Flipgrid!

So, this is a post about one of my new, all time favorite, ed tech tool. Flipgrid is amazing for many reasons, but let me start by explaining how I use it. Teaching band, I have run across students who do not want to play in front of their peers. Stage fright is real! Unfortunately, with one of me and many students, it makes it impossible to do private playing tests in class. Then Flipgrid enters my life. Let me just say, it has been changed for the better. My students are able to submit their playing test via a video taken on their school provided Macbooks, or their phones, or whatever device that they choose. Oh... and they can do it at home. They can even take as many tries as it takes to get it right. Now, my students get excited because they think this stupid teacher does not realize that they can do it as many times as it takes to get a perfect score. The joke is on the students, because that means that they actually practice and improve their playing in the process. Not only does it help their grade, but it improves the band as a whole. I can sit down after class and give individualized feedback to every student. I can plan for the strengths and weaknesses of each student and I can listen to it more than once. It greatly helps in individualized learning.

The second part of why Flipgrid is amazing is the people who work there! I did my Flipgrid Educator Certification and somehow through the craziness of email, my application got lost. It happens. I was not mad. I get it. Technology sometimes has a glitch and we move on. I tried for a little while, but something in the email was not working. It may have been my email, maybe theirs, but the world will never know. I reached out to Flipgrid's Head of Engagement when I saw him on Twitter. Now, like most people, I did not expect a response. You never know what you will get with Ed Tech Companies. Let me just say, I am impressed! Not only did Joey Tarlason respond, he went above and beyond to get my account straightened out. He did not act like I was an inconvenience like many companies out there and he seemed genuinely happy to help. That is amazing customer service! Flipgrid is an amazing platform and it has amazing people! Go check it out!

Engage Students on Flipgrid