Explore how vlogging platforms like Microsoft Flip are revolutionizing university education, fostering deeper student engagement and ensuring academic integrity. Learn how this “academic TikTok” approach is shaping the future of interactive and personalized learning experiences.
Embracing the Power of Vlogging in Higher Education
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, universities are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage Gen Z students and ensure authentic learning. A recent study by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the University of Queensland has shed light on the potential of vlogging platforms, such as Microsoft Flip, to transform the higher education experience.
The study, published in the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, explored the integration of Microsoft Flip into university classrooms during a three-year pilot. The platform, which has since been integrated into Microsoft Teams, allows instructors to set assignments using text or video instructions, and students to respond with their own videos.
According to the lead author and CDU digital initiatives expert, Dr. Seb Dianati, the consensus among the ten academics involved in the study was that the platform was highly effective in engaging younger generations. “Vlogging aligns with the engagement strategies that students are familiar with from social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat,” Dr. Dianati said. “By leveraging these formats, vlogging keeps students connected, engaged, and invested in their learning.”
Fostering Authentic and Interactive Learning Experiences
The study revealed that the use of Microsoft Flip in higher education offers several key benefits. Firstly, it allows for continuous, authentic feedback from both peers and instructors, ensuring that assessments are active, personalized, and ongoing. This fosters a deeper and more interactive learning experience, as students are encouraged to engage in shared exploration and communicate with confidence.
Moreover, the video-based nature of vlogging can help address the challenges posed by generative Artificial Intelligence. By requiring students to record themselves, the platform enables teaching staff to verify the authenticity of a student’s work and better understand their competency as learners.
“Engagement through interactivity in vlogging offers students meaningful ways to connect with both their peers and instructors,” Dr. Dianati explained. “This interaction not only builds a collaborative learning environment but also deepens students’ understanding by encouraging shared exploration, communicative confidence, and offers a method to ensure academic integrity within assessments.”
Unlocking the Full Potential of Academic TikTok
While vlogging has already gained widespread acceptance in primary and secondary education, its adoption in tertiary education has been somewhat slower. “Vlogging is already widely accepted in primary and secondary education, where it’s really taken off as an engaging learning tool,” Dr. Dianati said. “But in tertiary education, we’re still lagging a bit behind. I think part of it is that universities are often slower to adopt new technologies at scale, and there’s a potential missed opportunity here.”
As universities continue to explore the integration of Microsoft Flip and similar vlogging platforms, the potential for transformative change in higher education becomes increasingly apparent. By embracing the power of interactive, video-based learning, universities can tap into the engagement strategies that resonate with the Gen Z student population and ensure authentic, personalized, and collaborative learning experiences.
The future of learning may very well be found in the rise of “academic TikTok” – a dynamic, student-centric approach that harnesses the power of vlogging to unlock new possibilities in tertiary education.
