Welcome to the Spark Page Workshop!
Access this Spark Presentation: https://tinyurl.com/SparkWebpage
Learning Outcomes
- To understand the pedagogical value of instructional technologies
- To experiment with and effectively use features of Spark Page for multiple educational situations
- To create a multimodal assignment prompt (or a related project)
Overview of the Workshop
- Pedagogical considerations for instructional technologies and the Spark suite
- Introduction to Spark: why this application?
- Live demo: building a multimodal assignment prompt
- Q&A
- Breakout room hands-on workshop
Todd Taylor's Ten Principles for Instructional Technology
- Keep people first
- Start simple
- Focus on program and pedagogical principles
- Invest in hands-on instructor training
- Practice and make precise instructional tutorials
- Consider access
- Reflect critically on technology
- Consult with others
- Expect the crash
- Use technology as a lever for positive change
Adapted from Taylor, Todd. "Ten Commandments for Computers and Composition." The Allyn & Bacon Sourcebook for Writing Program Administrators, edited by Irene Ward and William Carpenter, Allyn & Bacon, 2001, pp. 228-242.
Focus on program and pedagogical principles + Invest in hands-on instructional training + Practice and make precise instructional tutorials
"The tail shouldn't wag the dog." —Todd Taylor
- The learning outcomes—not the technology—should determine the way we use instructional technologies.
- You don't need to be an expert in these technologies, but you should strive to practice what you preach. Know what you're requiring of students by experimenting with the technologies yourself.
- Hands-on knowledge will help you communicate steps and calibrate your expectations for projects.
Use technology as a lever for positive change.
Move students from passive consumers of information to active creators of ideas!
Here's an example:
Why Spark?
- Offers a simple, immediately usable platform to begin learning with instructional technologies.
- Adds clarity, emphasis, professionalism, and a "human touch" to documents and presentations.
- Provides opportunities for more student engagement, collaboration, and creativity.
- Easily embeds and showcases a range of media.
Live Demo
Part 1: Observe
Building a multimodal assignment prompt, using this sample assignment as content
Part 2: Hands-on Workshop
Alternative method to access steps: https://tinyurl.com/SparkWorkshop2021
Credits:
Created with images by Jez Timms - "untitled image" • Pexels - "bright celebration dark" • Glenn Carstens-Peters - "If you feel the desire to write a book, what would it be about?" • Headway - "Gaining a deep understanding the problems that customers face is how you build products that provide value and grow. It all starts with a conversation. You have to let go of your assumptions so you can listen with an open mind and understand what’s actually important to them. That way you can build something that makes their life better. Something they actually want to buy." • Ameer Basheer - "Hit your Target" • Anika Huizinga - "Perspective" • Christina @ wocintechchat.com - "untitled image" • Linus Nylund - "Rowing in the Swedish archipelago the wind suddenly stopped and the water became this oily super smooth surface. We stopped moving and got fascinated by the water drops forming patterns on the surface. Even the most common thing can turn into something beautiful under the right circumstances." • Jessy Smith - "Desk" • Joanna Kosinska - "untitled image"