I initially started this blog as a requirement for a course I am taking with Sam Houston State University's Masters of Library Science program. I am so glad that I took this course at this particular time. I am starting my first year as an elementary librarian and I have discovered so many great tools to incorporate in the library media center and to share with teachers.
My inner child loved creating and using the comics. My five year old nephew helped me to design some of the characters I created. I really believe that this could be a great tool to teach students many skills and let them have fun while learning. I didn't know that this resource existed until this class and I can think of quite a few of my formal students who would have loved to use it. I always caught them drawing in class, at least this way they could have done an assignment for me in the process.
As an educator, I really liked the potential uses for screen casting. My new role is going to require me to instruct students and staff on how to use certain technologies. I foresee myself making screen casts for my campus and posting them online to aid students and teachers.
I would say that the only tool that the only tool that I don't really see much use for in my library, or on an elementary campus is the QR codes. They are great for middle school and high school campuses where students carry and use cell phones, but 4-11 year olds really don't. Its a great technology to know about but I don't think it is going to be much help to me.
I have really enjoyed making this blog and hope to continue to update it at least once a month when school starts.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Instagram and Vine
When you think of Instagram and Vine you might not think of them as tools for the classroom, but they are. Like most things, its all about how you use it….
Instagram is a great way to show case student work, memories, and books. Instagram is easy to use. Just download the app to your phone, take pictures, and post. I used Overgram to add text to my pictures. It's another free app you can download.
Here are a few pictures from my Instagram!
Here is a website with more great ideas on how to use Instagram in the classroom
http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/weareteachersblog/blog-wat/2013/07/22/10-ways-to-use-instagram-in-the-classroom
Vine
This is a great app that allows you to make short videos. When I say short I mean short. Try 6 seconds!! These videos can be a great way to introduce a topic in class or to challenge your students to create a video project. Here is my quick example.
I still need to work on my camera skills, but you get the point. Its quick and easy. Be creative and have fun.
Like all social media tools you have to take precautions and instruct your students on how to be safe online. Be sure that when creating an account for your class your make it private so only your class and other authorized users can see your photos. You can prevent your students from encountering all the dangers online but you can educate them.
Instagram is a great way to show case student work, memories, and books. Instagram is easy to use. Just download the app to your phone, take pictures, and post. I used Overgram to add text to my pictures. It's another free app you can download.
Here are a few pictures from my Instagram!
Here is a website with more great ideas on how to use Instagram in the classroom
http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/weareteachersblog/blog-wat/2013/07/22/10-ways-to-use-instagram-in-the-classroom
Vine
This is a great app that allows you to make short videos. When I say short I mean short. Try 6 seconds!! These videos can be a great way to introduce a topic in class or to challenge your students to create a video project. Here is my quick example.
I still need to work on my camera skills, but you get the point. Its quick and easy. Be creative and have fun.
Like all social media tools you have to take precautions and instruct your students on how to be safe online. Be sure that when creating an account for your class your make it private so only your class and other authorized users can see your photos. You can prevent your students from encountering all the dangers online but you can educate them.
Technology and Writing - Pew Research Article
The Impact of Digital Tools on Student Writing and How
Writing is Taught in
Schools.
(2013, July 16). Pew Research Centers Internet American Life
Project RSS.
Retrieved July 27, 2014, from
Over 2,400 Advanced Placement
(AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers were surveryed about how
technology is impacting how students write and learn writing today. There are
of course, pros and cons to the use of technology and digital tools by their
students. Most teachers surveyed felt that the digital tools provided their
students with more opportunities to write, collaborate, and be creative. On the
other hand, these tools can also cause students to use less formal language in
their writing assignments, be unwilling to put effort into their writing, and
causing students to take “shortcuts” in their writing.
A
problem that the teacher surveyed is one that I had with my fifth graders this
year, plagiarism. It is so easy for students today to commit plagiarism and not
give it a second thought. Students today, more than ever, need to be instructed
on copyright, fair use policies, and plagiarism.
This article also brought to
light something very interesting. Today students have more opportunities to write
informally on a daily basis because of social media, email, and texting.
Students may not consider these outlets as writing, but they are. Teachers may
not consider them as effective ways of practicing formal writing, but a clever
teacher would use these technologies as a way to connect with students and
encourage them to write. Its true that students need to develop their formal
writing skills more, but teachers need to find ways to help encourage students
to write and express themselves as well as develop formal writing skills.
