When evaluating a new tech tool, I must be able to use it within 5 minutes...or I just bag it. If I can't figure it out by then, my students will be lost. I was conducting a PD session in Ft. Worth this past summer. A young lady called me over and said, "Have you heard of Flipgrid and if so, have you used it?" My answer was, No and no. I made a mental note to try it when the school year started, but I remember thinking...It has to pass my ease of use test. Last week was 8 weeks in and I finally got around to it. I'm glad I did!

Flipgrid is a cool way to encourage student voice. You record a video question and then kids record a 1 to 90-second video on their smartphones or Chromebooks in response. I mastered Flipgrid in about 3 minutes. My students figured it out in 2. This tool is great in terms of providing a creative vehicle for student expression. In last week's episode, Chrissy Romano warned that ostentatious presentation tools like Flipgrid might unravel introverted kids. My response, which Chrissy liked by the way, was to take anxiety away by permitting students who were uncomfortable to interview someone.

To help me in my Flipgrid explanation quest is an awesome original source. Aharon Rockwell is a freshman and in my Global Studies class. Aharon knew I had a podcast and approached me about being a guest. I jumped at his offer and I'm glad I did. He's a great guest!