CREATIVITY TOOLS

CREATIVITY TOOLS

This week's "Tech Play" assignment was to look at creativity tools  - and there are quite a few options out there. It seemed to me that many of them were versions of the same thing: a platform to upload pictures and or sound (narration or music) and then DO SOMETHING with them - a movie, a slideshow, a trailer, a poster, etc. These are the programs I played around with (or tried to, at any rate!): MERGE Cube, SonicPics, PuppetPals, Animoto, Glogster, ToonDoo, & iMovie. Below is a brief description along with my opinion of each.

MERGE Cube - I didn't actually play with this one at this time as I don’t have one on hand but I DID play with one earlier this year. It's a pretty nifty little gadget. I knew it had the capability to show objects in a 3D capacity (solar system, human anatomy, etc.) but I discovered that it also has the capability to view objects the students have created into 3D visuals. This would be pretty neat for the students to use when they're creating projects for science - instead of a shoebox diorama, they could use this. Although I think the students would enjoy using this, I would prefer to use other mediums.

SonicPics - This program wouldn’t load on my phone to actually play with but on my computer the description sounds like something that would work really well if the students had access to it. It seemed to be fairly simply - upload pics/images plus narration and turn them into a slideshow or movie. I assume I would like this, but without actually being able to use it on the device (or similar device) that it would be loaded on, I cannot give a full assessment.

PuppetPals - I LIKED this. It's a cute, fun, animation program. It did have a limited amount of "free" content and lots of in-app purchases. I could see this being used for a mini Book Review/Trailer. Students can choose from several different background scenes, vehicles, animals, & characters and then add movement and narration. It had a quick little tutorial that was easy to understand and also to return to if you needed a repeat of instructions (as I did!) Once a "puppet show" has been created, the user can save it and then share with the class.

Animoto - This required a log in and I did not register for use. The intro that I read described a basic drag & drop video editing program. Students would record content and then make & edit videos/commercials about projects, books, reviews, or events.

Glogster - This also requires a log in. (I'm running into that a lot and concerned with how the district would approach this. Would each student create a log in or would programs such as this be able to be added to their CLEVER login as are some of the other standard programs?) I DID register for this one (It used my Google info and was simple.) This is a nifty little drag and drop for pictures that are easily moved around, with background that can be changed, and/or text added. It seemed all pretty basic and can be uploaded to the web as well or just copy the URL. I liked this one as well. There was no tutorial, but it was very much a "play and learn" scenario...It was easy to figure out.

ToonDoo - This program has a version for schools that is NOT free ( I suppose they keep track of different student content that way)…..but I played with the free individual option - or tried to anyway. It wouldn’t load on my computer. But if it WERE to work - students could create a comic book version of the book they’re reading - or any other project. With the popularity of graphic novels continuing to rise, I could see this as a very viable way for students to create their own versions of standard stories - or even their very own stories!

iMovie - This was probably the easiest to use on my iPhone as it is an Apple product itself. It was very easy to understand to navigate. The finished product could easily be shared to Google Drive for use with the class. The student can use photos or record video, pick some stock theme music and personalize a few other options and they've got a finished product! I like this also and could see this being used as an alternative to the standard review.

WHICH TOOL WOULD I CHOOSE? HOW WOULD IT SUPPORT LEARNING?

I really liked the opportunities afforded with the program PuppetPals. I teach in a lower elementary setting and the animation was very engaging and fun to view. With this tool, I can envision a unit where the student (or group of students) select a book they have read (or has been read to them) and create a mini-book trailer for that piece of literature. This uses both the traditional and constructivist approachs. This tool would allow for students to do more than just sit and listen, but also to create and reflect upon what they've heard (or read themselves!)

HOW ELSE COULD STUDENTS USE THIS TOOL?

Students could also use this program to create small skits or plays that are original. Another use is to work out scenarios of arguments or disagreements in a non-threatening manner. And as always, this program can be used simply as a play thing - with silly characters and dialogue.

WHY ARE CREATIVITY TOOLS IMPORTANT?

Tools that require both a creative process and a shareable outcome help to tap into a part of the brain that quite often is underused. When we start thinking about how things are connected, how to share them, how to create them, how to show others what we have learned - it is then that we are using those higher order thinking skills that are the desired outcome in all learning circles. Drill & practice, tutorials, instructional games are all good - but they are all intended to show evidence OF learning. When a student (or teacher!) has to create a product that actually provides a learning experience in and of itself, something truly excellent has been achieved.