Allowing students the opportunity to express their knowledge verbally has always been a powerful motivator for some students. Creating opportunities for students to express themselves is important. Practically, the technique can be time consuming. Just imagine yourself watching thirty students stand and deliver. Consider a music teacher, who needs to listen to 60-70 students play a passage for assessment. Consider a trades or science teacher who wants a classroom of students to demonstrate safety techniques before working in the lab on a project. Consider an ELA teacher who would like to have students read a poem or prose passage dramatically.

Teachers can expand opportunities for verbal expression with a digital tool called Flipgrid. At its core, Flipgrid allows students to record video content responses on virtually any device. Chromebook and laptop users can rely on a built in video recorder. Tablet and phone users can record and post with iPads and phones.

Flipgrid is so much more than its core capability of gathering video responses. Entire lessons can be built into the grid with links and video resources. Student responses can be shared or kept private. Feedback from teachers or peers is easily created.

Microsoft bought Flipgrid recently, unlocked the previous paid professional features, and has given the entire platform to teachers and students - for free.

Multiple Design Qualities can be addressed through Flipgrid including Organization of Knowledge, Affirmation, Novelty & Variety, and Clear & Compelling Product Standards.

The following video is a great tutorial on using Flipgrid. We enjoyed viewing the video on a separate device (iPhone) as we built our first Flipgrid on a laptop.