Flip Cameras and Dictaphones

Picture courtesy of oxstallslcmedia.blogspot.com

Earlier this year I took several students to a Triple Science Flip Cameras Training event, led by Elly Lengthorn of Nunnery Wood High School. During this event students were trained as ambassadors in the use of Flip Cameras in the classroom. Armed with tips sheets and ideas of how and when to use the cameras, students returned to school with 2 Flip Cams. Since this time we have used the Flip Cams throughout the school in various ways. Here are a few examples:

1. During activities week students and staff recorded many clips (usually no more than 90 seconds long each). These clips took note of the tips from the advice sheet from Elly and subsequently required no editing. A variety of these clips were then used, when presenting the events of the week to parents and others.

2. Students have made brief revision clips for Science to help them to consider what they have learnt. They have also used the Flip Cams in this way to record a brief video as a plenary activity, which can also double up as a starter video for the next lesson.

3. Students studying Child Development have used the Flip Cams to record observations of a child performing certain tasks for their child study. I advise students to film the hands and body of the child, but to avoid the child's face, to minimise privacy issues. They would normally need to take written notes whilst observing (this is difficult for any student, but particularly for a student with a visual impairment). The video clips taken are copied to a memory stick and deleted from the camera and students are only allowed to view the clips during controlled write ups. Once the study is complete the memory stick is deleted (for the protection of the child observed).

4. Students have used the Flip Cams in drama lessons to self assess and observe their own performance (which is otherwise impossible).

5. The mobility department have used it to demonstrate proper use of a cane. This video focusses solely on the cane with voiceover step by step instructions.

I am sure that there are far more ways that we have used the Flip Cameras already and will be plenty more uses for them in the future. We have even considered purchasing a Kodak camera of the same style which can be used under water, as this would help PE staff to assist students to improve their swimming techniques.

The fact that the USB port just flips out of the side of the camera and that it is simply plug and play, means that there will be no stopping you, once you get using them.