Explore and create: Exploratory Creation lab 
Preregistration Required
My goal is to empower educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively use Adobe Express as a transformative tool for creativity and amplifying student voices in the classroom. The session recognizes the importance of educational technology in fostering student engagement, expression, and creativity, aligning with the interests and needs of the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) audience. I will include time for participants to brainstorm ideas and share out with the group. I will demonstrate the new version of Adobe Express, and participants will also try it on their own.
Objectives:
Relevance to Educational Technology and ISTE Audience:
Demonstrate the significance of Adobe Express by showcasing its potential to facilitate student voice and creativity. I will connect the session's content to the ISTE audience by highlighting how Adobe Express aligns with ISTE standards and principles, particularly those related to student empowerment and technology integration.
Higher-/Second-Order Applications of Technology:
Encourage participants to move beyond basic technology usage and explore higher-order applications by demonstrating how Adobe Express can foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills in students.
Showcase advanced features and strategies within Adobe Express that enable educators to facilitate deep, meaningful learning experiences.
Ease of Replication:
Provide practical, step-by-step guidance for incorporating Adobe Express into various classroom contexts, making it accessible and easy to replicate for educators of all technology proficiency levels. Share templates, examples, and resources that participants can adapt and use with their students immediately.
Value to Participants:
Ensure that participants leave the session with concrete ideas, strategies, and resources for enhancing student voice and creativity in their classrooms.
Facilitate collaborative discussions and networking opportunities, allowing participants to share insights and learn from each other's experiences.
Successes:
I have been using Adobe Express with a wide variety of students who have all found it easy to use and have created visually stunning products that allow them to tell their stories in an engaging way. Many students have also gone on to use it for many other projects, even when it isn't required. I have also trained all of my staff on using Adobe Express, and many have used it in their classrooms after just one short training.
Session Flow:
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Start with signing in the Adobe Express so participants will be ready to create when we get to that section. Then, a warm welcome and my experience.
2. Understanding the NEW Adobe Express (10 minutes)
overview of Adobe Express, highlighting its new features and capabilities.
If possible, attendees will be encouraged to have their devices (laptops or tablets) ready and signed into Adobe Express.
3. Accessibility and Inclusivity (5 minutes)
how Adobe Express supports accessibility features, making it suitable for diverse learners. Tips and strategies for ensuring inclusive use of Adobe Express are discussed.
4. Quick Wins with Adobe Express (15 minutes)
How Adobe Express can be used for quick, impactful classroom activities suitable for all grade levels.
Attendees will be shown examples of small-scale projects, such as quick posters to show learning and turning a worksheet assignment into a short animated video.
5. Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)
Attendees are given a specific prompt or task to complete using Adobe Express. They can also create a sample item for their class if they already have a project in mind. I will be available to provide support and answer questions during this activity.
6. Navigating Adobe Express Teacher Tools (5 minutes)
The presenter briefly demonstrates key Adobe Express tools specifically for educators, such as templates, multimedia libraries, and design features.
Attendees are encouraged to explore these tools further on their own.
7. Large-Scale Projects (10 minutes)
The presenter discusses how Adobe Express can be used for more extensive classroom projects, including multimedia research reports, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and community outreach initiatives.
8. Sharing and Q&A (5 minutes)
Attendees are invited to share their experiences with the hands-on activity and ask questions about using Adobe Express in their specific classroom contexts.
Understanding Creativity:
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/20/06/understanding-creativity
Creativity in Education book:
https://books.google.com/books?id=WMKvAwAAQBAJ
3 Ways to Include and Amplify Student Voice:
https://learnercentered.org/blog/3-ways-to-amplify-student-voice/#:~:text=Amplifying%20student%2Dvoice%20should%20be,even%20when%20it%20is%20hard.
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