WHAT IS FLIPGRID & HOW CAN I USE IT?
What is Flipgrid?
Flipgrid is a video platform that allows students to quickly and easily record a video response to a question or topic that you pose. Flipgrid is totally free to use and works on any device.
The step-by-step process is:
- Start by setting up your free Flipgrid account
- Create a grid (this is a broader category or project. It could even be one of your classes)
- Create a topic on your grid (ie. “Introduce yourself” or “Tell me your favourite performer and share one fact about them”) and add some instructions
- Once you’ve set up a topic, share the link with your students
- Students will visit your topic, look at the instructions and then record their video response
If you need more detailed instructions, take a look at the links in the “More Useful Links” section below.
USING FLIPGRID IN MUSIC EDUCATION
20 Ways To Use Flipgrid
There a lots of ways that you could use Flipgrid in the music classroom. Here are some suggestions:
- Listening diary responses – describe the piece you listened to, one thing you liked and one thing you didn’t like
- Perform a rhythmic exercise
- Sing a song you’ve been working on
- 4-week transformation: students submit a video of the first time they play a piece and then another after 4 weeks of practice (the second video can submitted as a Reply/Comment on the first)
- Record a cover version or parody of a song
- Play a scale/drill
- Show us how to assemble and/or tune your instrument
- Teach someone how to record with a microphone
- Compare two versions of the same song
- Record a dance routine
- Perform the basic rock drum pattern using body percussion
- Submit a Recorder Karate piece for assessment
- Submit a Rainbow Ukulele piece for assessment
- Share a concert review
- Describe an orchestral instrument – how it makes sound, what it’s made of, which family it belongs to
- Describe a family of instruments – brass, woodwind, strings, percussion and so on
- Invite a guest to share some expert tips
- Ask students to share an expert tip (like a playing technique, a computer shortcut, or a time-saving activity)
- Create a musical #fliphunt (a video-based scavenger hunt)
- Share a “musical me” fact – your first concert experience, the song that gets you up dancing, your favourite artist, the instrument/s you play
MORE USEFUL LINKS
Flipgrid official resources
- Flipgrid website
- Flipgrid educator resources page
- Educator’s Guide To Flipgrid (direct download link)
- Types of grids explained (privacy/access)
Tutorials on Youtube
- Richard Byrne – How to Use Flipgrid – From Sign-up to Video Sharing
- Technology For Teachers and Students – Flipgrid 2018 – Creating Video Assignments
- Abbey Thomas – Flipgrid Instructions for Students
- Teacher’s Tech (older)
- There are lots of others – just search “Flipgrid” on Youtube
Flipgrid ideas from teachers
- Kathy Kerszi – What’s a Fliphunt?
- Skeletal System Fliphunt example (could adapt for body percussion and vocal sounds or parts of an instrument)
- Geometry Fliphunt example
- Theresa Ducassoux – Using Flipgrid In Instrumental Music
- Emily’s Kodaly Music – Flipgrid Fever: Using Flipgrid In Music
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WANT MORE?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.
I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community. Learn more and take a sneak peek inside
3 Comments
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Hello Katie, thank you for your wonderful articles and workshops. You are incredibly generous. I haven’t used Flipgrid yet because I have been using Google Classroom for my students to turn in their videos. I’m wondering if Flipgrid is better than using the attachment in GC, although a couple of parents have told me this week that they’re having a hard time attaching their kids’ videos. My question is: would Flipgrid be able to record the sound from the computer as well? I assigned my students to play a piece on a virtual xylophone and I would need to hear them playing it along with my video.
Hello Inge – apologies for the late reply. Yes, Flipgrid does make the process a lot easier and helps avoid the issues of uploading/attaching videos directly in Google Classroom. However – it’s not possible to record the computer sound in Flipgrid. Another option could be to have the students record their pieces using Screencastify or Loom which are both free Chrome Extensions. They will need to select “record tab audio” in the advanced settings (the wording is slightly different in each app) and then it will record the audio coming from the virtual xylophone. They will end up with a link for the video they have made and they can send you the link in GC.