Starting Point
This is by no means an all inclusive list of tools that can be used for flipping your classroom. You can literally use almost any site and just when you start to use and love that site, another one is born and you love that one more. I always recommend trying out new websites, new software so that you don't get bored and burned out with what you use. I have used the following so I know they work for me. Maybe they will work for you and give you a starting point towards building your flipping arsenal.
Video Tools
Camtasia
Camtasia is an awesome recording tool and well worth the money I think! You have many recording options (full screen, partial screen, etc.) as well as having the option to edit your video and audio feeds separately (so if you make a mistake in your presentation you don't have to start over from scratch!). I really like that when you are finished and ready to produce a video you have a lot of options to choose from. I would recommend saving your video is a few different formats (.mov, .mp4, etc.). I would definetely see if you can convince your school administrator to buy a subscription to his beauty!
Snaggit by TechSmith
If Camtasia is a bit too overwhelming for you at first, then you should check out Snaggit by TechSmith. TechSmith is also responsible for Camtasia btw. This can be purchased OR you can add it as an extension to Chrome (see tutorial vid here on how to do that). So basically Snaggit is a screen capture (takes a picture of your screen) and video recording extension. Both of which store directly into your Google Drive account. If you are a GAFE district this is an awesome feature. With the screen capture feature you can take those and edit them to include comments and other annotations. The video editing is not as fancy as Camtasia (maybe you don't do fancy and that's okay!). However, you have the option of editing some features of the audio and trimming footage.
**UPDATE June 21, 2016: Snagit by TechSmith is no longer FREE. The charge for educators is $29.95. There are other fees if you wanted to buy a site license for your school available on the TechSmith page.
**UPDATE June 21, 2016: Snagit by TechSmith is no longer FREE. The charge for educators is $29.95. There are other fees if you wanted to buy a site license for your school available on the TechSmith page.
YouTube
Okay so unless you have been living in a cave or are a member of the "Settler" family (I love those commercials) you've heard of and probably been on YouTube (you may live on it). I can't believe YouTube is turning 11! Crazy to think of what life was like before we could all make ourselves movie stars right? But I digress. YouTube is really very useful and I learn more and more about it each time I use it. It is a great place to share videos obviously but you can also use the tools provided to edit your own videos, add captions, notes, and provide a transcript. You can also create your own channel to host the fantastic videos that you are going to make.
Organizational Sites
Discovery Education Board Builder
I love, love, love the organization that is Discovery Education (DE) Board Builder. Even if you only use it as a hub for your flipped lessons and never tiptoe into the realm of project based learning, you will find it fabulous. What it is is a landing page for your videos, assignments, and other fabulous pieces of media all in one spot, easy to find, easy to control. That is a big must for anyone who is new to flipping-CONTROL! The only downside I have found is that you have to use videos already on the DE website. So, if you have fabulous lessons already on YouTube or elsewhere you will have to upload them to the DE website. However, if you are new to flipping and have never recorded a video you now know to upload your original mp4 to DE if you plan on using the Board Builder software.