Digital Badge # 8: Chapter 9 : Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

Digital Badge # 8

Chapter 9 : Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

3 Concepts:

 1) Powerpoint and Next Generation Tools

Powerpoint is by far one of the most popular multimedia technologies used in the classroom. Teachers can use it to share information on various topics. Students can create them as creative projects to share with the class. Most schools create them to share important information such as upcoming events, pictures from school celebrations, lunch menus, and bus information. The information in the powerpoint can be enhanced with different graphics, pop-ups, music, and charts/graphs. Most schools are now using document cameras to display worksheets or small items that are magnified on a large screen or SMART board. This chapter shares important advantages and disadvantages to using Powerpoint. The popular disadvantage is that students may become distracted or “zone out” from the presentation. The popular advantage is that the text can be added to pictures, charts, graphs, visuals, and other interesting additions. Powerpoints are also ways for students to display a collection of photographs.

2) Video in the Classroom

Providing videos in the classroom are great for students that are visual learners. Most teachers use video that are about 5-10 minutes long to prevent students from not paying attention or getting sidetracked. Most teachers can use the videos as a teaching tool to add to their class presentations. Younger grades can use videos to enhance subjects that students can get side tracked with such as math or language arts. Teachers can also use videos to allow students to compare/contrast characters or settings. Youtube is by far the most popular video hosting/sharing website. Students can not only watch videos on different subjects, but they can also create and upload their own videos! This is great for students that become interested in social communications and who possibly want to pursue a career with it in the future. The textbook suggests that teachers should pause and rewind videos often to check for students understanding and to repeat information that might have been missed.

Below is a video on Youtube that shows a popular Kids scientist demonstrating what static electricity is.

Video: Bill Nye the Science Guy –Static Electricity

3) Photo-taking and Movie-making with Students

Digital media has become a very popular tool in the most recent years of education. Students have access to digital cameras and move programs that allow them to create, edit, and publish photos and videos. Students are able to generate projects using photos and videos to share information on a select topic. The students are able to practice active learning by filming, acting, editing, and viewing. I would encourage my students to create short commercials (group project) as an assignment. The students could create a commercial advertising a topic or taking a stand for a great cause. This assignment could be done with the use of a digital video camera. Digital video camera are easy to use and allow users to record and delete videos instantly. Students are able to learn about literacy through digital cameras. The teacher can take pictures to document memories in a class scrapbook. Younger grades could use classroom pictures to spell or write different vocabulary words. Art students could use pictures to digitally design graphics or images to use on the class website. English language learners could use digital storytelling to explain where they came from and what their culture is like.

Conclusion: This chapter explained how creativity and technology could intertwine. Most of the programs/tools discussed can be used for fun and for schoolwork. Powerpoints are such important performance tools that can be used for group or single student presentations. Videos in the classroom allow students to learn information in a comfortable and visual setting. Students can also create their own videos to show their interest in an important cause. The entire class could create a video to share what they have learned throughout the year. This chapter showed that technology can be very creative for students in numerous ways. This chapter will motivate students to take an interest in other tools used on the computer and with other assisting technologies.