Creative Possibilities/Simple Interface
Community Review for Educreations
My Take
This is an app that can be quickly used in the class by allowing teachers to access a vast library of already created lessons. Lessons created produce a URL that can easily be shared or posted on a learning management system such as Blackboard or posted on a teacher's blog/website for easy access by students. On the flip side, it also is a fantastic app that provides students a creative outlet for further analyzing content or demonstrating their learning. Students/Teachers start with a blank whiteboard and can add text, pictures, drawings and narration. Pages can be added for a more dynamic demonstration/explanation. Two things that I wish would change: the ability to edit after saving and the ability to preview a recording before saving (FYI: I have heard that you can preview the recording, but have not figured it out, even with research.) I like that Educreations is a web-based application as well giving students and teachers more options/flexibility especially when working in a school that may not have access to mobile devices.
How I Use It
As a teacher trainer, I work with teachers on finding and creating their own lessons that compliment what they are already doing in the classroom. The part that causes the most issues is the fact that students can't edit after they save meaning, if a student doesn't finish the product in one sitting, they can't go back and do anything later. They must complete it all at once. A teacher must plan accordingly for this. I like how Educreations allows the teacher to set up classes and then share his/her lessons with those classes. I love the idea of creating lessons or set of directions that can easily be put into an independent learning center while the teacher assists others in a small group. I also like the idea of using this app to create quick lessons to be shared with absent students. Educreations is well-known for its use in flipping the classroom. Students can watch lessons at anywhere, anytime as long as they have an internet connection.