Using @AdobeExpress For Presentations #MakerEd #AdobeEduCreative

I just had to share this amazing video a student created for Innovation and Design class. The 6th grade class was tasked with building their teacher (me) a house based on his answers to their questions. The goal of the assignment was to emphasize the value of asking questions and understanding the problems people might be dealing with on a regular basis. Once the students created the house, they needed to create a presentation to showcase their work. Below is one example a student submitted. The student used Adobe Express and the Animate from Audio feature to give a guided tour of the space. Better yet, when they showed it off in class, other students asked for help with their presentation so they could use Animate with Audio as well. 

Adobe Express is a great tool for teachers to use to building dynamic lessons and wonderful graphics, but it is even better in student hands. Giving the students the opportunity to work with tools that allow them to enhance their artifacts to demonstrate their understanding of concepts can lead to wonderful creations. The day after the project was submitted, I saw two students working on a project about Neanderthals on Adobe Express. Traditional slideshows are boring and tend to be an image with a monologue written next to it. Express allows students t=many different approaches to sharing their learning and that is why it is an important part of my class. 

If you have any questions about Adobe Express, please reach out and I am happy to help. 

Hugs and High Fives, 

NP

Using @AdobeExpress for Generative AI Images #AdobeEduCreative @RebeecaLouHare

The integration of technology in the classroom is not just about the latest gadgets and gizmos. It's about enhancing our lessons and making them come alive for our students. I'm always on the lookout for fresh, innovative ways to make this happen, and I've found a gem in Adobe Express's generative AI feature. If you haven't given it a shot yet, read on to find out why it could be the tech boost your classroom needs.

Why Adobe Express's Generative AI?

Adobe Express, renowned for its easy-to-use design capabilities, has now embraced the world of AI. This tool takes your basic inputs and transforms them into stunning visual content. And trust me, it's a lot simpler than it sounds. So how can we, as educators, leverage this? Let's dive into some examples.

1. Elementary School: Story Illustrations

Every teacher knows the magic that unfolds when young minds weave tales. Imagine supporting those narratives with AI-generated images. After your students draft their short stories, use Adobe Express to create unique illustrations. What is nice about this, is that students can see the power of the words they use to describe. Does the image not match what was in your head? Then consider adding more describing words to the story. Express allows for multiple iterations of a single prompt, so you can search for the one that best matches your vision or you can add more words to help get the image you have in your mind. I think that writing, for some students, can be too abstract. They have a hard time putting to words what they see in their mind. Express can help with that.

On the other side of this lesson, you could create weird images and have the students write a story about what is happening or just describe what they see. Helping students with the writing process can be tough. As an English teacher, teaching writing is one of the hardest things I have ever done and it took me years before I felt confident that I was doing an adequate job. Express can help teachers and students with their writing in a fun and engaging way.

2. Middle School: Science Posters

Middle schoolers are at an age where they're delving deep into scientific concepts. Creating engaging lessons with interesting graphics can take lots of time and energy. Not all teachers are create at creating their own custom graphics or finding the best images to fit their needs. Express is awesome because you can create the image you need for the specific slide you have created. Below is an image of a desert biome that has different types of cacti. With a properly worded prompt, I was able to create the exact image I needed. Working with students, teachers could create other images of biomes based on what students learned in the their lessons or in their own personal research.

3. High School: Visualizing Geometry

Mathematics is all around us, and geometry is the art of seeing shapes and patterns in our world. Adobe Express’s Generative AI can elevate this experience for high school students. When diving into lessons about different geometric shapes or complex patterns, teachers can input terms into the platform and share those with the students to see if they can identify the shapes. 

For instance, just by typing in "hexagon" into the prompt, this awesome image was generated. Being able to quickly create all of the images you need to share with students will be a huge time saver. Asking students to explore these images in nature could take them on a journey where they start to see geometry everywhere they turn. Instead of wasting hours looking for the perfect image on the internet, the teacher can now create the image they want with a few descriptive words. 

Ready to Dive In?

Adobe Express's Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize your classroom activities. It not only brings lessons to life but also encourages students to think creatively and visually. As always, it's about blending our teaching methods with tools that amplify the learning experience. It is important to note that the AI feature is not currently available through student Adobe accounts. This will change in the future, so keep an eye out! 

Hugs and High Fives, 

NP

Beyond Paper and Pencil: Innovative Assessments with @AdobeExpress #AdobeEduCreative @RebeccaLouHare

One of the things that has had me excited this school year is really diving into the updated Adobe Express and seeing how it can be used for assessment. When I showcased Express to my teachers at the start of the year, there were plenty of "oohhs" and "ahhhs". Animate from Audio really got the foreign language teachers excited because they saw it is a great way to engage students who have been historically shy about recording themselves speaking and sharing it with class. Being able to choose a silly avatar represent their words should reduce much of their anxiety. I was thinking of other ways that content areas might use Adobe Express for assessment. 

Here are four ways you can tap into the power of Adobe Express to evaluate your students' understanding and skills in innovative ways.

1. Digital Storytelling: Narrate a Historical Event

Digital storytelling is an exciting avenue for students to connect with historical events, as they use visuals and narrative to bring the past to life. Using Adobe Express, students can select a variety of images, design elements, and text to depict significant historical events.

How It Works: Assign a specific historical event or period. Ask students to research and then construct a digital story that provides a visual narrative. Not only does this allow them to dive deep into historical context, but they can also explore themes, significance, and personal connections. As an assessment, you can evaluate their research skills, storytelling abilities, and their grasp of historical context.

2. Scientific Process Visualization: Detail an Experiment's Progress

Sometimes, the best way to understand a scientific process is to see it visually. Adobe Express provides a platform where students can design infographics or visual reports that detail each step of their scientific experiment.

How It Works: After completing an experiment, students can use Adobe Express to create a step-by-step visual report. This will demonstrate their understanding of the scientific method and the specific experiment they conducted. By breaking down each stage with visuals, students can clearly communicate their process, findings, and conclusions.

3. Literary Analysis: Visual Book Reports

Gone are the days of the standard written book report. Let's elevate the experience with visual book reports! Students can utilize Adobe Express to craft a creative representation of their chosen book, including key themes, character developments, and critical scenes.

How It Works: Students select a book they've read and use Adobe Express to craft a visual book report. They can include quotes, images representing key scenes, and their own designs. By juxtaposing these elements, students can offer their interpretation and analysis of the book, showcasing their comprehension and critical thinking skills.

4. Geometry in Real Life: Shapes and Design

Geometry is everywhere, and Adobe Express can help students see it. By tasking students with identifying and outlining geometric shapes in real-world photos, they can connect classroom lessons with their surroundings.

How It Works: Students take or find pictures of real-world objects or scenes. Using Adobe Express, they highlight and label the different geometric shapes they identify. This assessment not only tests their knowledge of geometry but also their ability to connect theory with real-world application.

Adobe Express has proven to be more than just a design tool. It's a gateway to interactive and immersive learning experiences, allowing educators to assess students in ways that are both engaging and insightful. By incorporating these creative assessment methods into your teaching approach, you not only evaluate student understanding but also foster skills like critical thinking, creativity, and technological literacy. 

Hugs and High Fives, 

NP

(Images generated using Adobe Firefly.)