How to Use Flipgrid's Android App

Based on the number of videos that I have made about it in the last month, it is not a secret that I think Flipgrid is a fantastic tool for gathering feedback from students. One of the reasons that I like it so much is that it works equally well and is equally easy for students to use on all common classroom devices including iPads, Android tablets, Chromebooks, MacBooks, Surface Tablets, and regular old Windows computers. In the following video I demonstrate how students can use Flipgrid on Android phones or tablets.


Get the Flipgrid Android app here.

Free Technology for Teachers Readers' Choice Awards Voting is Open

Last week I asked you to nominate your favorite educational technology tools of the year. The nominations are in and the final voting is now open. Voting is open now through Sunday night (11:59pm ET). You can vote for one or all categories. You can vote for your favorites in the form embedded below. In an attempt to eliminate the spam problem that I had on the nomination form, I have required voters to be signed into a Google account in order to vote.


(I removed the categories of favorite iPad and Android apps because there weren't any apps that received more than one nomination).

Learning About Microsoft's Tools for Inclusive Classrooms

Yesterday Mike Tholfsen Tweeted about Microsoft's Teacher Training Packs. Teacher Training Packs are collections of resources that are designed to help IT administrators, technology specialists, and curriculum directors lead professional development workshops centered around various Microsoft tools (most of which are completely free for educators).

There are three categories of Teacher Training Packs. Those categories are Inclusive Classrooms, 21st Century Classrooms with Microsoft Teams, and Unlock Office 365 for the Classroom. Within each category you will find three to five packs that you can use to lead professional development. Each pack provides a detailed plan for leading a professional development workshop, slides, activities, and to-do lists. At the end of your workshop participants can take a quiz to show understanding of the new tools and materials.

One of the Teacher Training Packs that grabbed my attention was Literacy Tools for the Inclusive Classroom. This Teacher Training Pack introduces workshop participants to the Immersive Reader and Dictate tools. The session is more than just "how to" as it is focused on leading discussions around how these tools can help students access documents and slides. If you're not familiar with any of Microsoft's accessibility tools, take a look at this short video that I created about Immersive Reader.

How to Create a Custom Flipgrid Code

If you're a Flipgrid user you already know that each of your grids is given a default code and URL. But did you know that you can customize that code and URL? You don't have to use the default code and URL. You can customize it by making one small change in the grid set-up process. In the following video I demonstrate how to make that change to set a custom code for your Flipgrid grids.


If you have never used Flipgrid, but you want to give it a try, I have a complete start-to-finish tutorial available right here.