaborative brainstorm, or a formative review. The shelf mode in Padlet can challenge students to engage with and apply content in several ways. They can participate and reply to several questions or prompts, and at the same time, they can see their peers' ideas and resources. Learning comes alive with Padlet. Turning on the comment and liking feature can take that student engagement even further. This tool has so many applications and can fit any content area, too. 

App smashing allows students to collaborate. 

Collaboration was a challenge during remote learning. Unlike in a classroom where students are physically brought together, working together online may mean that students are working at different times and are unable to speak face-to-face. Should we be engaged in blended or remote learning during the fall, collaboration is an essential part of the education process that needs to be enhanced. 

One way to enhance collaboration is by providing face-to-face (or screen) opportunities. Flipgrid is an incredible tool that allows students to respond orally and see their peers. While I often used it as a quick formative assessment to hear every student respond before quarantine, it quickly became how I had my students talk to each other and foster asynchronous discussion. Students craved connection. Challenging them to engage in a discussion via Flipgrid makes them feel a sense of community, comradery, and accountability to their peers.

Flipgrid also embeds into learning management systems or Pear Deck for in the moment reflection and discussion. Videos can then be downloaded and edited together using WeVideo to create a highlight reel, a class message, or even spark a further discussion. These videos can also be curated onto webtools like Wakelet to create a viewing gallery that students can access and reflect upon after a given lesson or activity. The more visual their learning, the more natural collaborative work will become in any learning format. 

App smashing allows for differentiation, and lessons become experiences. 

Hyperdocs are my favorite ways to differentiate for students. Hyperdocs are digital docs, slides, or websites that involve navigating through a series of links. Pear Deck Student-Paced Mode is excellent for developing a hyperdoc lesson in which students can progress at their own pace, revisit course material as needed, and demonstrate their learning in a way that suits their skills and interests. Students can take ownership of their knowledge and progress in a way that makes sense. 

Breakout EDU/WebQuest How-To

I love utilizing formative quizzes to test students' prior knowledge and then suggest moving forward to a specific slide based on their scores. In this lesson, students can choose their adventures, complete EdPuzzles, Padlets, and finish embedded assessments based on a series of links and challenges they complete. Students may move forward through the lesson or return to a video or reading that reviews material that they have yet to master. When crafted correctly, every student may have a unique experience tailored to their strengths and interests. Students will have many opportunities to acquire knowledge and master essential skills. Students may even have fun as they feel like they are actively involved in their learning and have some autonomy as to how they grow as learners. 

Next time you feel like you are running into a brick wall, remember that app-smashing can take the best features of your favorite tech tools and revolutionize the learning experience for your students. Do not allow technology to give you a headache. Instead, consider what you want your students to learn, and then think about how these tools can help you to transcend the challenges we may face this fall and make your classroom connections stronger than ever before. 

Better Workflow is Just a Hop, Skip, and a Jump Away

Running outside has turned into a live-action game of Frogger, in which I dodge left, right, run down the middle of the street, and even backward to avoid the onslaught of neighbors out for exercise. Seeing so many people taking advantage of our beautiful weather is so positive. Still, it makes sticking to the six-feet-apart rule difficult and a little dangerous when oncoming traffic makes its way down the street. The friendly faces I have waved at from a safe and healthy distance show that we are all making the best of the shelter-in-place order as a community. 

Managing workflow has been an equally challenging process. Unlike the original 1981 arcade game, there is no pattern to the emails, texts, and notifications that appear on one of my screens. Creating a system for balancing engagement with students, providing support to teachers, and connecting with my own three young children is hectic, but there is beauty in the bustle. 

How does one level-up on workflow? Establishing a routine, understanding what obstacles may come into view, and taking the note from Frogger to find metaphoric embankment on which to rest are crucial to this process. Above all, prioritizing relationships, whether that be a quick text with a friend, a video message to students, or playtime with the kids, is essential. Still, there are some ways to earn bonus points in the work-life harmony (or discord) happening in our house. 

1. Create to-do lists or checklists. 

According to The Checklist Manifesto author, Atul Gawande, an effective checklist provides reminders of important procedures and tasks. They are practical. We are receiving notifications on so many platforms right now, and a to-do list or checklist can remind us to complete essential tasks, reinforce routine, and allow us to accomplish goals (minuscule or substantial). As noted by the Business Insider, the act of writing a to-do list at night for the next day alleviates morning stress, allows time to prioritize tasks, and encourages goal-setting (and completion). For me, I love writing, and a majority of my time is spent typing on a computer. The act of physically writing out goals and tasks with a quality pen is relaxing and reinvigorating. While I am often deemed to be a “techie person,” creating and keeping a low-tech paper copy of my to-do list allows me to organize all of the tasks and people I need to communicate with on a given day into one location, which enhances my productivity and my ability to engage with others. And there’s something to be said about the joy crossing off a to-list item can bring. 

