TDO420

Crafting Metaphors for Video Creation The original activity involves students writing metaphors to describe a concept, such as "Education is like..." or "Wisdom is like...". I modified this to "Creating a video is like...". Students were prompted to complete this sentence, encouraging them to draw parallels between video creation and other experiences or objects. Implementation and Student Engagement In the classroom, I introduced the activity by discussing the purpose of metaphors and how they can offer new perspectives. Students then brainstormed individually, writing their metaphors on sticky notes. Examples included: "Creating a video is like painting a picture with moving images." "Creating a video is like composing a symphony where each scene is a note." "Creating a video is like building a puzzle, fitting each piece to form a complete story." We then shared these metaphors in small groups, fostering discu...

  Here are 5 key things that make an effective web page: Clear Purpose and Messaging – Every page should have a clear goal (inform, sell, entertain, etc.) and communicate it instantly through headings, layout, and visuals. User-Friendly Navigation – Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly with intuitive menus, links, and structure. Responsive Design – The layout should adapt seamlessly across devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) for consistent usability. Fast Load Times – Slow websites lose users. Optimizing images, scripts, and hosting improves performance and keeps visitors engaged. Strong Visual Hierarchy – Good use of typography, spacing, and color guides the user’s eye and emphasizes the most important content.

  Unlocking Creativity: What I Learned from the "Alternative Uses" Exercise This week, I tried something completely new to boost my creativity—and it didn’t involve any design software. I stepped away from the screen and did a classroom creativity activity known as the Alternative Uses Exercise . It sounds simple (and it is), but it really stretched my creative thinking in ways I didn’t expect. I found this activity through Stanford’s d.school , which has tons of great design thinking resources. Here’s the link if you want to try it yourself: 👉 Alternative Uses Exercise – Stanford d.school What’s the Alternative Uses Exercise? Here’s how it works: You choose an everyday object. Set a timer for 3–5 minutes. Write down as many different, creative, and unusual uses for that object as you can think of. That’s it. It’s all about divergent thinking —coming up with lots of different ideas quickly, without worrying if they’re “good” or “realistic.” What I Did I c...