Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

        The way teachers are teaching today has definitely changed throughout time. I can specifically see this when I look back since I was in Elementary School. We would spend only an hour at most on computers and I remember one of my favorite parts of the day in fifth grade was when the teacher read is a book to the class. Nowadays that's almost unheard of; books are read on computers or laptops or given as take home assignments.

        A big tool that has made teaching more creative is Microsoft Words PowerPoint software. I remember using the overhead projector where the teacher would use markers to write on, erase and repeat for the next class.I think that PowerPoint is more creative in that you can customize almost anything you want to in the presentation and with the overhead projector all you can do is change the maker color for customization. Although I do prefer PowerPoint it can get a little too complicated with all the endless options and is more travel friendly. An advantage of the overhead projector would be that it doesn't change so much and so drastic as the pages are always the same. Both have their pros and cons like explained here but today the most common presenter tool is the PowerPoint.

        Another creative outlet are videos, instead of just reading from a textbook and listening to a teacher - not that there's anything wrong with that of course. Most students are visual learners and videos from YouTube and films help put the words into a more sensable and understandable topic. I can say that from experience seeing multiple videos on history make more sense than reading a fifteen page chapter. This is also a reason why so many students don't succeed in subjects that aren't their strengths. In my biology class where the textbook with no detailed pictures was used in every class made it that much harder to comprehend even the most "simple" process like photosynthesis.

        Photo-taking and movie-making are also great tools for students to expand their creativity with. We get to use that a little on our Facebook, Instagram and Snap chat Social Media outlets but going more in depth in the technology, the angles, lighting and lenses, for example could be an open door for a hungry student.

         In conclusion, there is no right or wrong rubric for creativity and technology. Even the silliest thing like a substitute teacher getting the students attention with a hula hoop can






RESOURCES:
 Talks, T. (2012, June 5). TEDxLansing-Jeana-Dee Allen Rogers: Increasing Engagement through Creativity and Technology. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY0gMbxABrA 

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Boundless. (2015). Boundless Communications. The Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communications-textbook/preparing-and-using-visual-aids-16/using-powerpoint-and-alternatives-successfully-85/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-powerpoint-323-5654/