Screencastify & FlipGrid

Screencastify is a simple video screen capture software for Chrome. It allows you to record a browser tab, your whole desktop or your webcam. You can also embed your webcam in the corner while you're recording a tab or your desktop.

Once you've installed the extension, you'll need to go through a three step setup process. You'll only need to complete these steps the first time you use the extension.

1. Log in to the extension: Use your Google account to log in. We strongly recommend that you automatically save videos to your Google Drive (thank us later!)
2. Accept the permissions: Chrome will ask for a few permissions for the extension to run optimally. In a nutshell, these permissions allow us to create a folder in your Google Drive account entitled "Screencastify", access your webcam and microphone, record your screen, and display our annotation tools.
3. Introduce yourself: You'll then be presented with a 2-question survey. Let them know you're an educator.

Now that the extension is fully set up, you're ready to start recording ⏺. There are a few options that you should familiarize yourself with.

1. Record your browser tab: This option is perfect if you only want to show your viewers what's happening on one specific tab in Chrome. We use this option most when we want to record over a Google Slides presentation, for example.
2. Record your desktop: Use this option when you want to show your viewer something outside Chrome (like a PowerPoint) or if you think you'll switch between multiple tabs and/or programs.
3. Record your webcam: This option is perfect when you just want to speak directly to students, no screen involved.

Sometimes, you need your recording to be perfect! For those instances, you may want to check out our editing options which are always available to our premium subscribers. NOTE that you only have the premium account for a year.

1. Access the editor: There are two ways to access the Screencastify browser-based editor. You can click the "Open in Editor" box at the top of the screen of the recording you make. Alternatively, you can navigate straight to the editor by entering edit.screencastify.com into your address bar.
2. Crop, trim, and add text: Use the options on the bottom left to make your video perfect. Crop the video to show only a certain portion of the screen. Use the trim tool to cut out that unfortunate few seconds. Add text to make your videos even more engaging.

Remember: Make SHORT videos!

Once your video is perfect, there are tons of ways to share your recording with students, parents, or anyone else with an internet connection. The folks who view your videos do not need their own Screencastify account.

1. Share a Google Drive link: Once you're done recording, the video will pop out in a new tab. To share the Google Drive link, just click the "Copy Link" button on the left. This will automatically update sharing settings so that anyone with the link can view the video - you can then post onto SeeSaw or FlipGrid or other online platforms.
2. Share on Google Classroom: To share to Google Classroom, you'll first need to generate a link from YouTube or Google Drive. Once you've done that, select the class you'd like to share to and the action you'd like to take and you're all set!

FlipGrid is a popular video-sharing tool. It allows teachers to easily create groups (previously called grids) that encourage video discussion. Every group behaves as a sort of message board that teachers can post questions to and students reply with a video answer. You can share these grids with your class or student groups interested in a common topic.

There is no limit to the questions you can put up on each grid and students don’t have a limit in terms of responses either. You have the flexibility of including a text-based question or spicing it up with videos, images, gifs or attachments while the customizable security settings let you better protect your students’ privacy.

Step 1: Sign up for a free educator account

Go to https://admin.flipgrid.com and sign up with Google account. Click the Blue Box for Google and follow the directions presented.

Once your account is complete you are ready to navigate the FlipGrid online world.

Step 2: Create a Group

Your Group can be your classroom or the unit/subject you are teaching. Name your Group. Select the Group Type (Pick Private) & access to your Group, which includes:

School Email (Most Popular...Use this!)

• For SMMUSD it is @smmk12.org to access student gmail accounts.

You are able to give your Group a password to login if you so please. This would ensure only students in that group/period would have access to your topics. If you have previous topics created in other groups, you are able to add them to your new group once created. So it allows you to reuse topics.

Step 3: Add a Topic and Choose Access

To create Topic, add the Topic Title and prompt for your students. Topic Media is a good way to add reference material links, an image, or GIF to your topic.

Tip – Turn on video moderation if you want to review a video response before anyone else views it. Once you approve a video, then everyone else can view the video.

Once you have created your topic, you can also post a response as a sample for students. Please note all videos have a 10 minute maximum recording capacity.

Step 4: Share the Topic

Share the Join Code or link with your students, families or community via Seesaw, newsletter, email, etc. You can also share directly to Google Classroom.

Camera Options

Upload a video clip - Add a video clip from your device to your Flipgrid recording.

