Two Favorite Apps For Feedback Loops

Feedback loops are extremely important in any sized organization.  In education, and particularly in the classroom, we use them to check and affirm understanding that is manageable and focused on our learning targets. In leadership, these loops provide specific, non-evaluative feedback information to assist in decision making processes.

​In Omaha Public Schools, one of the foundational programs for collaboration is Microsoft Teams. I have posted previously about Microsoft Teams and won’t go into its power to utilize the power of conversation through the use of artifacts.

Next Generation Collaboration with #MicrosoftTeams

I chose to write about collaboration because of its increasing usage in our everyday space. Society is changing. My kids interact with a much larger circle of influence than I did growing up. Digital literacy and social media is an inseparable and powerful combination.

Within this platform, two applications come to mind when it comes to interacting with feedback.  The first is Microsoft Forms.  Forms allow just about any user to create a user friendly, mobile ready, form that outputs into an Excel Online spreadsheet.  Feature rich, it allows for branching, adding artifacts to questions such as videos and pictures, and real time results. Teachers can use it for quizzes, formative assessments, and surveys. You can take this experience one step further by utilizing Microsoft Flow to extend it’s capabilities.  ​

As you can see above, I have extended two particular form capabilities with Microsoft Flow.  One feeds multiple email lists based upon the drop down selection used in the form to direct the recipient of the form information.  The other flow transports the form information to multiple entities based upon the needs identified within the form.  Check out the form templates that are already available and ready to setup via Microsoft Flow.

Microsoft Forms | Microsoft Flow

Microsoft Forms is a new part of Office 365 Education that allows teachers and students to quickly and easily create custom quizzes, surveys, questionnaires, registrations and more.

Flipgrid it.

Next is my favorite.  If you want to take feedback to another level, look no further than Flipgrid.  A couple of months ago, Microsoft purchased the platform and made it free to everyone.  A media rich platform, Flipgrid offers the ability to gather feedback via video. As a tool for teaching modern communication skills, Flipgrid is nothing short of brilliant. Students can watch and hear themselves, and they’re in complete control–they can re-record themselves as many times as they want before they upload their response to the grid. This summer I decided to engage our Verizon Innovative Schools with a Flipgrid to share the experience of using an iPad exclusively as their primary device for the whole week.  ​

IPad Challenge - Digital Promise/VILs

Flipgrid is where social and emotional learning happens! The leading video discussion platform for millions of PreK to PhD educators, students, and families.

As you can see by my Flipgrid above, everything presented in an organized grid – which makes it highly visual,  easy to navigate, and assess. Using video makes the participants engage differently, in a way that makes you think about thinking.  Utilizing the social media talents of our society today, it breathes new life into typically a mundane process. What can I say but that I have the Flipgrid Fever.  Using the two above tools, you can boost production of feedback loops to provide the necessary information for your classroom or district.