Driving Student Engagement with Adobe Express & Firefly JUstin Hodgson, Ph.D. - Indiana University

Scaling through Discovery, Play, and Failure

Scaffolding Activities & Assignments

Once I've figured out the kind of projects I want students to engage with as part of my course, I then try to identify all the technical, conceptual, and rhetorical skills they will need to be successful on that project. With those things in mind, I identify ways to prepare students for success with those elements, while also aligning them with specific day-to-day course goals and outcomes.

Step 1 - Think-Pair-Make-Share (In-class Activity)

In class, on day 1 even, I have students work on a Think-Pair-Share-Activity. Not only is this a regular Active Learning strategy we will use in the classroom, but it also ensures very quickly they know how to create and download an image use Adobe Express

Quick Steps

  1. Spend a minute or two thinking of responses to a few key prompts.
  2. Pair up and spend a few minutes discussing the prompts / responses.
  3. Generate key take-aways from that discussion (written in sentence form).
  4. Make an image creation (combining image and text) that represents or conveys one "take-away".
  5. Share the image creation with the larger group and explain what was created / how it relates to/responds to the prompt.
Think-Pair-Make-Share | Full Overview/Guide

Step 2 - About Me (Out of Class) [Image or Webpage]

After that early class, I usually invite them to do some kind of "About Me" activity, where they create an image introducing themselves to their classmates / groups and share them via the LMS (in my case, Canvas).

Example "About Me" (as image)

Bonus Element/Challenge

  • Have to use "Remove Background" and put themselves in front of a solid color background or even a different background image.

Step 3 - Micro Analysis (In-Class Group Activity)

In class, I have them work in groups to (a) do an analysis of an image or monument, using one of the key concepts or frames from the reading, and (b) to create these as Express webpages (requiring an image of the thing analyzed and their written text).

Example Activity

Student Example 1
Student Example 2

Step 4 - Express webpage - Counter-Monument Analysis

Counter-Monument Assignment Description

Bonus: Putting myself into History

a.k.a. the "Forrest Gump" Activity/Assignment Challenge

The goal of this activity (or even assignment) is to (1) get students to put themselves into a historical or culturally significant moment (or several moments) and (2) offer some critical or creative engagement of the event (explaining its historical significance, context, cultural moment, etc.).

  • I personally would encourage students to "tell a story" or offer a first-person narrative of the event / experience (using research and course readings to situate themselves in the moment).

Step 1 - Locate an Image / Take an Image

  • Students find an image relevant to the course discussion, readings, topics, etc. (It can be helpful to find a black and white photo for this activity.)
  • Students find (or take) a photo of themselves they would like to use. (It can be helpful to take a photo so that its perspective fits that of the image.)
Combine these 2 images into 1. Insert on page (or as GlideShow). Add textual description of student perspective at the event

Step 2 - Upload the main image

Upload a black and white "historical" image to Adobe Express & set as page background

  • 2.1 - Select the "+" button and click "upload media"
  • 2.2 - Select the image to upload and click "open"
  • 2.3 - Select "Original aspect ratio"
  • 2.4 - Click on the image and in the new image menu on the left, select "Set as page background"

Step 3 - Add yourself and adjust visuals

Add the photo of yourself (Media --> Upload from device) and with the new photo added, desaturate the image (Adjustments --> Lower Saturation)

  • 3.1 - Select "Upload" from left menu
  • 3.2 - Select photo of you and click "Open"
  • 3.3 - Click on your photo on the canvas and in the Image menu, click "Adjustments"
  • 3.4 - Slide the Saturation circle all the way to the left

Step 4 - Remove background

With image of you selected, click "Remove background"

Step 5 - Position/Place/Refine

Resize / position the new "background less" image of you.

  • Adjust the visual qualities
  • Edit/tweak as needed
IU Tuition Fee Hike - Student Protest 1969 - Dunn Meadow (Photo courtesy of IU Archives) {JH Added}

Step 6 - Download & Use in Express Webpage

Once the image is complete, students would download the image as a .jpg or .png and then use it in an Express webpage, where they would add their written/narrative elements.

  • 6.1 - Select "Download" at top right
  • 6.2 - Choose File Format
  • 6.3 - Click "Download" button

Glideshow Tip: If students create a series of images for this activity, I would encourage them to consider setting the images in a glide show and adding their context/story as floating over the image.