Podcast Reflection #5: Moving at the Speed of Creativity “Cartooning Around in Language Arts by Malia Triggs”

In this particular podcast of Moving at the Speed of Creativity, I learned all about the program/website Go Animate. Teacher Malia Triggs uses this program with her 5th grade language arts students, because they are able to use their creativity to demonstrate knowledge, and are engaged at a level than what is typical. Ms. Triggs also likes the fact that by embracing digital storytelling, she is also able to cover multiple standards at the same time. As Ms. Triggs informs us in the podcast, she firsts asks students to create a storyboard – a foundation for what they are going to create that incorporates many important aspects to consider: character, setting, purpose, plot, etc. Once this storyboard has been approved, the students are allowed to go online and begin making their own videos. Ms. Triggs commented that Go Animate is such a wonderful program for students to use either independently or in groups. Additionally, her experience has been that it engages the unengageable. I would definitely agree with Ms. Triggs. I feel that these types of programs interest students because they are somewhat out-of-the-ordinary. However, we as teachers find value in them because we are still able to measure students’ work. Students also learn how to compose and edit, just like they would in writing an essay. The other nice thing about Go Animate is that it is free – and that is always helpful! I will definitely consider using Go Animate with my future students after having heard this podcast.