Journal 4-Sowing the Seeds

I enjoyed the article by Mitchel Resnick because it was all about new ideas. In today's society, creativity is not always focused on. This article is about how creativity integrated with technology can really get a child's brain spinning with ideas. It promotes creative solutions to unexpected problems. It assists with learning how to deal with problems that arise in the future lives for these children. If students are not allowed to be creative, they are less likely to be able to adapt or improvise in real life situations. Learning to figure out technology, in a sense, supports gaining the knowledge on their own.
The two imagination games mentioned were Crickets and Scratches. A Cricket is a special kit designed to activate a creative thinking spiral. You can customize your object with colored light, sounds coordinated with music and motion. Whatever ideas come to a child they can act upon and see what happens. According to the article, this development has inspired children to interact and create great learning tools. The other invention, called Scratch has to do with students making up their own stories. Learning book reports with technology can keep a child very interested. That is the goal with being creative, it keeps a child interested if they feel like they have control. Scratch also allows for playing and sharing, overall just helping peers out.

1.) What effect would cricket/scratch have if regularly used in the classroom?

The creativity devices are very high tech. They would be a great addition to any classroom because it nurtures technology advancement. Since they have lights, and music, kids want to figure out how to make them work. This way of learning creates more ideas and gains participation among classmates. They feel the power is in their hands develop new ideas on their own. Since they are having fun, playing games and learning solutions from each other, the effect on learning could be major if used regularly in the classroom, or even at home.

2.) What other ways can you develop creative thinkers as students?

I want to be prepared for when technology fails. Developing creative thinkers can be done in ways similar to the new technologies. The concept of playing and sharing to find solutions takes creativity in itself. You can look to your students for a guide to what will help them learn. Making up games or acting out book reports can stimulate participation and good ideas as well. Developing a creative thinker can take hands on, real life interaction, which ius easier with technology, but still possible without.