Picnik

picnikfile_UGxtWd, originally uploaded by nicole__rachel.

Picnik is a wonderful resource and could be a great educational tool, especially for high-school learners in a visual art or photography class. Through analysing this application with the Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs framework, it can be seen that the Picnik application fits into education under the ‘Self-Actualisation’ aspect of the learning theory. This is evident in the following idea of a possible use in a visual art context.

Learners are to attain a photo, and represent it in as many ways as possible using Picnik (premium) as the editing tool. Learners could then justify their editing to each photo and discuss how what they did represents the chosen ‘spin’ on each copy of the photo. This would be a fun, creative activity that I’m sure all learners would highly enjoy participating in.


This form of learning experience gives learners the chance to be both creative and to fulfil their inner talent (given that their inner talent was visual art of some form- this is simply an example). This conforms to the Self-Actualisation need through facilitating opportunity for the development of visual-art ability within learners (Kunc, 1992).

Above: The photo above is of my friend and I. It is simply an example of what I did on Picnik, not of the suggested educational use for the application.



nic.



Reference List

Kunc, N. (1992). The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www.normemma.com/armaslow.htm