2. Take breaks.

Working at home comes with countless distractions. Accomplishing tasks can feel nearly impossible, especially with a full house of people. I am blessed with a five, four, and two-year-olds who bring great joy to my life but also quickly become restless. Taking movement breaks is healthy for them and healthy for me! I live near a half-mile loop that is a perfect distance for a quick walk with a little one. As noted by researchers at Boston University, resetting for 10-15 minutes improves productivity and one's ability to focus. While this study focuses on elementary-aged children, we all can benefit from the message - when movement becomes part of the routine, the benefits become exponential. 

3. Establish a routine. 

Nothing about this global pandemic is normal. How people feel, how they are coping, and how they are staying busy differs from one household to the next. I have seen a statement saying that "Yes, we are all in the same boat, but we are fighting different storms." We all have different work situations, family dynamics, and health concerns. Still, establishing a routine can help increase productivity and one's ability to cope with the present situation. Do events occur to throw our routines off? Absolutely! Being flexible and being in the moment are important, too, but an established schedule can bring comfort, motivate, and even help pass the time. Routines encourage us to form habits. Charles Duhigg writes in The Power of Habit that by creating a routine and a reward for that routine (my reward is crossing items off my to-do list), we can establish powerful habits that lead to increased success and a sense of accomplishment. So, if there was ever a time to make a habit of exercising, eating home-cooked meals, or reading a book from the list of books you've always told yourself you were going to read, now would be the time! 

4. Automate when possible.

Technology can save us time. Using tech tools that provide automatic feedback can allow us to be timely with our delivery of instruction and feedback, which motivates our students to continue to engage. The use of Google Forms automatic grading and customizable feedback can be used to help students assess themselves and provide instructors with useful data. Google Forms free-response questions can also be used to evaluate the social and emotional well-being of students. Kahoot, Quizziz, and GimKit can gamify reviewing major concepts and even entertain students while they demonstrate mastery of a skill or concept, while tools like Padlet provide spaces for students to post a myriad of artifacts and see what other students are posting. Students can even comment on each others’ posts, which places the responsibility of providing feedback on the class’s shoulders and not just the teachers. Flipgrid is another great tool that creates a sense of face-to-face communication, and the feedback does not have to be from just a teacher. Everyone can participate in responding to each other’s questions and interacting with each other. 

I have been trying to find ways to personalize my feedback to students while saving time. Emailing each individual student is a time-consuming process, but I believe reaching out on this platform shows a more personal level of care. I have tried to send a personal email once a week, and in looking to save time, I created a template. I made a message generic and relevant to all of my students who are all seniors in high school, and then I left a spot in which I could write more personal messages to each student. Using my daily attendance feedback, I tried to craft a few sentences that made each email personal to each student. While I cannot do this every day, every effort makes a difference! 

Maximizing the functionality of these tools and many like it can keep the engagement a little higher and allow teachers to be creative in how and when feedback is given to students. Automation does not have to be impersonal and can keep students engaged! 

5. Give yourself grace.

Finally, give yourself grace, give your students grace, and give your family grace. We are all experiencing and grieving so much right now. Processing the state of the world looks different for each person and different from day-to-day. Remembering that we are on this journey together can bring comfort. Allowing yourself to close down the computer and get outside when needed only makes you stronger for the next moment or the next experience. If the internet connection slows, you can respond to an email later. If a lesson flops, create another one for the next day of work. If only one student responds, know that you made a world of difference in that student’s life (and there are probably at least ten more that saw your message and appreciate it). We are in a profession that often does not see the fruits of our labor. This sentiment may ring true even more in remote learning. Remember that whatever you are able to give, provide, and communicate is enough. 

Somehow the game of Frogger has survived through four decades of iterations, and people still seem to want to play it. As I prepare to brave the cold on this day of non-attendance and play my own real-life game of Frogger in the streets, I am reminded that managing my workflow may be a little easier on some days than others. There will always be another email to respond to or an assignment to grade, and for that, I am grateful.

