I am on my way back from Adobe Max – one of the largest creativity conferences in the world. I was struck by the potential we have to transform how we learn. The software that stole my heart was Adobe Spark.The best teachers I have had, were the ones who fired up my imagination. Their stories made me want to visit places; build things & express myself through sketches, writing & theatre. They motivated me to try my hand at anything I wanted to. Whether it was theatre or music or art, they made me believe that I had to try everything till I discovered my true calling. Today I know that choosing a career is a bit like sampling many things in a buffet before going back for seconds.
From Push to Pull
Today technology makes it possible for teachers to influence the students through interactive content. Rote based learning can drive compliance, but does not instil a love for learning. The teachers can bring the lessons to life by building interactive content for each lesson. They can in turn encourage the students to create their own content to show their understanding. Testing content absorption can be done in creative ways. Technology makes that possible.At AdobeMax, one of the world’s largest creativity conferences, I am struck at the strides technology has made. Adobe has brought in Artificial Intelligence to their products. The result is in two to three clicks the software turns inanimate photos and sketches into 3D objects. Using Augmented reality software, it is possible to blur the line between the virtual world and the real world. A walk through a historical building or fort can be an immersive experience as the kids walk through the alleys and pathways, ducking the enemies while reading the information that would have otherwise been a dry lesson in history.
Adobe Sparks a million minds
Adobe has partnered with the government to offer Adobe Spark to a million students in India. It will help the students and teachers to build their digital literacy. The software is not going to replace the teacher. The teacher can now build interactive content without having to take it to a professional studio. Creativity is going to be an important element of tomorrow’s skill set. Using videos, graphics & sound to bring each lesson to life can have a huge impact on the imagination of students.
Adobe Spark in your office
And even in corporations, experience design can be a brand differentiator. Being able to seamlessly move between the desktop to the tablet and the mobile empowers creators to build on their ideas even when they are on the move. I tried using Adobe Spark to create this poster on my phone while I took a cab ride to the airport. When the Sales team of the organization can create customized content on their mobile, it can change how the customer views the solution.Using augmented reality to merge online & offline experiences can change the world of work. Technology makes it possible for leaders to create powerful stories in a format that appeals to the young workforce. YouTube star Lilly Singh has 5.8 million viewers who consume each of the seven or eight videos a week that she creates. She mixes her social messages on women’s empowerment with humor – probably one of the most powerful ways to drive change in the mindset.
Creativity for a million – a billion to go
The one big message that comes right through – the machines can only replace the tedium of creative work – never creativity. But for now that is challenge ahead.As Shantanu Narayen, the CEO of Adobe said, “A million done – a billion more to go.”—————-Join more than 750,000 followers on LinkedIn & 20,000 people on Twitter @AbhijitBhaduri