| | About Crayons4Teachers started with a professor’s inspiration of one graduate student’s presentation in her administrative educational technology course. Sonya Lynch, an elementary teacher and administrative leadership graduate student, showed the “I Have a Dollar” worksheet and others using spreadsheets as an interactive presentation tool that was easily manipulated by users. Her peers appreciated the presentation and were greatly motivated to start envisioning new Excel spreadsheets. Observing this contagious enthusiasm inspired me to incorporate more of Sonya’s conceptual ideas with the more powerful Type II or Mindtool applications. The overall goal was to have teachers be able to visualize and create innovative Type II or Mindtool spreadsheet activities and tools for and with their students. After discussing some of these ideas, we decided to expand the creative spreadsheet concept to include more of the basic applications, including word processing, database, and presentation tools. The desire is to have educators share creative ideas that include intermediate to advanced application features. The ultimate goal is to have our K-12 students be able to envision and create powerful tools and products from their Crayons project experiences. Why is the word “crayons” used in the title? Crayons are basic tools to a child. Integrated applications, such as word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation applications are basic tools to anyone using a computer. Several parallels exist between crayons and integrated applications: | Crayons | Integrated Applications | | Can be used traditionally: drawing | Can be used traditionally: wp, db, ss, pr | | Can be used with creative application: (“stained glass” by melting with wax paper; “black scratch” art [bright colors covered by black that can be scratched off in pattern]) | Can be used creatively (SS as presentation software, even though it doesn’t use SS functionalities; presentation as an interactive template by using edit mode as starter file with hints in notes section) | | Need to take out of the box to use. | Need to generate “out of the box” samples for the education world, rather than given business samples. | | Need to be resharpened. | We resharpen our perceptions of Type II applications by learning more about each application and then considering how to use the new skills effectively in the educational setting. | How could I benefit from this site as a teacher? We encourage everyone to participate in this community. The website is used as a project resource and tool in some college courses. If you have a great idea for a Crayons project and are willing to plan it out well in advance, this may be an opportunity for you to collaborate and plan an effective project or activity. In turn, if your project idea is selected, you will have a finished activity created by a college student. Sue Elwood-Salinas, Ed.D. |
