2017 kept us busy on multiple fronts, but few were as exciting as completely redesigning the Common Craft website. I’m writing to share three big additions to Common Craft we think you'll love.
1. Lesson Plans for Teaching with Videos
Our library of 95 videos is most often used in classrooms, training sessions and learning management systems. Instructors play a Common Craft video to set the stage for a discussion or lesson. We wanted to make this process easier, so we created Lesson Plans, like this one, to give you a head start in teaching with these videos.
Common Craft members can now download Lesson Plans for most of our videos. Each Lesson Plan includes:
- Video Intro, Link and Standards (ISTE, ACRL)
- Learning Objectives
- Discussion Questions
- Knowledge Check - Questions and Answers
- Further Reading Resources
You can learn more about our lesson plans here, or download a sample Lesson Plan (PDF)
2. New Video Category: Study Skills
Thanks to member suggestions, our video library has evolved to include videos that focus on navigating intellectual property, research skills, digital literacy and more. We believe these are essential 21st century skills that require clear understanding. Below are a few popular titles from this new category:
- Copyright and Creative Commons
- Primary vs Secondary Sources in Research
- Plagiarism and How to Avoid It
- Website Evaluation
Find the new "Study Skills" category on the video library page.
3. More Cut-outs, More Formats, Easier Access
More Cut-outs: Our library of downloadable visuals, called Cut-outs, is used in presentations, training materials, videos, websites and more. In 2017, the library grew considerably and we now have over 3,100 Cut-outs in the library.
More Formats: You’ll find Cut-outs in three useful formats, available to ALL Common Craft members:
- PNG
- EPS
- SVG (new!)
Easier Access: We’ve also simplified our search tool and created a new directory page that breaks the library out by categories. Yay!
Learn more about using Cut-outs and our DIY Plan or download a one page Fact Sheet (PDF).