R.I.P. Flip →
I understand the rationale: as smart phones begin to include cameras with enough megapixels to satisfy most consumers, there’s no market for a dedicated non-pro video camera.
But there is: teachers, for whom frequent and repeated self-assessment is crucial to success.
Teachers love Flip cameras because they’re cheap, simple and reliable. The Flip’s single red button doesn’t induce the reflexive technophobia that even a slightly more advanced camera can. While we nerds may scoff at FlipShare, it’s the gold standard for sharing with administrators and teaching coaches. Especially in the charter world, where talent is aggressively pursued from across the country, filmed classes are a valuable tool for earning plane tickets to a sample lesson. Even in some of the most under-funded schools I’ve worked with, there’s at least one trusty Ultra that gets passed around.
Can a teacher film a lesson with her iPhone? Sure, but she may not feel comfortable leaving the weekend’s text messages in the back of her classroom. Could he use the video feature on his point-and-shoot? Sure, but watch him be surprised by YouTube’s 15-minute limit.
In the ed world, the Flip will be mourned.
