Thanks very much for everyone's contributions this week

Here are the creative technology tools people said they are using now in school:

1. Video editing: Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, Pinaple, photodex
2. Audacity (sound editing)
3. Drawing/Painting: KidPix studio, Paint, Gimp, Tuxpaint, Aviary tools (http://advanced.aviary.com/) - these are web-based so no problem with installing! Adobe photo shop, Photoscape, ImageChef.com
4. 3D modelling: Sculptris (will recommended it to our art teacher.)
5. Presentations: Glogster, Open Office Impress, Prezi
6. 3D modelling - Blender, K-3D and Google SketchUp.
7. Website creation: Macromedia, web page maker, Frontpage
8. Mind map: www.bubbl.us , www.mindomo.com , www.mindmeister.com, Freemind
9. Quiz and crossword - HotPotatoes (http://hotpot.uvic.ca/)
10. Cartoons & comics - http://goanimate.com/
11. Active expression tools (promethean)

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to using these high-tech creative tools that people spoke about:

1. Teaching becomes more fun and students are usually more creative when using them in their home assignments.
2. Diversity is important. Using too much of anything can lead to saturation.
3. Limited time (e.g. just once a week the ICT lesson - 45 minutes
4. A large "IT skills gap" between the students joining the class from different social environments.
5. Diversity is important and many "old-fashioned" methods still work well. I think we have to use as many different ways of teaching as possible because you never know what makes sense for each student.