Instructify

One of the neatest projects I ever did for a college literature class was to interpret a novel through a digital collage — and not just because it got me out of writing a paper. Creating a visual representation of the themes and motifs in the book let us tell a story through images rather than words and made us think about how the story would look if it were, say, a painting (not to mention, we didn’t have to write another paper).

If you’ve wanted to integrate digital collages and photo editing and sharing into your classroom lesson plans, but can’t find room in your already tight budget to invest in one of those expensive software programs, then look no further than Splashup.

Splashup is a free, full-featured online image editor that allows users to create new images, edit existing images and manipulate layers with all kinds of filters and brushes. The interface is easy to use and resembles Photoshop, Illustrator and other familiar photo editors. It’s basic enough for novices to get the hang of, but has sophisticated features that even professionals can appreciate. And did I mention it’s FREE?

What also separates Splashup from its competitors is that it seamlessly integrates with photo sharing sites, including Picasa, Flickr, and Facebook; which means you can import photos from those sites, edit them, and then export them right back for immediate sharing capabilities. You can even save your work in Splashup and come back to it later to edit it some more from another computer — oh, the wonders of data portability!

So, get those new media assignments on your syllabus ASAP. I promise your students will appreciate the change of pace — and not just because they don’t have to write another paper! — LAUREN FROHNE

Splashup

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