Welcome to 2013! I hope you found the vacation refreshing and rejuvenating so you're ready to start the new year with extra energy.

I remember that in my old school., returning from Christmas break meant gearing up for the big state test. For many teachers that means no time for creativity because the…

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One of the final questions asked last night really struck a chord with me during the Vice-President's debate. The question was about the negativity of the ads. Both sides of the campaign are guilty of running negative ads. My niece and I were talking about the ads the other day and we agreed that they all make us feel like we're about to enter a world similar to that seen in Hunger Games or that new show…

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In honor of poetry month, I have decided to write a poem about why I LOVE the latest version of Frames!

 

Why Upgrade to Frames 5?????

 

Enhanced image, text, and sound integration,

Time lapse and customized path animation.

 

Real-time project collaboration, web hosting and more.

And you…

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Check out how fifth grade students in the Del Mar School District in California showed off their knowledge of cellular respiration using their vocal cords and creativity!

http://sandbox.dmusd.org/teachers/kristinstanton/Site/Science_Blog/Science_Blog.html

Process:

The students wrote their own lyrics to a familar song (using their Google Docs account) and then storyboarded…

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In Frames 4 you can capture images from a live video stream or import images from a digital camera.  To capture images from a live video stream, you will need a camera that can provide a video stream.  A standard web cam and most digital video cameras will work fine.  If you prefer to use a still image digital camera, you can import images directly from the camera’s internal storage.  …

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This morning I was reading an interesting blog post about Project Based Learning written by an educator that simply goes by the name Nev.

Nev's blogpost brings up some really good points on what is project…

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Students in the Tech Club at Julington Creek Elementary had success in their district's Jim Hardin FAME (Florida Association for Media in Education) contest. Students used Frames to create animations and PSAs.

Check out their great contest…

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Check out Glendale, AZ's teacher, Kristen Robertson, and one of her student's reporting "live" about the power of integrating green screening within the curriculum.

http://bcove.me/cyctzyd3

In working on an article for the next issue of Creative Educator, I have had the great opportunity to talk with some great minds in education, both visionary and practical. After talking with Ben Johnson of Poudre School District in Fort Collins, Colorado, I just had to share a great video about technology use in their district. Despite having one of the states lowest per pupil funding rates, Poudre continues to have a strong vision for…

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What better way to share with others the way you integrate Frames into your class by entering a contest?! Have your students create a digital book report...simple enough. I'm sure many of you do this already. Check out the site and please let us know if you submit as the public decides who wins and of course we would want to have a Frames user win :-)

http://digitalbookreport.shycast.com/

According to Sir Ken Robinson, "Creativity is as important in education as literacy and should be treated with the same status."



Creativity is as much an attitude toward life as a matter of ability. Students start to feel their natural creativity suppressed when we expect them to color within the lines of their coloring books. So, how does one teach creativity? Unfortunately there is not a set recipe to follow for developing creativity and each educator has their own style for doing… Continue

I'm putting in a plug for an animation session at NECC. Amy Clark will be presenting a hands on session on Monday. MP342 Moving the Curriculum Along: Animation in the Elementary Classroom. It will focus on Frames (until the Frames upgrade, it was going to include Twist too!). I can assure you that you will have tons of fun. Amy has more energy than anyone should have! See you in DC!

New Pixie Activities on the Trading Post

Special thanks to Wendy Torres of Roland Park Country School in Maryland for uploading another 30 Pixie Activities to the Trading Post this year. Recent entries include many options for counting and working with money. Thanks Wendy!



Online Media

This weeks online media additions are a mix based on educator request. There are more musical notation images, an image of… Continue

The current set of ideas being posted in the forum, "Outside the Box", will have students perceive the self. When I was teaching I found these types of activities to really help the students tap into higher order thinking. After all, we know ourselves the best, so it makes it easier to access those higher order skills. Students are not often given the opportunity to express themselves in a creative manner. When you use activities like this it opens the door to engaging them further in other… Continue