Techlearning > > Web 2.0 Tools Motivate Student Creativity > March 1, 2008

Web 2.0 Tools Motivate Student Creativity
Cory Plough
Using Web 2.0 tools to teach my courses not only enhances my innovative potential in designing lessons, but helps motivate student creativity in project based assignments. As an educator at an online high school, I have designed my courses to allow students options for completing work. I developed a blog with short tutorials on how to use certain Web 2.0 tools and I allow them to choose from any of the methods described on the blog to complete projects. Not only has having these options helped my students, but the tools that they are learning to use spark creativity.
For example, standard word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, offers a fundamental tool for students but not much intrinsic value. However, using blogs can tap into something very important for high school students—the chance to be heard by more people than just the teacher. If students are allowed to complete essay projects in a blog rather than in the more traditional format, student bloggers can write out their ideas so the world can listen. The result is more thoughtful and more creative writing, which helps promote student literacy.
"); //--> <SCRIPT language=‘JavaScript1.1‘ SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N339.techlearning.com/B2755582;abr=!ie;sz=336x280;click0=http://oasc08011.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.techlearning.com/index/L20/730866295/TopRight/NBMedia/Adobe-imu_Feb-Mar08-TL/Adobe-imu.html/322b32527745664d4b3177414175314d?;ord=730866295?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://oasc08011.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.techlearning.com/index/L20/730866295/TopRight/NBMedia/Adobe-imu_Feb-Mar08-TL/Adobe-imu.html/322b32527745664d4b3177414175314d?http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N339.techlearning.com/B2755582;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=730866295?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N339.techlearning.com/B2755582;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=730866295?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=336 HEIGHT=280 ALT=""></A> </NOSCRIPT>
For years MS PowerPoint has been considered the "creative tool" which propels students to become more creative in their presentations. But again, PowerPoint and similar presentations are often viewed only by the teacher and the class. But the Web 2.0 presentation applications, such asSlideshare andZoho Show allow students to create presentations and share them with the world.

The above illustration comes from one student‘s Slideshare slide show about Portugal. Using the program requires that students build their project in PowerPoint (or similar software) first and upload it; but knowing that they are uploading it promotes ingenuity during the original creation.

The above illustration is from a student who used Zoho Show to create her project, About Me. Zoho Show is less popular but does allow the students to build their project in a web based application. So, those who can‘t afford presentation software for their computer, and thus would never complete this type of project, now have a new opportunity. Also, both of these sites allow students to view other people‘s amazing visions. This opens the floodgates for their imaginations.