Microsoft enhances its position in education with the acquisition of Flipgrid, a video-based social learning platform launched in 2015 and currently used by more than 20 million teachers and students in 180 countries around the world.
The details of the purchase agreement have not been disclosed, although it has been noted that customers who have purchased a subscription to Flipgrid will receive their refund on a pro-rata basis.
Flipgrid, now under the Microsoft umbrella, will start to be free for schools. In addition, the “distinctive brand, culture and equipment that focus on amplifying the voices of all students” will be maintained and the existing native integration with Microsoft, Google and other partner tools will continue.
The platform itself points out that it is an effective tool to help teachers and students develop social-emotional skills beyond traditional curricula. In this sense, the platform is based on videos so that students can collaborate on different projects and events using existing mobile applications in both Android and iOS.
In addition, Flipgrid will expand globally in line with Microsoft’s “General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the privacy architecture compatible with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA),” according to Microsoft.