Student Creativity and Innovation in Schools

1. Student Creativity and Innovation in Schools Ben Smith and Jared Mader www.edtechinnovators.com Red Lion Area School District Monday, June 30, 2008

2. Ben Smith: Physics Teacher K-12 Science Coordinator Technology Resource Teacher Keystone Technology Integrator Doctoral Student in Instructional Technology STAR Discovery Educator ISTE Consultant BlendedSchools Consultant Jared Mader: Director of Technology Former Chemistry Teacher Technology Staff Development Trainer Keystone TechnologyIntegrator Masters Student in Instructional Technology STAR Discovery Educator BlendedSchools Consultant About Us

3. Ready or Not . . .The World is Different

4. How we work

5. "Knowing content" is not sufficient in itself -- knowledge to: rather, students must apply • construct new understandings, • solve problems •  make decisions • develop products and • communicate Technology can facilitate this type of learning

6. Transforming Learning Environments Traditional Environments Emerging Learning Landscape Teacher directed, memory-focused instruction Student-centered, performance-focused learning Isolated work on invented exercises Collaborative work on authentic, real-work projects Factual, literal thinking for competence Creative thinking for innovation and original solutions

7. Our Vision • Students will use technology seamlessly as a regular part of their education • Each student will come to class with their own computing device • All of the computing devices will be interconnected • Teachers and Students will have the skills necessary to use the Hardware and Software

8. Pedagogical Foundations • Curriculum must drive the need for technology integration • Technology is simply the tool used to facilitate student-centered learning • Technology makes it easier to accomplish • Taxonomy of Technology Use1 • Experiencing • Informing • Reinforcing • Integrating • Utilizing 1 Thomas and Boysen, Iowa State University, 1984

9. National Educational Technology Standards for Students Creativity and Innovation Communication & Collaboration Research & Information Fluency Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, & Decision-Making Digital Citizenship Technology Operations and Concepts

10. From NETS-S “What students should know and be able to do to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly digital world ...” • 1. Creativity and Innovation • Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: • apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. • create original works as a means of personal or group expression. • use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. • identify trends and forecast possibilities. ISTE: NETS-S: www.iste.org/nets

11. How do we make our students creative and innovative? • Give students the tools • Give students the time • Challenge Them • Open Ended Assignments • Be Vague

12. Tools What you need Google Docs/Zoho Pronto Gaggle Mindomo Animoto, VoiceThread, Flickr Blackboard Audacity / Podcasting iMovie / Videocasting Inspiration / Mindomo Peripheral Devices Blogging Wikis Mimio/Wacom iPods/Cell Phones Student Projects What our students do Wikispaces A week in the life… Podcasting Mimio/Wacom Blogging Digital Storytelling Web Video Chemical Reactions Simulations Inspiring Projects Google Docs/Zoho Collaboration/Communication and Creativity/Innovation

13. Wikispaces • Present Class Content • Share Project Ideas • Publish Student Examples • Reorganize the structure of delivered content • Government - Science Collaboration • Wiki Design is key to success

14. A Week in the Life… • Students keep a written and digital record for each week of class • iWeb • Blogging

15. Podcasting / Vodcasting • Homework Help • Explanation of Solutions • Hints on Assignments • Student Advice • Radio Show • Announcements • Exit Ticket • Reporting Live

16. Mimio/Wacom • Create and archive problem solutions • Diagrams, charts, graphs • Brainstorming • Venn Diagrams • KWL • Writing Samples

17. Blogging • Record of class on a daily basis • Updates on class happenings • Digital newsletter • Parent Reminders • Reading Opinions • Problem Solutions • Reading Summaries • Current Events

18. Digital Storytelling • Field Trips • Special Assignments • Lab Reports • Collaborative Photo Sharing • Common25Show@photos.flickr.com • Blabberize, Voicethread

19. Current Projects • Web Video Project • Students create a video of an example of motion, analyze the motion, and create a website to communicate their findings.

20. Chemical Reaction Project • Chemical Reaction Project • Students create a video and photo product of a reaction type, analyze the stoichiometry of the reaction, and create a product that communicates their results.

21. Simulations • PhET - Physics • Explore Learning • Confirm real world findings • Design experiments not possible

22. Inspiring Projects • Mind-mapping/Brainstorming software • E.g. Mindomo, Inspiration • Student Use • Mapping out a project plan • Link terms and concepts from lessons • Webpage design • Flowcharts

23. Online Productivity • Share working documents • Analyze comparative data working with studnets from other schools. • Group writing assignment • Prompt response • Reading summary

24. Questions • Email: info@edtechinnovators.com • Website: www.edtechinnovators.com