Adobe Spark

By: Hunter Clark and Naomi Bolden

PurposeSS
Describe the purpose of the web application. What does it do for the teacher? Student? Parent?
The purpose of adobe spark is to connect the teachers and students via a virtual classroom setting. In addition, it allows for an
interactive space that encourages creative thinking through its various features.

Link to an Overview VideoSS

Title of Video – One or two sentence description – Update hyperlink for the title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9awfmzSr5A This is a video of a teacher who uses adobe spark. He provides an overview of
what Adobe can do and how it helped his classroom experience.

FeaturesFS
1.  Spark post allows users to create engaging and unique posters. This is useful in the classroom for teachers because it is a
way to get students to dive into technology and include voice and choice in their experience. It also gives teachers a free
resource when creating lessons and parent engaging posts.
2. The tutorials feature is located at the bottom of the home page. The tutorials show users how to perfect and create
unique creations with the use of in-app design variations and possibilities. It spans from “how to remove the background
from your pictures” to how to “3 Brilliant Color Combinations to Help Increase Sales.”
3. Spark presentation is also a feature within the webpage and mobile application. It is useful to teachers in the obvious
way of being used when making fun presentations in lesson planning. However, it is not that bleak. Spark gives teachers a
resource when aiming their work at colleagues, administrators, and superintendents. It allows one to include personal
branding and a quirky yet professional touch. I could see Spark being used when a teacher is to speak at a seminar for
educators and beyond.

Support AvailableFS
There is an online “Zen desk” for users who need help with Adobe Spark. It comes at no cost to the public and is formatted with
commonly asked questions and a search bar where questions can be typed. The quality of this resource is the best I have
encountered in a school application. It is delivered clearly and has multiple answers to each question. This is useful in that there is
not an unanswered question. Plus, there is no certification required from the company to use this webpage.
https://adobespark.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/204132867-Support

Key Resources with DescriptionSS

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSJfKo0yyc This is a video source from the Adobe Spark YouTube channel. This
resource provides an example of implementing a lesson plan based on giving students a historical figure to research.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chGtmjBrBpc This video is a resource provided by a teacher that has implemented the
video-post features of adobe. He shows how to properly set up the post-board for other teachers to let their students share
their videos and other forms of presentation from other applications, such as Padlet.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNESRmcEMmU This video resource shows how to post and edit videos through Adobe
Spark. The video is helpful for teachers who utilize online lectures as their style of teaching.
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbT_n6n4Io4 This video provided by a math teacher shows how teachers can teach their
students how to share studying strategies. This feature can help students prepare for upcoming tests or exams.
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8OzOg-7C8Y This is a video resource provided by a former teacher who taught at
middle and high school levels. Through this lesson plan, he shows how adobe spark can help students manage their social and
digital footprint.
6. https://www.adobe.com/express/create/planner/lesson This is a feature that adobe offers to help teachers set up their
lesson plans. Adobe allows the teachers to pick their template style and edit it.
7. https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/16-ways-to-use-adobe-spark-in-the-classroom This is an article that was written
by an educator to help teachers motivate their students. This article was published by Adobe to help educators effectively
utilize the features provided by their adobe plan to maintain student participation.
8. https://blogs.umass.edu/onlinetools/learner-centered-tools/adobe-spark/ This is a resource form the University of
Massachusetts. This article discusses the association of Adobe and the SAMR teaching.
9. https://cdw-prod.adobecqms.net/content/dam/cdw/on-domain-cdw/brands/adobe/adobe-creative-cloud-resources-for-
teachers.pdf This pdf document provides multiple resources to help teachers get started in their adobe classrooms. The pdf
provides tutorials and instructional documents to help teachers cultivate and curate a good classroom environment.
10. https://edex.adobe.com/common-core This article provides teachers with options to help set up their lesson plans in a variety
of subjects and grade levels. The article has lesson plan set up options for elementary, middle, and high school subjects such
Adobe Spark
By: Hunter Clark and Naomi Bolden
as ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

Pricing ModelSS
Describe the free and/or paid model used by the company. Include cost, major features, and any restrictions associated with each
model.
There are three different versions of the Adobe Spark plans the free, the $9.99 per month, and the $19.99 per month plans. All
three programs provide the classroom aspect of the service, but where the methods differ is the amount of interactivity. For
example, the free plan offers a generic online classroom setup and functions like images to personalize your account. However,
the free version does not have the capability of accessing the extended features like the $9.99 plan or the admin features that the
$19.99 plan provides. Both paid plans also have this function; however, they have more direct interactivity. For example, they
both allow for online access to the adobe library (which is a new feature added), sharing templates, invitations to work on the
same document, and more personalization features. Where the difference lies in the $19.99 plan has admin features. These
features include consolidating ownership, multiple licenses, and 24/7 technical support.

Possible ImprovementsFS
1. One possible improvement to Adobe Spark could be making the software more reliable. The application crashes sometimes
and leaves users in a tizzy as to why. Ultimately this problem creates more work and stress on the user's behalf. This is a
problem that many consider a deal-breaker in the application and online webpage. This improvement is necessary because
when someone spends time on their work it is self-explanatory that they would like to be able to access it without the error
of software.
2. Another is including more features within the free version of Spark. It is understandable that Adobe would like to benefit
from their application. However, there are 11 total features for the application and the free version includes only 1 feature.
This would be useful because there is a high jump from $0 annually to $99.99/yr. or 239.88/yr. Sadly, this is not every
inclusive because it is expensive.
3. Lastly, Spark could stand to keep more of their editing tools within this single application. There are many apps alongside
Spark such as Lightroom, Portfolio, Behance, Stock, Fonts, Adobe sign, Substance 3D Assets, Document Cloud, Experience
Cloud and Creative Cloud. This is a lengthy list of apps/webpages, and each opens a separate tab many times with a separate
sign-in. This is a bit too much in my opinion because switching between pages and editors for one piece of work is confusing,
stressful, and unnecessary.

Frequently Asked QuestionsFS

Question Answer
1. How do I Find a Missing Project?  “Missing projects”
 https://adobespark.zendesk.com/hc/en-
us/articles/360002271913-How-do-I-find-a-missing-
project-
 Make sure you are logging in with the same credentials
that you originally used to create the project. If the
problem persists, check Spark’s status under “Creative
Cloud” if the problem is still unresolved click “submit a
request” and Adobe will reach out ASAP.
2. Why is Spark Video saying my video file is unsupported?  “Unsupported video”
 https://adobespark.zendesk.com/hc/en-
us/articles/115004592808-Spark-Video-on-web-says-my-
video-file-is-unsupported
 The video must be in a format not supported by Spark
Video. Convert your file by following the steps provided on
the page so that Spark will recognize it.
3. Why Can’t I Open My Project?  “Project won’t open”
 https://adobespark.zendesk.com/hc/en-
us/articles/360002271674-Why-can-t-I-open-my-project-
 Try using a different browser or clearing the cookies in the
original browser. If the problem continues try and install
the iPad/phone application. If the project opens duplicate
Adobe Spark
By: Hunter Clark and Naomi Bolden
it and try to open it again on the web version of Spark. If
the problem goes unresolved click the “submit a request”
and Adobe will reach out ASAP.
4. Why is Spark not allowing me to sign into my account with  “Error with social sign in”
my social account anymore?  https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/resolve-
social-sign-in-errors.html
 Sign in with your Abode ID and password. Your Adobe ID is
the email associated with your social account. Follow the
steps listed on this page if there is any trouble or
confusion.