Adobe Spark provides free resources that allow teachers and students to easily create and share their work digitally. One tool that I particularly like is the Adobe Spark Video app. It is simple to use and a great tool for narrating a captivating story, presenting a report, explaining a concept, or telling a personal story. Students can choose their own images to add to their videos or select from the thousands that are available. There are also options to add text, music, animation and more. Discover how you might use it in your classroom by watching the short videos below:

Adobe offers many free courses for educators. One of these is called Digital Storytelling with Your Class. The program is described as follows:

"This free online course is aimed at all educators looking to get started using digital storytelling to engage students, and learning to tell compelling digital stories with Adobe Spark. The course is self-paced, so you can learn at your own speed, and should take no longer than 3 hours to complete.

No prior knowledge of Adobe tools is required to take part.

Throughout this fun and easy course, you’ll explore:

• Short video tutorials by expert educators which give you the technical skills required to create your own digital stories with Adobe tools
• Information on using digital storytelling in your curriculum to produce exciting outcomes for you and your students
• Basic principles of digital storytelling

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Successful graduates of this course will receive an Adobe digital badge and a certificate accrediting 3 hours of professional development."

Looking for inspiration? Check out sample student work and teaching resources.
Questions? Read the Adobe Spark Educator's Guide.

In short, HyperDocs are interactive, digital documents (i.e. Google Docs or Slides) containing links to activities, videos, and resources that drive and engage student learning. HyperDocs take the teacher lecturing in the front of the room  off stage and encourage students to follow the paths that ignite their curiosity. While students are navigating a HyperDoc playlist, the teacher is able to move about the classroom, working one-on-one or in small groups with students. Discover more in this short video created by West Ada School District, and check out this template for a visual.

How might HyperDocs support your curriculum? Could you create HyperDocs for fast finishers to access? Are you interested in modifying a unit so one day consists of student learning being guided by their choices? Or do you want to make HyperDocs a more regular part of your teaching? Learn more about how HyperDocs could change the way you teach by checking out the examples below. 

Check out the free templates and additional resources below.

Really great learning happens when things get a little messy. As a homeroom teacher, I like that. But, there is a delicate balance between messy learning and learning that turns into a mess. My goal is to keep learning meaningful and fun for my students while also manageable for me. Though I was always pulled to Genius Hour, part of me felt pushed away from it at the same time. I knew my students would LOVE researching their interests, but my worry was that they would all miraculously have the same interest: Minecraft! I wanted my students to push past that to find an abundance of authentic interests, and in turn have meaningful learning experiences. Thrively helped me to do just that!

Do you want help setting up and activating Thrively accounts for your students? Learn more by watching this tutorial.