What is a #GridSmash? A #GridSmash is an AppSmash but Flipgrid Style. The coolest kind!
There has been a lot of talk about AppSmashing and Flipgrid, and that is because the creative possibilities are off the charts! Its time though to step back a moment and give homage to the founder of the phrase AppSmashing. The term actually comes from Greg Kulowiec of EdTechTeacher – for whom I am a big fan.
Greg coined the term and defines it simply as: the process of using multiple apps in conjunction with one another to complete a final task or project.
Greg also points out that “What’s important is that content be created, but it doesn’t have to be digital. Imagine a student who creates in the real world, takes a picture or video, brings it into a product, and publishes to the web. The idea is creation and publishing without limits.”
After giving homage to Greg, its time to talk about what App Smashing really is. It is a true lesson in digital fluency. What exactly do I mean by digital fluency? Well lets break it down. Fluency is ability to express oneself articulately with an understanding of how to reach a desired effect – and fluency in the digital world is what educators should be after. App Smashing allows us to express ourselves in more innovative ways – with a more powerful effect. We do that while throwing in some critical thinking, creative plasticity and student agency to make the whole recipe something magical for learning.
However, I think the time has come to give this a NEW TERM – that of #GridSmash an AppSmash that happens within the Flipgrid environment. While in the end it all is just an AppSmash there is something special about a #GridSmash that deserves a new place in our vocabulary.
Here are just a few of my favorite #GridSmashes.
MY NEW ULTIMATE #GridSmash is coming, complete with instructions, in a couple days with Flipgrid and Headliner and Garageband and Canva – its off the hook!
- Flipgrid and Chatter Pix (This can also be done with talking Bitmoji type Apps)
- This combines the app Chatter Pix (an iOS only app) with Flipgrid to allow students to make a picture or object talk. I must admit my favorite one is one where students individually drew the dog Winn Dixie and using Chatter Pix made that picture speak as if they were answering questions from the dog (or main character’s) point of view.
- Flipgrid and My Maps and Screencastify
- I first learned about this Flip from Heidi Trude. In this amazing #GridSmash she joins forces with another class in France. Together they use My Maps and Screencastify to show and talk about where they are from and then share that out together with their #GridPals from both a French speaking class and an English speaking class. This smash is one of my all time favorites and I get chills just watching it. Check it out by clicking on image below.
- Flipgrid and Book Creator
- This smash looks little different in that I give students their own Flipgrid and place it inside of a Book Creator to allow them a place to reflect each day on their learning. This is more private but gives reflection a place to live. I use this Book Creator as demonstration of learning and this smash is a really high level one for getting at student thinking and understanding throughout a unit.
- Flipgrid and GIPHY
- There are many ways for this to be used – from making your own Giphy (which you can now do on an iPhone) or adding text to one that already exists to personalize it for that project. This seems to be a fan favorite if you are in a middle school classroom – and beware of giggles, laughes and kids leaving with a smile on their faces when you do this #GridSmash.
- Flipgrid and Draw and Tell
- I was remind of this one from a member of our Project Learn Facebook Group. This takes the App Draw and Tell and allows students to download their “Tells’ to a camera roll and then upload their project into Flipgrid. Giving each child a place to see each others projects and comment on them.
- Flipgrid and Adobe Spark Video
- One of my personal favorites is using Adobe Spark video because it is so easy to create movie projects with kids with this app. I did it in under 20 minutes with a fifth grade class. Next, take movie projects and smash that onto a Flipgrid for sharing with class or the community. Don’t get me started on the smashing you can do inside the spark video if you wanted.
- Flipgrid and Clips
- Boom! If you have access to iOS devices in your classroom then you know Clips is such an easy way to stitch together a story. or summary Have students use Clips in this way and use the grid to showcase. I have even had students join their Clips together for really powerful stories.
I have not done this one but a person in Kasey Bell’s Shakeup Learning FB Group said she did this. “I just used Spheros with FlipGrid to demonstrate behavior of solids, liquids and gases. It was great!”