Creating Padlets that Pop: Tech Tool Deep Dive

In the educational technology field, a new tech tool appears every day. During this semester, my first question to any teacher that I am fortunate enough to work with is what your learning target or goal is? Focusing on what we want learning to look like at the close of a lesson or unit can guide us in creating better learning experiences for our students along the way. Utilizing the backward design (or Understanding by Design) method can challenge teachers to focus less on the tools and more about the learning experiences that their students will encounter and complete as they develop skills and acquire essential content knowledge.

As I sit at my computer processing through my latest professional development presentation, I realize that staring at a screen for a majority of the day makes it difficult to remember to look past the technology and focus on the learning outcomes, but it is essential. The right tools need to be chosen to complete the job - not the other way around. I love witnessing teachers experiment with new tools and methods of engagement. Using a variety of strategies with students is powerful, but again, the tools and the means of arriving a curricular goal should be carefully considered.

Through the past few school years, Padlet has been a tool that I have loved using and watching evolve. This tool is a digital corkboard with endless possibilities. As it has evolved, so too have the opportunities to encourage students to drive their learning. Students can curate, communication, and create powerful learning artifacts and post them all in one page to which other students can comment, rate, and like. Contributing to a Padlet is fast and easy, and the information is quickly organized and preserved to drive future instruction.

Yes, Padlet has been an excellent corkboard tool and particularly useful when creating an entrance or exit ticket, but there are abundant uses for this tool! Taking a tool that students are comfortable using and evolving with the features can make a positive classroom experience even more impactful. Here are a few of my latest experiments with Padlet

Group Curation Tool

Group projects can be tricky. Communication among a group of more than two students can be challenging to navigate as they travel from class to class and/or swamped with after school commitments. As such, Padlet can create a useful curation tool that allows students to communicate asynchronously. Students can share links, leave notes, post videos, and even draw pictures to each other as they build a group project or complete an assignment. Students can also vote on or leave comments to each other, which provides clarity and increases the collaboration.

Notetaking Log

In subjects such as math and science, in which notes are taken regularly, have a notetaking log can help keep students organized, and also provide them with an opportunity to organize a variety of mediums. Images can be uploaded onto a Padlet and are easy to snap at the end of a class with a student's phone, Chromebook, or iPad. Saving notes that were taken in class ensures that students have access to the notes and can review them with ease. Those notes will automatically be arranged in chronological order. I recommend using the stream feature in Padlet to ensure that notes remained organized and easy to follow. Students can use the control find feature to find essential concepts and ideas faster, they can link in any digital activities, and they can even leave voice/video feedback for themselves.

Student Template

Whether students are brainstorming for an upcoming paper assignment, completing a vocabulary activity, or building a map, teachers can create a template for students to remake and use individually. For a long time, I never had students make their own Padlets, but now I love building templates and having students create portfolios or complete reflection activities using a template. When students remake the Padlet, they do have to be careful with the share settings. Having students make their Padlets challenges them to work independently and take control of their learning. It also provides a space for them to demonstrate mastery of a skill or objective in a variety of ways. Their growth can be documented, charted, and shared quickly with a link.  This tool is also relatively simple to use, which emphasizes mastering the content, not the tech tool itself.

Note: Padlet will default to "read-only" at times, which can cause frustration, but that feature can be corrected with a change of those settings.

Blended Learning Lesson

Another great use for Padlet is creating a space for students to demonstrate mastery when learning online or in a blended format. Using the shelf feature, teachers can outline a step-by-step process with their students to complete a variety of activities, connect with their peers, and reflect on their experience. Because Padlet can be accessed at any time and from any location, students can work at their own pace, use each other as resources, and post evidence of their work. I have loved playing with this structure and will be using it next semester when I take on a blended course for the first time.

Choose Your Own Adventure

I loved reading Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid. While I inevitably would perish tragically, I loved turning back to the beginning to chart my progress in the fictitious world within the pages. To pay homage to this process, I played with creating a Padlet within a Padlet as a way to give students a choice in how they might show mastery. Linking Padlets to other Padlets allows students to make connections. In my setup, I provided students with two paths that required writing and video creation. On both routes, students had to do similar activities in a different order, thus ensuring that they were showcasing their skills in a variety of ways but also helping them feel autonomy. The final Padlet took all students back together and required reflection. Being creative with Padlets can make a familiar learning environment fun and even a little exciting.

With thousands of tech tools on the market, this is the one tool that I would endorse because it is versatile and intuitive. The features replicate multiple other tech platforms, and aesthetically it is appealing. If you have great ideas for using Padlet in your classroom, I'd love to hear them! We grow most when we support and connect with one another.

