It’s that time of year again we start trading flip flops for fresh school supplies, so we turned to Dr. Monica Burns, a Curriculum and EdTech Consultant, Apple Distinguished Educator and Founder of ClassTechTips.com to get her tips on how teachers can start the year on a Spark-ly note. Take it away, Dr. Burns:
As a former New York City public school teacher and current professional development facilitator, Spark Post, Spark Page and Spark Video are three of my favorite tools for teaching and learning.
Adobe Spark can turn students into movie-makers, website creators and designers. With powerful, open-ended creation tools educators can put the learning first and leverage the power of technology tools to help students explore course content, demonstrate understanding and connect to authentic audiences. As you get ready for back-to-school, here are a few ways you might leverage the power of the Spark creation tools at the start of the school year. Remember, depending on the grade level you work with or the subject area you focus on, you can tailor these activities to your learning goals for students.
1. All About Me
Students can create a Video or Page as a way to introduce themselves to classmates. You might give students a checklist of things they can include or share an example like the ones above.
2. Mystery Photo
Students can create a Post with a fun fact about themselves as a guessing game for peers.
3. Goal Setting
Students can create a Video, Page or Post with a series of goals for the upcoming school year. This Post could be one in a series of goals set by students at the beginning of the school year.
4. Reflection Collection
Begin the year by setting up a project that will take students through the whole year. Have them set up a Page to collect their reflections on learning throughout the course. By the end of the year, they’ll have a central place to see everything they accomplished during the school year.
5. Quote Cards
Students can create a Post with an inspiring quote to set the tone for a new school year.
6. Community Highlights
Students can create a Page or Video to highlight something special going on in their community,
7. Wonder Wall
Students can create a Post with a wondering to help showcase their interests.
8. Destination Wish
Students can create a Video or Page to showcase a place they would like to visit this school year
9. Project Plan
Students can create a Page to outline the steps for a self-directed project they would like to complete this school year.
I’d love to hear some of your back-to-school ideas for empowering students as creators. Share your favorites by using the hashtag #AdobeSpark on social. And to help you with your planning for the new school year, download these graphic organizers!
Related: 16 Ways to Motivate Students in the Classroom with Adobe Spark
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash