Teachers create a topic of discussion. Students sign in from
any device to record a short response to the conversation. The
videos are limited to five minutes, but many teachers choose a
shorter time limit to avoid rambling. The videos set the stage
for more in-depth discussions in the classroom. As the site
says, Flipgrid helps students “define their voices, share their
voices, and respect the diverse voices of others.” Flipgrid
quickly found favor among educators who saw the poten-
tial in the platform. Microsoft also took notice and acquired
the company for an undisclosed amount of money in June of
2018. The software giant announced that Flipgrid would be
free for teachers and students as part of their commitment
to education. The buzz around Flipgrid continues to grow as
more than 20 million teachers are now using the product.
Google Classroom
With Chromebooks accounting for almost 60% of the
educational computer sales in the United States, Google is
leading the way in the classroom. G Suite for Education is the
company’s free collection of powerful, collaborative-based
tools that go hand in hand with Chromebooks. The suite in-
cludes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, pre-
sentations, websites, email, and more. Google Classroom is
the platform many teachers use to get all of those documents
to their students. Classroom includes a scrolling feed, simi-
lar to popular social media sites like Facebook or Instagram.
When a teacher creates an assignment or posts an announce-
ment, students can find it at the top of their feed. Google
Classroom also connects to Google Calendar. This interaction
provides students with a single view to see all of their as-
signments and due dates. There are many additional features
such as automatic grading and differentiation that have made
Google Classroom a favorite among educators and students.
1. BE SMART
2. SAVE MONEY
3. MAKE MONEY
Accepting Fall Items
Back-to-School Savings!
Up to 70% OFF
$$ Retail Prices! $$
MOMS ’n Tots
Unrivaled Maternity & Kids Consignments
Since 1991
Hours: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-4, Thurs 12-8
4279 Delaware Ave., Tonawanda, NY
(1/4 mile N. of I-290 across from Valu)
695-2220
www.momsntots.net
Charter School of Inquiry (CSI)
A Kindergarten through Grade 6 School
In Summary
Technology will continue to revolutionize the public
education system going forward. For you to stay relevant, I
believe it is essential to be aware of the applications your stu-
dent may use in or out of the classroom. Understanding what,
why, and how these software systems are used will allow you
to better connect and communicate with your child and pos-
sibly their teachers as well.
Free Bus Transportation
Free Extended Day Program 3:30pm to 5:20pm
Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of three young children,
author, speaker, Google Innovator, and possible Starbucks
addict. He is a certified educational technology leader who
has served in a variety of roles through his eighteen-year ca-
reer in public education. Currently, Mike is the Director of
Technology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School
district in Northeast Ohio. As an IT director he has developed
creative, well thought out solutions that positively impact
teaching and learning.
Inclusion: Study of world cultures with focus on African
and African-American history and culture
Art, Music, and Physical Education for All Grades
Charter School of Inquiry
404 Edison St. Buffalo, NY 14215
www.CharterSchoolOfInquiry.org
716-833-3250
Call to get more information or schedule a tour
Applications are available on CSl’s Website
facebook.com/charterschoolofinquiry/
September 2018 WNY Family 11