Mr. Warner used the Flip Camera for creating a sequel to “Finding Nemo” in his 5^th grade classroom. Students were introduced to the camera early in the week and had a chance to play around with it and figure out how to use it. Students then got into groups and wrote scripts for their own sequels and created stick puppets. They then stood the camera up on the table and filmed their movies, later presenting them to the entire class. This use of the camera is practical in almost every classroom! Not only are students practicing their writing skills, but they are also learning about oceans and animals in a fun and creative way.

http://www.mrwarner.com/2008/07/using-flip-video-in-the-classroom/

Cindy, the instructional technologist from a school in Northeastern North Carolina sees administrators using the flip camera in creative ways all the time. One principal takes her flip camera on her daily walk-through through her school. When she sees great interaction between students, unique teaching methods, or an overall great experience in a classroom she pulls out her handy camera and records the experience. Then, during faculty meetings and staff development she shares her videos with the staff as great examples of what is and should contiunue to happen in her school.

http://tnttips.blogspot.com/2008/10/flip-video-cameras-in-classroom.html

One PE teacher used the flip camera to record students’ progress throughout the year. He recorded his students doing handstands and other gymnastics. This helps the teacher and student come to an agreement on the students’ grades as they can rewatch their performance after the fact from a different perspective. This is also useful for students to rewatch later in the year to see their progress and what they have improved upon and still need to work on. It was also used for music class to record performances for later assessment and for tracking progess.

https://docs.google.com/present/view?pli=1&id=dhn2vcv5_6tv55j7g9

Students from Australia created a music video on animal raps. They learned a poem about cats and then created their own lyrics a funky beat in garage band. After this, they got in groups, choreographed some steps to create this rap music video. Afterwards, they edited it and presented it to the class. This helped them learn more about lyrics and poems and the way English works as well as some music elements such as keeping time with a beat. It was a great way to share their hard work with the class and even the world!

http://willie42.globalteacher.org.au/2009/03/21/having-fun-with-the-flip-camera/

There are many benefits for using the Flip Camera in the classroom. First of all, it’s a great creative outlet for students. Students can express themselves by creating projects, ads, movies, trailers, and many more video projects for class. Too often students are forced to do worksheets and take tests in the classroom. The flip camera is a great way to liven up a classroom and make learning accessible to students in a fun and creative way.

It’s easy use makes it kid friendly and practical for the classroom. It’s small size and weight are also very practical for use and storage in the classroom. Students (and teachers) won’t have any difficulty operating it, carrying it, or using the software. Learning how to operate the Flip Camera should only take one minute without consulting the instruction manual and the buttons are minimal. Also, video can be uploaded directly to youtube. Posting their projects on youtube is a great way to encourage kids to do their best and to share their work with friends and family.

It’s also great for use across all subjects. Video projects can incorporate multiple subjects at once while encouraging students to think creatively while also having fun. It can be used for simple things such as recording a presentation to more complex things like making a trailer for a book, documenting a field trip, doing a demonstration, or performing a skit. Again, it’s small nature make it convenient for all the above situations, and many more!

There are some difficulties to face if you want to incorporate the Flip camera into your classroom. For one, it is a rather big investment for a school to make. Schools are already strapped for cash in our failing economy, and cuts are often being made in the area of technology. One costs between $150-$200 depending on the model, and if an entire class is using them many will be needed. Furthermore, they are easily droppable, flushable, throwable, etc, and therefore a few are likely to be broken in the process of use. Replacement, therefore, can also add up.

Secondly, they aren’t the best option for capturing good audio. The camera picks up other voices and noises around it and therefore it can be difficult to hear the narration. This can be rather frustrating for students who have spent a lot of time working on their projects if the audio doesn’t work to their liking. Furthermore, it’s not a professional camera, and therefore doesn’t produce the world’s best quality film. Though this is usually ok for classroom use, if the students wanted to use them for something more formal, such as a state or national competition, this camera might not be appropriate.

Lastly, making films can be incredibly time-consuming. Teachers are already pressed for time everday and it’s difficult to allot the proper amount of time for students to create quality projects. Between planning, practicing, filming and editing, making a film can take many hours that just aren’t available in the classroom. While students will certainly have more fun making a video, sometimes a worksheet can teach the same amount of material in a fraction of the amount of time.