Mirror video - Flip the camera reflection. This is helpful for showing books and text that appear backward

Audio Off - Turn off the microphone to remove audio from the recording.

Record your screen - Share your screen (available on Edge and Chrome). Present your Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Slides, a news article, and more!

Camera Effects

Filters - Apply a fun filter to the camera. Filters include rainbow, pixel, black and white, and more filter to express a mood.

Frames - Apply a frame around the camera. Frames allow you to become a newscaster to a fish underwater!

Emoji - Add one or multiple emojis to the recording. Browse the library or search for a specific emoji.

Text - Add text to your recording with various fonts to express yourself.

Draw - Choose the color, size of the pen, and ink over the recording.

Board - Apply a whiteboard, chalkboard, graph paper, and more to showcase your ideas. Split the screen to show the camera while you ink on the board!

Upload an image - Add a custom image from your device to the camera.

Resize emojis, text, ink, and images by focusing on effect and then use on-screen controls, mouse or touch to adjust.

Other features

View Topic - Participants can select the book icon to view the Topic details in the camera. This is helpful for referring to what the Topic discussion includes.

Sticky Note - Participants can type notes to view when recording. These notes are not included in the submitted video. Educators also have the option to turn this setting off in the Topic settings.

Once a teacher has created a FlipGrid Group or Topic they can share the link or a Join Code via SeeSaw or Google Classroom, which will allow students to have access. Students can enter the Join Code from the FlipGrid homepage.

They will be prompted to login via their Google (@smmk12.org) accounts.

From there, students can record video responses to various topics.

Once a student joins the Topic, they must select the Record a Response or red camera icon to open the Flipgrid camera. Then they follow the steps below:

1. Record the video
   Select the record button on the bottom of the camera to start and pause the camera. Add fun stickers, filters, text, and more. Tap the arrow on the bottom right to advance.
2. Review the video.
   Trim, rearrange, or add more video clips. Tap the arrow in the bottom right to advance.
3. Take a selfie!
   The selfie will be the thumbnail image for your video. Tap the arrow in the bottom right to advance.
4. Submit your video!
   Edit your display name, add a title, or attach a link. Then submit!

You can have students submit videos that are ONLY seen by the instructor.

When creating your topic, slide the Video Moderation option on. This will keep videos private.

The Flipgrid Shorts camera gives you access to the robust capabilities of the Flipgrid camera to create a stand-alone video – meaning, it doesn’t have to be attached to a group or topic! Videos can then be shared via link or QR code, downloaded or embedded. You can even share them directly to Google Classroom or SeeSaw. Meaning, it’s easy for a Shorts video to be shared with anyone!

A couple notes about Shorts videos:

• Videos can be uploaded to the Shorts camera, but content is limited to 10 minutes and 250MB.
• All features of the Flipgrid Camera can be used with Shorts! Trim and rearrange clips. Use the whiteboard, overlay pictures, apply filters, and more. You can even screen record!
• Shorts can only be created through the educator dashboard on the website – not currently through the app.

Mixtapes are the easiest way to pull together video responses into one video mix.

You pick what goes on your MixTape (any video Response from any of your Groups).

You can create a MixTape for anything:

• Student Portfolios
• Class Highlights
• Parent Nights
• Talent Show
• Student TED Talks

To add videos to your MixTape follow the steps below:

Within a Topic, select any Response you want to add to a MixTape. Use the Actions dropdown menu and click Add to MixTape. Create a MixTape right there! Simply add your information and hit Create!

When viewing a Response, you will see an 80s inspired cassette icon. Click it to add that Response to your MixTape. You can add as many videos as you want from any Grid you own or CoPilot (if you have assigned a co-teacher). You can even arrange the videos in any order you’d like to create your own custom blend of awesome.

You can choose to select the MixTapes feature at the top of your screen. When choosing Add New MixTape, simply fill in your details to create a new MixTape. Then add student videos by using the Actions dropdown or the MixTape cassette icon when viewing a Response.

What happens if you have no idea where to start with FlipGrid? Well there is a library of ideas available when you click the Discovery tab in your profile.

You can search by topic or see what they feature daily that might fit into your digital instruction.

You can also filter by Subject and Audience while searching.

Once you have a Topic you want to use, simply click the blue "Add Topic" button and choose which Group(s) you wish to complete this activity. You can also save it to your collections for future use.