Lean, Green, Fight-Scene Creating Screen

When I started teaching 12 years ago, asking students to create videos took time and careful planning. Most students didn’t have phones that could capture high-quality video, and many were unfamiliar with how to use Windows Movie Maker. Some had the advantage of being Mac users at home or had played with an early version of iMovie. Others had no clue how to save and share their videos. Students did not have YouTube accounts linked to school emails; they were not creating content on various platforms each daily. And if the computer shuts down or froze (which happened frequently) before they saved their edits, they would have to start from scratch.

(See my WeVideo Green Screen doc)

Today, students are far more efficient with their technology use. They may still lack some academic skills or proficiencies in some areas of technology, but they are adept at creating and sharing photos and film content. If they aren’t, they certainly know how to pick partners that are better at using tech tools to complete the job. While they know how to capture the content, I find that students still need support in being innovative and using what they created to tell stories. Posting temporary snapshots of their lives is not the same from engaging people through digital storytelling. Developing succinct stories purposefully with clear beginnings, middles, and endings is not as easy as the goofy faces they make to sustain year-long streaks with their peers.

WeVideo is a tool that my school provides to our students. This web-based application syncs with Google Drive and is easy to use on a Chromebook. Students can also collaborate (not in real-time) on the same video project, which ensures that everyone has access to edit and contribute to the group project. The program has a great green screen tool and allows for layering of images. The paid version also provides access to countless special effects and sound clips that can enhance the video and create professional-looking pictures. What appears time-consuming and complicated is simple and easy to navigate. A person only needs to commit to the editing process or has students who are willing to test out their cinematic prowess in groups.

To play around with the setup and editing, I volunteered my five, four, and two-year-old that they were going to assist Mama with a school project. When it involved wearing superhero garb, they willingly jumped into action. I enlisted my girls to help me gauge student understanding of the creation process. They were part of the entire process, including the editing (although they had significant help with that step).

We started by going to the store to assess the fabric. We choose a green muslin fabric that was not too shear or would become quickly wrinkled. While we chose a green fabric, the material could be any color as long as the subject is not wearing the same or similar colors. My school also has a green screen kit, which we ended up using along with the fabric to make it appear as though they were flying.

Working with a two-year-old to create content is entirely chaotic. Once we had gathered and set up our equipment in a well-lit room, we started crafting our story. We used the extra green fabric to wrap a chair and make it appear as though the kids were flying through the air. We captured lines of dialogue and worked to appear heroic. I would highly recommend having students create a storyboard and script before filming, but our haphazard approach certainly made for quality bloopers. 

After creating a script, it is time for the fun part - capturing footage. Remind students to limit the number of bloopers they make or cuts they take. The students who struggle the most with editing or admit to not being proficient with technology should keep the number of shots they take smaller than students who have a natural knack for video creation. Students should also keep in mind what special effects they might want to add in post-production. Different layers of video may affect the composition of their shots. They can even layer their video on video, which I tried with my kids. I went from having three kids to nine quickly, and the results could have created quite a story. 

In the editing process, once the background is removed from the original footage, students can search for special effects and features in WeVideo. By selecting the star tab and type your topic (i.e.: fireworks) into the search box. Again, students can also add a green screen image over another video clip or static image depending on the desired effect. In editing mode, students can edit the size of the video line images, sound, and speed. The possibilities are endless. 

A green screen is simply a thin piece of fabric, but that fabric is fueled by the creativity, imagination, and ingenuity of the creators standing in front of it. While my children decided to take action and portray superheroes, you can create a daily newscast, travel the world, and even go back in time. This process can empower students to be creative, research, explore, and share their voices. Not all heroes wear capes, but they do find new ways to encourage others to use their voices for good!

Color Your Classroom with Engaging Learning Experiences

Green to yellow, orange to a vibrant red. As autumn colors appear overnight, midterms and summative assignments loom over the heads of high schoolers who have to-do lists as high as the piles of leaves they played in as children. Yes, this point in the semester appears dreary as the weather shifts and schedules are filled to capacity. The end of any term challenges students and teachers alike, but once significant assignments are graded and scores are entered, frantic fears and stress seem to cool. As the end of October approaches, a new sense of excitement and holiday joy start to revitalize the hallways. While the weather outside grows increasingly frightful, the fires of professional development can delight curious minds who are looking to illuminate classroom learning with new tools and strategies.

