In this unit, you'll explore how technology tools can enhance creativity both in classrooms and in your own life. Throughout the semester, you've seen how technology supports learning by improving communication and collaboration. Now, you'll focus on how it can also inspire innovation and creative problem-solving. Those skills are essential not just in education but in any career.
Think about the ways creativity plays a role in your daily life—whether it's finding a new way to organize your schedule, designing a social media post, or brainstorming solutions to everyday challenges. In this unit, you'll apply what you've learned so far about making learning meaningful and using technology to create something new and fun. Whether you see yourself as a naturally creative person or not, you'll discover how creativity can be a powerful tool in shaping your future.
One other quick note: You are invited to participate in a research study investigating the factors that contribute to student success in online undergraduate courses. The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete. It would be really appreciated if you took a few minutes to complete it. All of the information can be found here.
Unit 4 tasks are due Monday, November 3rd at the end of the day.
Grade value: 3% of total grade, time estimate - 1 hour
This week, start with taking some time to reflect on how creativity has helped you in different situations whether in school, work, hobbies, or everyday life.
Think about a moment when you used creativity to:
Solve a problem
Complete a course project in a unique way
Just make something more engaging or exciting
Your example doesn’t have to be something big. Think about your own life. So it could be something as simple as coming up with a creative way to study for an exam, designing a visually appealing presentation, or finding a new way to organize your schedule.
Write a short response (4-5 sentences), name it Task 1, and post it on your Create webpage. Your response should be brief but thoughtful. I do not need to see a long essay, so think of something fun and related to your daily life. Don’t forget to publish your page.
Grade value: 10% of total grade, time estimate - 2-10 hours to completing project
For this task, we are going to use Canva as our technology (Yes, there is no other option provided with this task). You will design a graduation invitation letter cover using Canva. This is an opportunity to express your creativity and design something uniquely yours without relying on templates.
1. Start from Scratch
View the Canva tutorial here. You can complete this task with the free version of Canva.
Do not use pre-made templates. While templates can be helpful, they often limit creativity. Instead, challenge yourself to design something from the ground up.
Think about the colors, fonts, and layout you want, rather than what a template suggests.
2. Personalize Your Design
Imagine you’re graduating and sending an invitation to celebrate your achievement to your loved ones.
Your cover should reflect your anything you would like others to see, such as personality, achievements, or future aspirations.
Consider adding elements like:
A meaningful quote about your journey
Symbols or colors that represent your field of study or career goals
A creative layout that makes your design unique
3. Use Canva to Finish Design
Explore different fonts, color palettes, shapes, and images.
Think beyond typical designs. Your invitation can be modern, playful, minimalistic, or bold.
Be creative!
It's all about creativity, and there is no right or wrong design for your projects! This is your chance to think outside the box and make something that truly represents you. Have fun with this, and I can’t wait to see what you design!
Final hint: Just add your invitation (save it as a PDF) to your Create page. And don't forget publish!
Grade value - 7% of the total grade, time estimate: 45 minutes - 1 hour.
In this task, you will reflect on your task 2 and also provide your own understanding of how creativity and technology (like Canva) can support learning in K-12 classrooms.
Here are some guiding questions for this reflection (You don't need to address all of them, use it as a guide) :
Self-reflection on Task 2
How did designing the graduation invitation cover allow you to use creativity?
How did this activity help you think creatively and express your own ideas?
Connecting Creativity to K-12 Education
Imagine if this Canva activity were adapted for a K-12 classroom. How could it be used to support students' creativity?
How could teachers use technology tools like Canva to engage students and enhance learning?
You'll write this on a new Google Doc and it should be 4-5 paragraphs. If you want more writing tips - here's a link to some suggestions I always give students.
Don't forget to share the document before you insert it onto your Create page (or I won't be able to view it).
That's it for Unit 4! Let me know if you have questions about any of the tasks. Unit 5 (the last unit!!) will be posted no later than noon on Monday, November 3rd.