Engaging Students to Think Outside the Classroom Walls with Flipgrid

-Hannah Moon, Laney High School

Becoming a 21st-century educator requires many of us to take a step back and evaluate ourselves, our teaching practices, and our students. For our students to be thoroughly engaged, we as educators must put ourselves in the desks of our students—how do they learn in today’s age of technology? What will keep all students engaged? How can we use the students’ knowledge of technology to our advantage?

I remember one of my EDN professors saying, “Your goal is to make your students learn outside of the 4 walls of your classroom. If you have them thinking about your class when they are at home, then you’ve won.” This has resonated with me throughout my teaching career—how can I extend student learning after the final bell has rung? The answer is simpler today than it was in the late 90s: by utilizing technology!

“Your goal is to make your students learn outside of the 4 walls of your classroom. If you have them thinking about your class when they are at home, then you’ve won.”

Flipgrid is a tech tool that I have started using in my classroom to get my students involved outside of my 4 walls. The program “draws the entire class into an open discussion of divergent experience, perspective, evaluation, and debate. In other words, bring the back row to the front.” With Flipgrid, students create 90-second videos on the topic at hand. So, all the student needs is a phone or a computer with a camera! Then, all the videos are compiled into a “grid” for easy sharing and viewing. I have assigned my students Flipgrids for vocabulary practice, responding to literature, and sharing their thoughts about everything from college to the AP Literature exam.

At first, my students were a little hesitant (they can take selfies all day long on Snapchat, but didn’t want to post a video about class for some reason), but after a while, and once they figured out it wasn’t going anywhere, they became more comfortable with it. Now when I assign it, they try to challenge each other with who will have the best Flipgrid. (I even assign extra credit for the “best” one as voted on by the class).

 "It’s a new way for them to share their knowledge with the rest of the class."

Flipgrid is a fun, easy way to keep your students thinking about your class outside of your 4 walls. It keeps all students engaged and it’s a new way for them to share their knowledge with the rest of the class. You’ll be surprised with the creativity and innovation that your students show in their Flipgrid videos! -by Hannah Moon

Are you curious to see what Flipgrid is? Check out the New Hanover County ELA & STAE Flipgrid page! Please feel free to add to it to familiarize yourself with the program! 

Have an idea for using Flipgrid or a question? Add a comment below to engage with the rest of the ELA community!