I found this article http://blog.learningtoday.com/blog/bid/63702/Spurring-Creativity-Online?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LearningToday+%28Learning+Today+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader today and found myself checking out the activities. I like to put up worthwhile activities on my class wiki so students have choices when they have finished their designated activity. I thought some of them were fun and held some educational merit. They are however geared for the elementary age.
Crayola's Digi-Color was fun for beginners but if you wanted to use their photo story area a special code had to used that was found on purchased Crayola items. Not so cool...
I have used the Lego website in class but decided to pull it off my wiki. Not because students didn't use it, no they LOVED IT! I pulled it because many of the games were simply video games where characters were shooting guns and cannons at each other. Call me old fashioned, I don't want that in my classroom. If I could isolate just the builder section I would put it back up.
Mr. Picasso Head was fun, but I am not sure how long this would hold a child's interest. Most of the drawing was done for you so someone who likes to draw would get bored.
This blog was a great example how teachers can share ideas and things they find on the Internet. There is just so much out there, we need all the help we can get to know what will work in the classroom.
You make a very valid point: there is so much out there that we need help sorting through everything to find what works. I like the fact that you eliminated the Lego link because of the guns / etc. Since it went away from having educational value and deviated into the path of "gaming," you made the right choice. We have to make sure that we find sites that are educational based and not games. It looks like you have found some solid materials that will be of benefit to your students. Thank you for sharing.
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