While sitting around a table with some new friends I met at an EdTechTeam Summit in Queensland, Australia we were lamenting about how hard it is to do Mystery Skypes with our students from our respective countries.
I descried how I used to have kids do something similar to a Mystery Skype but as an alternative to “Live and in person” using You Tube instead to deal with time constraints. I wrote something about it for ISTE’s Journal . In this scenario, students left clues for kids to watch and then responded back and forth. It was hacking the system basically.
😍😲Then without hesitation, we said “What about doing it on a Flipgrid?” and of course , I got excited. We even came up with a few names, but I personally settled on a #MysteryGrid
Background of a Mystery Skype
In case you don’t know the concept of a Mystery Skype – its basically an activity where two classes connect – via what was a Google Hangout or a Skype Call. The students ask critical questions that help each class uncover the unknown location of the other class. While the learning outcomes of such an endeavor have been justifiably questioned – I can not get past the fact that this activity is fun for students and allows them to see the world in new ways. It also provides a place for two classes to start connecting in more ways than just asking where the other class is located.
—–>Enter #MysteryGrids.
Using Flipgrid’ s amazing new feature #GridPals you can find a teacher in another country, in this case Australia, and join a Grid together using the Co-pilot feature. Boom
The students could jump on a grid to offer clues in the order of the how the videos appears on the grid and students could try to answer the questions starting with the first video and see if they can uncover the location before getting to the end.
Why This is Different!
Developing a set of strategic questions could actually add a new dimension to this activity, as students have to critically think their way through types of questions, levels and how to ask questions that uncover their location but in a well meaning step by step process. This skill would be good for any type of interview process they encounter in their adult lives.
As they construct their questions. the other ‘mystery’ class could be going through the same experience on the other grid.
After they uncover the location, classes could leave a final flip grid where they tell them how they came about their discovery in a reflective type video. One group of students could write the narrative and record a video about the beginning and how they started to analyze the information they were given. Another group could do the middle and so on until they reach the end.
Then, and I hope this comes next. The two classes could begin to introduce to each other their respective countries and the history! For example, making a grid of fun facts you need to know about Australia or Queensland.
Opening up your class to meet with kids from around the world is one of the most fun and unique things that 21st century educators have at their fingertips. So, go to #GridPals and find yourself a friend and get to know the world one student and one country at a time.
✅Try These Steps:
- Find a class on #GridPals that has age-similar students and reach out to see if they might be interested in a #MysteryGrid.
- As a collaborative writing assignment, have students create a list of clues that not only help the other class discover their location but do so in a strategic and well executed fashion – allowing students the opportunity to critically analyze their clues.
- Have students take notes during their discovery process and begin to break-down their experience for the other class, so they can see how their questions played out.
- Make beginning, middle and end summaries to share with the other class when the location is discoverd. Use flip grid to share these experiences.
- Find more ways to connect with the other class. Maybe begin with a Flipgrid showcasing their 10 favorite things about their country, then state, then town.
- Consider having them jump in a book creator together to tell the story of a day in the life of an Australian or American student.
- Find something unique to the other country like Rugby in Australia and Baseball in America and teach the other students about that event. This is an amazing way to do an informational writing piece that gets broken down into little one minute videos they will share.
The possibilities are limitless and let a#MysteryGrid just be the entry point to a global collaboration that fuels curiosity and inquiry in your students and give real world authentic voice to writing assignments!
Good Luck and Have Fun and if you are looking for a class from San Diego…give me a tweet or DM on insta! @HollyClarkEdu