On July 1, Flip (formerly Flipgrid) will no longer be available for use in the app or in Canvas courses. You will no longer be able to create new groups, topics, or videos after this date. Flip, owned by Microsoft, is limiting the use of this application to Microsoft Teams. The Flip.com website will go into view-only mode. You will be able to download previously recorded Flip videos through September 30, 2024. Refer to the complete announcement from Flip.
Flip is used for:
- Class introductions
- Small group discussions
- Video assignments
If you use Flip in your courses, there are alternative tools to consider that can support similar activities. Below is an at-a-glance comparison of options available for your consideration.
| Discussions with media recording in Kaltura | Kaltura Video Assignment | VoiceThread | Google Assignment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated with Canvas | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grading in SpeedGrader | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Auto-generated captions | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Editable captions | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Students able to interact with each other | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
The table above is NOT a comprehensive list of considerations for the tool you should select. The UMN academic technology community continues to explore options to replicate activities that use Flip and will continue to communicate those options out. Contact your local academic technology unit which may have tool recommendations for your specific use case.
Note: Videos must be accurately captioned to be accessible to all learners. Auto-generated captions provide a good starting point for creating accurate captions to comply with ADA guidelines.
Option #1: Discussions with media recording in Kaltura
This option combines Canvas Discussions and directs students to use the Add Media Using Kaltura button in the Canvas Rich Content Editor.
It is simple to set up, easy for students to participate in, and easy for you to grade with the SpeedGrader. The main drawback is that you cannot limit video lengths for students. Therefore, emphasize the video length limitations in your instructions.
- Watch how to set up Discussions with Kaltura (video; 5:50)
- Read how to add Kaltura media in a Canvas Graded Discussion (article; 3 min.)
Option #2: Kaltura Video Assignment
This option combines Canvas Assignments with a Text Entry submission type, and directs students to use the Add Media Using Kaltura button in the Rich Content Editor. There is currently no way for students to interact with each other’s Kaltura video assignments in the class when submitted as a video assignment. This type of assignment does NOT allow for student interaction.
- Read how to set up a Kaltura video assignment (article; 2 min.)
Option #3: VoiceThread
This option uses the VoiceThread integration in Canvas. It allows you to have more control over what you expect of students, i.e. you can limit video lengths and require a certain number of responses from other students. It is more complicated to set up and presents a steeper learning curve.
- Watch how to set up VoiceThread (video; 5:53)
- Read how to set up a VoiceThread (article; 3 min.)
Option #4: Google Assignment
Google Assignment is another option for students to share videos and respond to them, either by writing a written response or posting a video response. Both Google Docs and Slides allow people to record and embed a video via YouTube or their Google Drive. This option means that students would use their own video storage (such as YouTube) to host videos embedded and shared with the class.
To set up a class introduction activity, create a Google Assignment using Google Slides. Assign each student one slide to share their introduction video with the rest of the class and instruct students how you would like them to respond (either by written comments or by adding response videos to the Google Slide or Doc).
- Read how to set up a Google Assignment (article; 5 min.)
Set up your students for success
- Create a ‘try it out’ assignment: Whatever option you choose, create a 0-point assignment for students to try out and learn how to use the technology before they go through the graded experience.
- Provide succinct and precise instructions to your students for the process you expect them to follow.
If you have questions about Flip alternative tools, contact your local academic technologist or ATSS (atss@umn.edu) for a consultation.
Acknowledgments
This post was authored by the Academic Technology Line staff.