Session 4 Creativity and Innovation

Ways Students Can Use Digital Tools and Resources to Enhance Creative and Innovating Thinking

Elementary students benefit from instruction in using basic resources such as informational databases, online encyclopedias, website evaluation and navigation, and other electronic resources.  When students are exposed to a variety of graphic organizers and are allowed to use various digital tools (Microsoft Office PowerPoint, VoiceThread, Microsoft PhotoStory 3, Make Belief Comics, Museum Box, etc.) they become engaged in the learning process, research with a purpose, and are able to create projects that showcase their learning in ways that are relevant and engaging to them and. they are building skills that will help them become successful learners and more prepared citizens for our increasingly digital world.  Everyone is not doing the same print report.  They can pick and choose what works best for them as learners and content creators. 

Some examples of student lessons that enhance creativity and student thinking:

1.  Students research animal habitats then make digital trading cards using Microsoft Excel templates or create their own templates based on age and ability.

2.  Students research their favorite author and make PhotoStory 3 presentations that give biographical information as well as book talks for younger students.

3.  Students research a historical figure and create a Museum Box to showcase that person’s talents and contributions to society.

4.  Students create and post to a blog to discuss their favorite authors or series.

5.  Students use VoiceThreads to create PSAs regarding researched earth care tips, best books, etc.

Technology-based Learning Activities to Engage Students in Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Authentic Problem Solving Centered on Real World Issues

Technology-based learning activities afford educators a great opportunity to tie in current events, even in elementary school.  For example, when there is an earthquake, typhoon, or other natural weather phenomena, 4^th grade students could research the weather phenomenon using databases or bookmarked relevant and authoritative websites to determine its cause, measurement/severity, etc. and then focus on the impact on people and research potential solutions.  Information could be exchanged with others using Skype and students could develop plans or activities that could support those in need.  There are also opportunities to tie in geography with plotting where such events occur and looking for geographical patterns. 

Technology-based Learning Activities to Promote Student Reflection using Collaboraitve Tools

Blogs:  One easily accessible tool that allows students the opportunity to collaboratively share and build information would be the use of blogs.  The opportunities to share information through blogging are nearly endless:  book reviews, recording of field trip knowledge and events, sharing of results of experiments, etc.  There are blogging opportunities for any curriculum area. 

Glogster:  Glogster allows students to create a visual and auditory response or reflection using a free and easy way to make digital posters which could then be shared in either an online gallery or showcased in print form in the school library, classroom, or hallway.

I saw an idea while reading one of the articles in which art students used Flickr to evaluate art pictures by uploading comments directly onto the digital, online photos to record their reflections and analyses.

Conclusion:

There are multiple tools and activities that can support our 21^st century learners and so many ways to make learning engaging and to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of our students.  With so many options, bookmarking sites such as Portaportal can be very useful for teachers to organize the vast array of tools and activities.  I have several portaportals: 

Tbritt63 for instructional activities and resources for student use,

Tbritt11 with  tech tools A to Z that I can use with my students,

TBCapstone for information resources I can use as an educator,

TBRT for my Readers’ Theatre information

I believe all teachers should try to take their learners from where they are to where they need to be and in 2010 that certainly includes employing a wide variety of technology tools and activities that will help prepare our students for a successful life in our modern world.