Creativity Tools

Since I am lucky to be in a district that chose to provide iPads to all teachers this year, I was lucky enough to be able to look at a number of tools.  Looking through the apps did not only give me new tools to use with my students, but made me consider better ways to use the tools I have.

I downloaded several of the evaluating level apps from GloballyConnectedLearning.com and with the exception of Skype, I had not previously heard of any.  I particularly liked Science 360 due to the fact that it was a video based program (since many of my students struggle with reading) and the fact that it was easy to use.   You can scroll through pages of video screen shots and click on any one that interests you.  Compared to the other options in evaluating (several newspaper type programs with a great amount of reading) Science 360 could be quite useful for my students.  Another program that I liked is ShowMe.  I love the fact that in addition to drawing, this app allows for voice recording.  For some students with difficulty in reading and writing, drawing and dictating are great options until the reading and writing skills can be caught up.  This is definitely an app my students could use.

I have a few students who, either due to learning differences or physical abilities, have much better vocal communication skills than reading and handwriting skills.  I typically write objectives for these students to improve reading and handwriting skills while continuing to push creative writing.  The way that I typically do this is to have students dictate their writing to a teacher.  This program could allow for students to independently draw and dictate their thoughts which could be written out for them later.  I think this would create student interest, which fits nicely with my behaviorist teaching approach and allow students to use technology while increasing their independence.  I think science could be another great way to use this program.  Students could take pictures of science experiment outcomes and verbally give their observations.

I think that some of the creative programs, like the puppet and cartoon programs could be great for my students.  I often use student interests to increase their willingness to do work that they do not desire to do.  Writing dialogue for characters that they know and love and doing it in video might prove to be really valuable to me.  Rote memorization is fairly easy for students with Autism to do, while creative writing is extremely difficult.  These tools could really help my students.  I am stoked to introduce them to these programs this week!