A tool that allows students to express themselves orally

Whether it is to keep diverse traces of student learning or to assess oral communication differently, more and more teachers are discovering the Flipgrid application. Jean-Sébastien Reid, Deputy Director General at Idée Éducation Entrepreneuriale, had the opportunity to present it during the IDÉE 2021 Congress.

At the start of the workshop, Jean-Sebastien Reid submitted a survey to participants. The majority did not know Flipgrid. None used it on a regular basis. The workshop therefore became an opportunity to explore the platform and how it works. 

Flipgrid is a digital application that (literally) gives students a voice through audio and video. The teacher creates activities, in the form of Topics, and students can then perform them by recording their responses orally. An activity bank is already available in the application, but it is possible to create new ones. 

“This application is useful in the classroom to allow students to express themselves differently and interact with each other. In schools, we are still very much in writing, whereas the skill Writing is not always what one seeks to observe, says Mr. Reid.

Thus, Flipgrid can be used for:

• collect traces of learning on different subjects;
• follow the development of students' projects;
• work on oral communication in authentic contexts (and different from the traditional oral presentation in front of the class). 

All students need to do is consult the task at hand, prepare their content and record an answer. The instructions will benefit from being clear on what is sought in terms of content, length, etc. The teacher can then give written or oral feedback, which helps to provide more complete, more personalized and emotional feedback. Students can also interact with each other, commenting on each other's recordings. Everything remains private on the platform.

“Some students will feel more comfortable expressing themselves on subjects orally rather than in writing. Likewise, in the privacy of communication within the platform, they will be less embarrassed to give their opinion on topics, ”says Mr. Reid.

A teacher who took part in the workshop immediately saw a new way of interacting in a more private way with her students, of allowing them to express themselves without filter. For example, some students are embarrassed to say that they like to read or that they liked a particular reading. Other students with motor skills may also find it an ally to communicate.

Our Virtual Congress in Conscious Entrepreneurial Education (IDEA 2021), which was held on October 27, 28 and 29, 2021, is the only gathering in innovative entrepreneurial pedagogy open to all in Quebec.

In addition :

• Already appeared in the École branchée news feed: Flipgrid: creation serving feedback
• CréaCamp Discovery École branchée subscribers also have access to full video training about Flipgrid.