Using Flipgrid to Design At-Home Learning Experiences

I want to say before you take a look at this post that I am not suggesting that you have to reinvent the wheel.  If you already have a plan in place or have no idea how to use Flipgrid and find this confusing or difficult, please know that I completely understand.  I just know that Flipgrid is a tool that is used in SO MANY classrooms.  Because it is familiar to so many, I just thought this idea might help those getting started.

So, I know that I said that I probably wouldn't post again but I'm awake, the kids are asleep, it's quiet, and I have to do something.  That being said, I was really thinking late last night how beneficial it might be to design weekly learning experiences using Flipgrid.  

You might be thinking that your students need a lot more that WEEKLY learning experiences.  How will you cover all of the content?  Will that keep them busy each day?  A weekly learning experience is so different than what school has looked like for them in the past.  All of those things are great points and my response is this.  No, you won't cover all of the content.  No, it won't keep them busy all week and yes, it is very different than what school has looked like in the past.  But, let's be honest.  This IS different.  Trying to make this experience look like a traditional school day simply will not work.

Our learners are not just home for the sake of being home.  We have to consider the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that is gripping most families right now.  Learning experiences should be fun rather than stressful, engaging rather than driven by compliance, and should above all, empower learners to drive their own learning as they make important connections.

Please welcome Flipgrid to the stage.  I think it's a great idea to create a Learning from Home Grid with topics for each week.  Let me explain...

Choose a theme or big idea for students to explore.  Create a topic resource that is important for them to access before diving into additional content.  That topic resource might be a video from you explaining what you would like for them to do, an article that need them all to read so that they have background knowledge before moving forward, or a Khan Academy lesson that you'd like them to experience.  This will be the "main event", if you will.

After you've decided what the topic resource will be, take some time to find several supporting experiences that you can include as topic attachments.  This is where learners will be given the opportunity to own the learning.  Encourage them to choose 3-4 additional topic attachments to explore throughout the week.

Finally, ask your learners to share a video within the topic to reflect on what they learned that week.  This will be an opportunity to document their learning and collaborate with each other during this difficult time.  As the teacher, you can respond to their reflections, ask clarifying questions, and help them make real connections.  

This is just an idea to be considered as we try to figure all of this out.  I don't know if this will work for you, your campus, or your district.  I do know that expecting learners to complete the same amount of work that they would complete in the classroom just isn't an option right now and I think it's important to consider alternative solutions.

Thank you so much for the work that you've done, the work that you are doing, and the work that we will all continue to do.  I pray that you know how appreciated you are and how important your role is during this difficult time.  I hope this helps and makes sense.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mcnairandi@gmail.com.  ​