ThingLink Teacher Challenge: Flip It with ThingLink For Video

This is the 5th post in the ThingLink Teacher Challenge series. Participants can join the challenge at any time by signing up. After you sign up, you will receive an email invitation from ThingLink. View a list of all posts in this series at the bottom of each weekly challenge. Please visit our showcase page.

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Week 5: Create a Flipped Lesson

Objective

In this activity you will

Find or create a video for independent instruction.
Add your video to ThingLink For Video
Tag the video with resources to enhance your independent lesson and build in accountability.
Share your video by submitting the link through the Submit Link Form

Overview

In this activity you will use the new ThingLink for Video tool to create a lesson that can be used independently, outside of class, to prepare students for work that will be completed in class.

Rationale

Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams are a couple of innovative teachers who have developed an approach to teaching and learning known as The Flipped Classroom, which supports the idea of teachers as learning coaches.

At it’s most basic level, The Flipped Classroom approach means front loading the learning and assigning the prep work as homework in order for students to come to class prepared to use it. This means the classroom becomes a place for collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication where the teacher serves as a facilitator who interacts with students, assesses them, and spontaneously pulls together groups for reteaching and challenge. The Flipped Classroom is a place where students are actively engaged in applying the learning and it is noisy and unpredictable. Worksheets as homework become obsolete and students no longer sit in the classroom listening to lectures. Essentially, The Flipped Classroom is a place where “the teachable moment” comes alive.

While it does take a considerable amount of effort and dedication to truly facilitate a Flipped Classroom environment, teachers can test the waters by utilizing mini lessons, known as Flip Packs, to maximize instructional time. ThingLink For Video is a tool that is well-suited for the task.

Example

In this example I started with my own screencast, created with Screencast-o-Matic, a free online screen recorder. You can create your own video like I did and upload it to YouTube, or you can certainly start with an existing video from YouTube. Work at a level that you are comfortable with, and remember to keep it simple and fun the first time.

How To Create an Interactive Video

Note: Early access to ThingLink for video must be requested. Get Early Access.

Classroom Connections and Modifications

Start with an existing YouTube video and add tags with your own resources to add focus to the instruction. Add an exit ticket for accountability.
Use video to introduce a task task, such as Common Core Writing, and add tags with samples for students to explore.
Videotape a student performing a task, such as singing, upload it to YouTube and use ThingLink For Video to add reflections, comments or suggestions to critique the performance.