Create Flashcards from Google Spreadsheets

If you browse through the Google Docs Template Gallery you will find a bunch of templates for creating flashcards in Google Spreadsheets. There is also a flashcard script available in the script gallery (open the insert menu in a spreadsheet to search for the script). None of those templates nor the script is as easy to use as Flippity.

Flippity is a free tool for creating flashcards from data in a Google Spreadsheet. Flippity provides clear directions for the simple steps to take to create your flashcards. To create your flashcards use the Flippity template, enter your data, publish the spreadsheet to the web, then grab your Flippity link. Your Flippity link will take you to a Flippity page on which you and your students can flip through your flashcards. Flippity includes a shuffle function and an option to remove cards from your deck of flashcards as you flip through them.

Applications for Education
Flippity is a good tool that you and or your students can use to create flashcards for any number of topics. I learned about Flippity from Steve Fortna who is a Spanish teacher.

The Bill of Rights in 30 Seconds and a Video Assignment for History Students

I've said it before and I'll continue to say to it, U.S. History teachers and students really should subscribe to Hip Hughes History on YouTube. Keith Hughes does a fantastic job of presenting short overviews of key concepts and events in U.S. History. Unlike a lot of "flipped classroom videos" Keith's videos are upbeat and engaging. After watching his Government Shutdown for Dummies video I saw one of Keith's older videos for the first time. The Bill of Rights in 30 Seconds is a very fast overview of the key concepts of the Bill of Rights, check it out on YouTube or watch it below.


Applications for Education
After they watch The Bill of Rights in 30 Seconds have your students take the same concept of using props and have them create 30 second video overviews of each of the concept in the Bill of Rights. In an assignment like that production quality isn't as important to me as content and students' demonstrations of understanding. I would have students use simple video editing tools like the YouTube iOS or Android apps to record do the rough editing of their videos.

Hip Hughes Explains Government Shutdown

Earlier this week Keith Hughes, producer of the world renowned YouTube channel Hip Hughes History, released a new video in which he explains the current U.S. Government shutdown. In The Government Shutdown for Dummies Keith covers the causes of the government shutdown and explains what it means for ordinary citizens. The video is intended for high school students.

For even more resources on the government shutdown check out the lists of resources that Glenn Wiebe and Larry Ferlazzo have assembled. 

How to Create and Edit Flexbooks Online

Earlier this year I shared a nice tutorial that Gladys Scott produced about creating CK-12 Flexbooks. This morning I Google+ I saw that Gladys has released two new tutorials on the same topic. Her new tutorials cover how to create and how to edit CK-12 Flexbooks. The videos are embedded below.



Applications for Education
Tools like CK-12 Flexbooks can be very useful for producing reference materials that are tailored specifically to your curriculum and your students' needs.