Three Tools for Improving Flipped Video Lessons

In the right setting the flipped classroom model can work well for some teachers and students. One of my concerns has always been that in many instances of flipped classrooms students watch a video then answer questions after the video is complete. While I don't think that that is inherently bad, I do like giving students the option to answer questions while watching the video or asking questions while watching the video. Here are three tools that provide students with the option to answer questions or ask questions while watching flipped classroom videos.

VideoNotes is a neat tool for taking notes while watching videos. VideoNotes allows you to load any YouTube video on the left side of your screen and on the right side of the screen VideoNotes gives you a notepad to type on. VideoNotes integrates with your Google Drive account. By integrating with Google Drive VideoNotes allows you to share your notes and collaborate on your notes just as you can do with a Google Document.

Teachem is a service that uses the TED-Ed model of creating lessons based on video. On Teachem teachers can build courses that are composed of a series of videos hosted on YouTube. Teachers can write questions and comments in "flashcards" that are tied to specific parts of each video and display next to each video. Students can take notes while watching the videos using the Teachem SmartNote system.

Blubbr is a neat quiz creation service that I have raved about since I tried it for the first time back in January. Through Blubbr you can create interactive quizzes that are based on YouTube clips. Your quizzes can be about anything of your choosing. The structure of the quizzes has a viewer watch a short clip then answer a multiple choice question about the clip. Viewers know right away if they chose the correct answer or not.