Creatively Created

In her blog, Adobe Spark: Ignite a Learning Fire in Your Classroom, Holly Clark shares a new, simple technology tool, called Adobe Spark. This tool allows students to create a post, page, or video with very little difficulty. Clark recommends this tool for classroom teachers because it doesn't have a lot of "bells and whistles" to get hung up on. It took very little instruction for her students to begin using it. She provides several ways to incorporate this tool within the classroom as well. I will discuss these a little later.

After reading about Adobe Spark, I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, I didn't find it as easy to use. I wasn't sure of the purpose of the tools, and how to add my own touch to my creation. I found this how-to video by Richard Byrne that walks you through the steps of making each of the three types of creations. I used his guidance to create a webpage displaying the technology trials of my student so far this year. After viewing his show tutorial, I found this tool much more manageable. The link to my creation is below.

My Spark Adobe Example


Clark gives a detailed list of different way it can be incorporated within the classroom. Being an elementary school teacher, I picked a few that I could see my student creating to share.

1. Character Profile: Students can create a page, or video, profiling a character from a story they have read. This could be a whole class reading or a book being read independently. Additionally, students could highlight a historical character from a non-fiction text the same way. My students could use something like this during their independently reading time to share their reading from the week. This would be much more engaging way to be held accountable. 
2. Class Weekly Summary Page: Clark suggest have a different student each week to create a page or a video about the learning taking place. This could be shared with parents or the school community. I can see my students doing this around topics they were successful with or sharing concepts that were once a challenge. Sharing with parents would be a great way to keep them involved. 
3. Field Trip Page: This would be used to students to share this learning from a recent field trip through a video or page. We have an upcoming field trip planned to Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY that I am sure my students would love to document. By collecting artifacts along the way using my camera, students can put them together in a creative way. 

Adobe Spark seems like it would be an easy tool for kids to operate without getting too overwhelmed. I do think it might take a little more explaining that Clark implies. However, sharing the how-to video by Byrne would be a great starting place!