In the past few semesters, educational technology companies have started creating professional development opportunities for teachers to complete at their own pace online for no cost. Open educational resources provided by companies like EdPuzzle, Google, and Kahoot, encourage teachers to experiment with new ways to engage students - whose energy is freezing over like the first frost of the fall. Earning colorful badges to be displayed in email signatures or to share on social media platforms certain make professional development more festive.

I have started to work my way through a few programs and resources, hoping to spotlight the best professional development that I can share with colleagues and friends. Since all of our time is limited, I want to ensure that learning experiences are valuable and meaningful before making recommendations. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

1. Google for Education remains my favorite resource to encourage teachers to explore. With more courses and modules released every year, Google for Education offers a wealth of knowledge about how to use Google Suites products and why using these products can enhance the classroom experience. Teaching in a Google school, encouraging teachers to pursue their Google Level 1 certification, or creating awareness about the help forums for these products can empower teachers to enhance and even transform current teaching practices. Recently Google for Education has added “First Day of…” resources to walk teachers through individual tools, which is palatably designed for all levels of technology comfort levels. They also have more targeted courses for specific devices, teachers of diverse learners, teachers of English language learners, and even courses on coding. Increasing teacher familiarity with these tools can lead to an increase in exploration and creation by both teachers and students alike.
2. EdPuzzle has been in the professional development game for over a year now, with classes that teach educators to use their tool while elaborating on a variety of subtopics - including personalized learning principles, 21st-century skills, gamification, and project-based learning. With resources on several initiatives and trends in education, irradiates best practices. What I appreciate most about EdPuzzle’s resources is the time commitment is clear, and the experience is completely self-paced, allowing for flexibility and convenience. Having completed a few of these courses has not only exposed me to new and helpful videos to share with colleagues but has also challenged me to reflect on how I use EdPuzzle with students. Experiencing this tool and others from the student perspective improve the implementation of the tool and color classroom learning in new ways. 
3. Flipgrid continues to be one of my favorite tech tools. While it does not offer a traditional course experience, this tool encourages teachers to earn badges for using the tool, contributing to the Disco Library, and for amplifying students' voice. Flipgrid's achievements page challenges teachers on how to continue to share, collaborate, and engage student audiences as well as other educators. This collaborative tool encourages teachers to empower students and provides resources in which teachers can reuse, recreate, and connect with others. Using badges to reward users increases interest and curiosity while also illustrating how much teachers are creating vivid experiences for their students. 
4. Pear Deck, my favorite tech tool to enhance student engagement, does not have a formal training program yet. Their website, however, is robust with articles and resources that cast light on how to utilize this tool with students. While Pear Deck does not have asynchronous trainings online, training slides are readily available for download. The company also provides PD training sessions to teachers throughout the country and also is quick to support teachers who inquire on social media platforms. I would not be surprised if they continue to develop more resources and more formalized training. 
5. Recently Kahoot has jumped on board the professional development train with bronze, silver, and gold certifications. They also have a plethora of professional development resources and a presentation to download as well. Providing this information allows teachers or instructional coaches to use resources to support teachers as they use this tool to make learning fun, engaging, and memorable. I am currently working toward my silver certification, which must be completed over time. Working through these quizzes has allowed me to experience Kahoot from the student perspective and also work through resources that I did not realize Kahoot provided for teachers. The opportunities to learn are endless, and Kahoot has done an impressive job rolling out these resources for teachers.

The fall season is full of changes. From the russet tones of leaves to the lurid and ever-fluctuating emotions of teens - these changes occur before our eyes. New tools and strategies can make instruction lively and vibrant while keeping engagement high throughout the semester. Just as Dorothy steps out of Kansas and into a technicolor world, we can color the dreary fall months with amazing experiences for our students.

Flipping for Flipgrid

Recently, I have worked on creating asynchronous professional development for both the high school and the college where I teach. In doing so, I continued to ask, "How might we...?" How might we revolutionize learning that's happening in our classrooms? How might we engage our students? How might we motivate students to be the drivers of their own learning?

These questions challenge us to reflect, identify learning objectives and design meaningful experiences for our students. When we dream beyond what was once possible in the classroom or simply what we have done before, we enhance and innovate. Our students then have the opportunity to do the same.

Since the start of the school year, I have worked with teachers to create a tech goal to enhance how students are listening, speak, communicate, collaborate, reflection, and more. Together, we have been working through a backward design process to establish what teachers want students to accomplish by the end of the year. From that information, we have worked to envision how students might achieve those goals. Conversations have been inspiring and motivating - as teachers process what is possible.

