We teach kids today who are overly influenced by brands, products, and labels. They proudly display their wares on everything from clothes to electronics. In other words, they are walking examples of product identity. Well, why not use it to our advantage? Brand identification can work for us as teachers, too. Sprinkled throughout this post are some of the project logos that we have created to use for our projects.
Designing logos and acronyms are simple and effective ways to create a look that immediately identifies everything for a particular unit of learning. Just like we see and use acronyms today, many of our students simply refer to projects by their acronyms. For example, our students commonly refer to the eighth-grade
independent research project as their
IRP. It is as natural to them as it is for broadcasters using acronyms in the news.
We have branded many of our research assignments and project-based learning (PBL) work. Our students love it. You’ll often hear kids say, "bring your '
HTC' (
History Trading Card) folder to class." More importantly, all paperwork for each of these projects, from readings to templates, is branded with that image for full product recognition.
With the availability of clipart, WordArt, and Web 2.0 photo editing tools such as
ImageChef or
iPiccy, it’s easy to design an identity for specific units in the classroom. For quick logo designs, try using
Supalogo or
Cool Text. Both of these are simple tools to make instant creations without signing up for an account.
Project identity appeals to the students. Not only does it connect all the tasks, but it also helps the less organized keep everything for the assignment together. The benefits are multifold. Whether creating a new investigation or using an existing project, try adding a visual identity through branding. It’s also a perfect segue toward integrating media literacy into the discussion, too.
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