At first glance, some educators may think I have strayed from the hard-core educational app to something that would just be fun for the kids, and you might be right, but hear me out on this. As an artist, a teacher, and a writer, I try to pull in opportunities for creativity and voice in everything we do. I think our educational system has all but stomped creativity to death for our kids, and it's on its last, dying breath. Testing...preparing for the testing...the test to prepare them for the test...preparing for the test that will prepare them for the test...preparing younger grades before they test to prepare to prepare to test....I know, I'm preaching to the choir. So how do I plan to use this little gem of an app, you ask?
First let me say as a monster-maker myself, I am biased.
Stefan G. Bucher's Daily Monsters, and much more, can be found at The Daily Monster.
Before we even get to the app, I can imagine his creative story being inspirational to kids. I have enjoyed his monsters long before I had a brainstorm about the app, but I broke down and purchased the app for my iPad yesterday - really for myself to enjoy. As I was creating monsters (when I should have been doing 1,000 other things), it hit me! These little guys could be an engagement ticket! Here's the gist - Bucher creates monsters out of blown ink. On the app, you tap (blow) your ink, then you add a variety of features to make the monster, all of which, is artwork from Bucher. You can save them, and you can also take your picture WITH them...very cool feature!
Still you are wondering how I plan to use this to address the "rigorous" curriculum I should be teaching. Well, we have breakfast in our classroom every morning while the morning show plays. Why not have a student create a monster each morning while he/she eats. It can be done that quickly. Anyway, I'll figure out logistics later...After the student introduces him/her, the monster could be the mascot of the day. Here's my bulleted list so far:
- Journal entry about his backstory
- Journal entry from the monster's perspective
- AR Target for some of the student's work (augmented reality)
- The monster could appear in the photo journaling on a science experiment as the narrator.
- Each student could create a monster and write his story.
- Each student could create a monster and write something from his perspective. Then the monsters could be gathered in a book.
- Above writing could be added to a book in Book Creator with the monster's image and story.
- Poems could be written about the monster and put into a book.
- Teacher made monsters could be hidden throughout the school as AR targets to a scientific treasure hunt (I love those!).
- Pictures can be taken with the monster, saved to the camera roll, and used in apps to make comic strips that teach a concept (something else I love!) Who says monsters can't teach science concepts?
You get the idea! That was just my list written down from the time I started playing until I put it away for the evening. The difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is not in the big things, but in the details. Those little details make the difference when engaging kids! And, maybe I just like monsters!
