Tech Play 3: Creative Tools

Creative Tools was a very interesting Tech play assignment for me.  I was able to play with several creative tools because of the assignment.  I played around with PollDaddy, iRubric, YouTube, ComicBook, HootSuite, Toontastic, iMovie, and Protagonize.  Each tool was fun and interesting to get some hands on experience with using it.  Polldaddy is a site to take polls on various topics of your choosing.  YouTube is a wonderful sight to find informational videos and content.  It can also be used for students to produce their own short film or snippet.  Protagonize is a sight were students can write and publish original pieces of work.  iRubric is a wonderful sight to create rubrics to grade assignments.  Toontastic is used by students to create their own cartoon.  They can even add their voices to the cartoon.

Protagonize was one of the tools that really stood out to me as a teacher.  This goes with the TPACK model because it is an example of how technology can be flawlessly integrated into teaching and learning.  TPACK is understanding how to integrate technology into a well planned lesson.  We can contstuctivley teach students through the writing process while integrating Protagonize. As a teacher this models wants you to emerge as an expert in understanding the content you are teaching, knowing what's best for the learning, and integrating technology appropriately.  You could teach students the writing process and the importance of feedback and drafts in order to create a final writing piece for publication.  Students could also use Protagonize as a way to create group stories by having students add on to the story once its been published.  This creates a very fun and interactive way to writing. It is important to know about creative tool because they can be used to enhance our lessons.  It is important for students to have exposure to all types of technology.  These tools allow more of an interaction with technology and the learning and teaching process than regular drill and skill assignments.



Poll Daddy- A website where teachers and students can poll other students on various topics. iRubric- Wonderful website where you can create your own rubrics for grading. They also have an online gallery with rubrics submitted from other teachers.


Protagonize- http://www.protagonize.com/story/gretel-and-hansel
Site where students can write and publish their very own students for the world to see. They can choose the genre and the plot.  It's really fun to read the stories and see students of all ages getting in on the fun.

Toontastic
Students can use this tool to creat their very own cartoon complete with their own voice as well.