Dartford East Creativity in ICT Day

ICT can be seen as a catalyst in creative thinking giving children the opportunity to produce an original, purposeful outcome, which can be valued. Integrating ICT into the curriculum allows children to think and behave imaginatively.

The aim of the Inset was to demonstrate ways that ICT can be embedded into the curriculum and used as a tool to promote creativity and thinking.

There were four workshops each running twice:

• Animations
• Digital Blue Movie Creator
• Digital Blue Microscope
• TASC planning for ICT

Animations – Mandy Barrow (HOS Consultant)

Pivot Stickfigure Animator is a fun and free tool for exploring the basics of animation by creating your own flipbook-style animations. With no instruction or prior animation experience, students are able to construct their first Pivot animations within a half-hour of using the tool. 

Digital Blue Movie Creator – Simon Brown (HOS Leading ICT Teacher)

The Digital Blue Movie Creator enables children to record and later accurately evaluate their learning. It promotes pupil creativity and challenges children to present information clearly for the viewer. In this workshop delegates saw examples of children’s work and also had ‘hands on’ opportunity to use the camera and the Movie Creator software to create their own movies.

Digital Blue Microscope – Janine Lambourne (HOS Leading ICT Teacher)

Some years ago every school was given a Digital Blue Microscope. The microscope can be used in lots of different ways. It can help to motivate pupils, arouse curiosity, encourage pupils to question and investigate and develop awe and wonder. During the workshop there was the opportunity to have ‘Hands on’ experience of the microscope and the Software as well as seeing how to create resources to use with the children.

TASC planning for ICT - Becky Stoneham (ICT Primary Teacher Adviser)

TASC (Thinking Actively in a Social Context) encourages thinking and problem solving skills. The session provided a practical introduction to TASC and the opportunity to explore mind mapping software Kidspiration/Inspiration. Delegates shared examples of how TASC has been used to support creativity in the curriculum through ICT and had a go at planning their own ICT activity.