For this activity I chose several different creativity tools to explore; some I have used before and some I have recently learned about from my coursework.
One of my favorite tech tools that utilizes a few different creativity tools in their platform is the Osmo. These camera activated apps use a tablet to bring primary learning to life. They have sixteen different games that can be downloaded. Monster is one of my favorite apps that is part of the (T) Osmo system. In Monster, children (C) draw and create different things directed by Mo the Monster and then (P) Mo “pulls” their drawings into the tablet and they come to life as he plays with their actual drawing. Because their drawings are directed by Mo, he uses rich language to “play” with their object and talk about their work. Young children become quite engaged and I’ve found that the first time they try it, they draw a quick one-color object so they can watch it come to life. Then, once they witness how exciting the process is, they begin to draw more detailed objects and allow their creative process to expand to bring those things to life! As an educator, watching the language used while they collaborate and discuss their objects coming to life is quite rewarding and the continuous use of writing tools assists in developing their fine motor skills exponentially because they never seem to get tired!
Another tool I have used in my classroom is, Mixbook. This is similar to any photo book creator; Shutterfly, Google Books, Pinhole Press. But I have used Mixbook because it’s very simple – choose a theme, insert photos, add stickers and backgrounds, change colors, and it’s done! Students can use the app on a tablet to take pictures of their work or research they’re working on. Then, you upload the pictures, and the book can be previewed by the class on the Promethean board. They love seeing their work projected! Also, I have used this program to create portfolio books of student work and then given parents the option to order the books. I like Mixbook because it offers a softcover bound book and they cost around $25.
This next tool, DoodleBuddy, is one of my favorites as a primary teacher. There are many different uses and it can transfer to any level learner. I use this app in my small group lessons, and children use it during free time or during creative projects we are working on. It is a tablet app with basic controls; different writing tools (chalk, brush, glitter, pen, eraser), fun stamps, different backgrounds. You can even upload real photos to add to your creation if you’re working on a project-based activity. The app allows you to save & share your pictures through email or just save to photos on your tablet. Students’ favorite part, though, is that you simply SHAKE the tablet to clear your page and start over! As the teacher, I use this app for writing letters and words, in the same way, I would utilize plastic letters, for example. This app is simply a substitution for the marker, but highly engages students.
These next two are creativity tools I’ve learned about through my coursework in this class. One is a creativity presentation program – Genially. After reading about this program on the discussion board, I immediately went to explore it further. It is similar to Google Slides, but is much more intuitive with basic, simple-to-use tools, in my opinion. There are many templates to choose from and it gives you the option to pick and choose which pages you want to use. You can also add images or videos and create interactive pieces or add animations to your presentation. Several how-to videos on YouTube help find ways to utilize this program the best. I see this tool being used mostly by me, rather than by my students. I have created several simple games in PowerPoint as a primary teacher and I can see transferring them into a program like, Genially, will create a more 21st-century engagement aspect to those basic presentations. But, with that said, I can see upper elementary through high school students enjoying creating projects and presentations with this tool, as well.
Lastly, I read about using PowToon with elementary students. I have used Toontastic before with my gifted and talented students, so I had to go check out PowToon and compare it. To my surprise, they weren’t the same types of creativity tools! I guess the use of the word “toon” connected them in my head as being similar, yet they are not. In Toontastic, children are allowed to animate and create stories using their voice and choosing their characters and backgrounds. While it is highly intuitive for young children, it is more appropriate to older elementary and up or for “techie” type primary students – those that are already highly familiar with the technology. PowToon, on the other hand, is another presentation platform. It also has a very familiar PowerPoint layout, but it takes presentations into a fully animated visual. Many templates provide a foundation for your creation and then it fully allows you to manipulate those templates and change/edit to your preferences. Music, sound, images, embedded content, and recording of your voice are all capabilities of this program. I can see this program also being utilized by teachers to create more engaging lessons, presentations, or activities, in comparison to, the “old-fashioned” PowerPoint basics. My age is certainly making itself clear, loud, and proud!
Of all of these great creativity tools, the one I utilize the most as a teacher would be DoodleBuddy. It is probably THE single-most, basic of all of the above tools – yet, the affordances provided by this single app is more than any others I have used before. Just as teachers use whiteboards, I use DoodleBuddy on my iPad as my tool during small-group instruction, as well as, group instruction. When students are using a basic whiteboard, I can use my DoodleBuddy to quickly transition from activity to activity, without being concerned about having a marker, eraser, and my tablet in my hands. The only thing I need to carry is the tablet itself. My finger becomes my marker and all I have to do is SHAKE it to erase my tablet. It is highly functional in the primary classroom and anytime instructors are using small writing or working spaces, this app provides exactly what you’ll need to work quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
For my students, my favorite tool is the Osmo. This tool is used numerous times throughout the day by my students. There are several games within the tool for them to experience and it can be managed by them completely independent from me. In addition to the Monster game, there are games for letters, spelling, math, coding, drawing, physics, car racing and design, detective games, and more! During our Math time, students use the Numbers game to practice (C) number identification, subitizing, more/less, addition and subtraction, number order. Each of these skills is explored through the manipulation of tiles showing numerals or dice configuration. The task modification of the (T) Osmo affords students the opportunity to (P) experiment with numbers by providing choices and playful experiences. While the initial cost of getting an Osmo can be costly, there are so many things you can do even with a basic beginning set. The investment on the Osmo is worth every penny spent! It exposes children to so many different curricular activities in exciting ways… they beg to play with it every single day! The affordances of engagement and exposure are greater than anything I could do single-handedly by myself. It is a great self-sufficient and collaborative tool for students to engage with during independent work times.
Creativity tools are truly the foundation for technology in the classroom, from lesson design to engagement to formulation and documentation. These tools provide tremendous opportunities for creation, development, editing, reflection, and refining of the learning experience. As I’ve learned myself through the exploration of these tech tools, the simple exploration of these technologies opens the doors to the discovery of new and exciting tools. By exposing students to the ones we find interesting, students can research and develop their own “technology style” as they come to find those tools that are most comfortable and those they would like to explore differently.