Glogster!

In Gardner’s opening paragraph entitled, “The Creating Mind”, he quotes John Seely Brown as saying “I create, therefore I am,” as a phrase individuals will use in the future (p.77). In many respects, I feel that Brown’s “world of tomorrow” is upon us. Today, individuals have numerous media platforms from which they can both express and share their creativity. This instantaneous sharing has allowed for numerous artists and creators to be seen, heard, and discovered.

The tool that was used for this project is one such media that today’s creators can embrace. Glogster is a site that I heard about during a Discovery Spring Virtual Conference a couple of years ago. I was really impressed with the site and its possibilities in the classroom. I’ve used it as a springboard for lessons incorporating various media types, as well as a webpage for student links for a unit of study.

The benefits of Glogster are numerous. It’s easy to work with and infinitely customizable. Each project is unique and the glogs are visually pleasing and engaging. The negative aspects of Glogster, are much the same as the positive ones. It’s easy to get distracted and while it’s easy to work with, it can also be extremely time consuming.

Gardner states, “The mind of the five year-old represents, in one sense, the height of creative powers.” (p. 84). I couldn’t agree more! My students love to create things with paper and glue, crayons and markers, blocks, and anything else they can get their little hands on. They also love working on the computer. This artistic and technological interest can take them far in the world of Glogster, but there are numerous obstacles. My students would need to learn more about basic computer knowledge, and about importing and uploading images and video. Time constraints and limited home access serve as the greatest obstacles for my students. However, with numerous classroom exposures and modeling on my part, my students could successfully create with Glogster.

To begin with, I would use Glogster to address the NC Technology Competency Goal 2:

The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.

I think my students would use Glogster as a virtual sticker book. I believe this site will be a great starting point for them to really explore working online in a creative way, mastering using the mouse, and designing and modifying their work. In successive lessons, students would use Glogster to address a specific topic discussed in class. Examples include: representing a number numerous ways, a word family glog, or a creation in response to a story prompt.

My Glog


Gardiner, H. (2008). 5 Minds for the Future. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Press