To support teachers' endeavors, we have paired what they want students to achieve with tech tools that will enhance and transform how they might reach and exceed these benchmarks in their respective classrooms. Technology for the sake of technology is not useful - a point I have stressed a great deal this year in the setting of these goals. Picking a tool and then determining a goal is not the way to implement transformative learning in the classroom. However, tech tools can be useful in challenging students to redefine their responses to "How might we?"

For my next few writings, I want to explore and focus on specific tools in more depth. After working with, playing alongside, and exploring the possibilities these first few weeks of school with some inspiring and engaging teachers, I feel confident in turning to the tools to take their amazing ideas and put them into action.

The first tool I want to hone in on is Flipgrid - one that prides itself in amplifying student-voice and connecting classrooms and people from around the world using face-to-face communication and engagement. At times, this tool resembles a social media platform, as it allows time and space for every student to respond and exchange messages with one another. However, this tool also allows students to receive feedback, reflect, and connect in meaningful ways.

Within the first two weeks of school, a teacher approached me with all the enthusiasm in the world. He knew he wanted his students to engage in self-assessment and reflection, and he knew that he wanted to use FlipGrid to do it. So we began to talk and imagine how might his students achieve this goal, and how might this goal evolve in his classroom.

Flipgrid is a video creation tool in which students can post responses to prompts, videos, images, etc. Typically, students then watch and respond to their peers, or the instructor watches the videos and provides feedback to their peers.

We started by reviewing how to set up Flipgrid. My recommendations for teachers who are new to Flipgrid is to jump in and start. Seeing Flipgrid in action can help teachers to understand the possibilities.  The homepage of Flipgrid prompts users to "Add New Grid," which I view each grid as a place to house "Topics" or individual assignments for a course or specific class. When a new grid is created, an introduction topic is automatically created, which can be assigned to students without making any changes. The blue "Share" button (with a picture of a rocket on it) is available on the grid and on each topic, which can be shared with Google Classroom. The link can be copied and pasted onto any platform on which students access coursework.

Once a teacher has played with Flipgrid in the classroom, my next suggestion is to start playing with the topic features. Again, I would create a grid for each course and use topics as individual assignments. Teachers can set video lengths from as short as 15 seconds to five minutes, add written prompts, add a video prompt (already created or created by the teacher), attach files, allow feedback and liking, and build a customized rubric.

After students respond to a topic, the teacher can choose to SPARK a conversation (by selecting the flame icon) or create a new topic from one student video. Also, a teacher might challenge students to watch and provide feedback to each other. Teachers can also generate a mixtape or a playlist of student work to be shared with their peers. Students have loved viewing playlists that highlight the best-of work produced by classmates. I used this feature last year when completing a Visual Valentine activity in my senior English class and students were pumped.

World language teachers have also loved making Gridpals, a feature that allows teachers to connect their classes to other classes around the country and world. This tool would be incredibly helpful for language acquisition and practice. I have heard teachers using this tool to partner high school and elementary science classes in which the students demonstrate and teach each other essential concepts. While I have not used this feature, I have used the Disco Library, a place to post creative grids and even engage in professional development with other teachers.

When it comes to viewing student work and assessing it, Flipgrid does an excellent job of creating a running log. Once students have submitted, it is easy to go down the line, open a video, and grade it. The feedback is immediately emailed to the student, and a grade can be synced with an LMS platform if desired. The dashboard has been updated. It is even easier than last year to view each topic board as a student and navigate how to share videos. Individual videos can be shared and posted. I love the idea of sharing videos with parents, especially at the elementary level.

Indeed, there are so many possibilities with this tool. When students cringe at the notion of creating a video of themselves, I remind them that they send dozens of Snapchats each day. Here is their opportunity to take their messages a little more meaningful and make a "snapshot" of their learning. This tool does not let anyone hide and also encourages the quieter student to take time to reflect and process information before being asked to speak. It allows for asynchronous learning, peer feedback, parental engagement, and interaction with an authentic audience. Did I mention that this tool is currently free and syncs with student gmail accounts?

Yes, I have caught Flipgrid fever and am excited to hear about teachers using it in their classrooms. The teacher I have been working with wants to ask students to solve math problems and then have their peers watch and learn from each other. He is also hoping to empower his students to teach key concepts and skills. As the passionate person he is, I know he loves the ability to hear from and provide feedback to each of his students. Sharing these videos, I know they - both students and teacher - are going to learn so much this year!