114/150
Pew - what is it?
There are many topics to consider when thinking about
technology and the internet. A great resource to find research on the many
questions that educators, parents, and even students may have about the impact
of technologies is Pew Research Internet Project. This site offers an insane amount of research
and information. I will include several
posts like the one below to showcase some interesting articles/presentations I
find on the website.
Millennials and
Libraries. (2014, April 9). Pew Research Centers Internet American
Life
Project RSS. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from
As a school librarian it is
important for me to understand how children and young adults use and view the
library. It is important for libraries and classrooms to change in order to
keep the next generation engaged and incorporate new technologies. Just because
a technology may seem to only serve as a distraction, doesn’t mean that it can’t
also be used in an educational way.
Its also important to note that this
generation seems to have an extensive understanding of technology, but they
need to be taught how to research and use technology for academic purposes just
like every generation before them. We can’t skip teaching skills because we
think they already know them. From my experience in a classroom, I can tell you
that my students know a lot about social media but can’t do a proper Google
search for a topic.
What this presentation made me
realize is that we need to embrace new technologies and make libraries more
interesting to future generations, but we still need to provide them with the
foundation of the skills we learned growing up.
40/150
Monday, July 28, 2014
Screencast
Screencasts are a great way to provide students and teachers with instructional videos on how to use technology.
Screenr
Screenr gave me so many problems. I had to download a new version of Java, then for some reason my computer thought the site was a security risk. I had to bypass the system to get to work. Then the site would not recognize my built in microphone. I went through the help procedures and they didn't work. I created a screen cast and the site would not publish it. I kept trying to go back, like the site said, but it just would't work. I would not recommend this site at all!! I had so many problems with it and have nothing but this to show for it...
it got stuck when it was trying to publish my screencast!!! I tried so many times to get it to work and nothing.
Screen-o-matic
I ran into a few problems with Screenr, but Screen-o-Matic was easy to use and allowed you to start over very easily when you made a mistake. Believe me I had to start over a few times. I would choose Screen-o-matic over screenr because of its ease of use and
Screenr
Screenr gave me so many problems. I had to download a new version of Java, then for some reason my computer thought the site was a security risk. I had to bypass the system to get to work. Then the site would not recognize my built in microphone. I went through the help procedures and they didn't work. I created a screen cast and the site would not publish it. I kept trying to go back, like the site said, but it just would't work. I would not recommend this site at all!! I had so many problems with it and have nothing but this to show for it...
it got stuck when it was trying to publish my screencast!!! I tried so many times to get it to work and nothing.
Screen-o-matic
Cartoons and Comics
I know like most educators, I have caught my students drawing while I am in the middle of a lesson. I have also caught my students reading cartoons and comics instead of the novel the class was reading together. Well I have been introduced to a few websites that will allow students to create their own comics. This is one of those tools that allows students to have fun while learning. They would be great for students to create short stories and and even a creative way to have students give book reviews or history reports. I would love to have students use them to recommend books either on the school website or on a bulletin board in the library.
Makebeliefscomix
www.makebeliefscomix.com
Makebeliefscomix
www.makebeliefscomix.com
This site is easy to use but is very limited in choices of backgrounds and characters. You can't custom design anything yourself, which was disappointing to me. I was also very frustrated with dialogue bubbles. They were difficult to place where you wanted them.
ToonDoo
This site is great!! It allows you to customize characters and has many backgrounds to choose from. It has many tools that allows you to create and manipulate images for your comics.I really enjoyed using the site and would use it with my students.
Pixton
Out of the three sites, I enjoyed working with Pixton the most. It had a wide variety of backgrounds, allowed you to customize characters, and was easy to save and download finished comics.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Online Book Communities
If you're anything like me, once you finish a really good book, you can wait to find another one. Sometimes I have trouble deciding what to read next. Well there is good news because there are websites out there that can help us out of this jam….Online Book Communities are websites devoted to books. You can sign up, create your own bookshelves of books, you have read, plan to read, or are currently reading. On these sites you can find recommendations on what to read based on your choices, read summaries of books, and read reviews from people who have previously read the book. I have signed up, created my personal bookshelves, and explore SIX different Online Book Community websites. I have ranked them according to my opinion of them, from worst to best.
Library Thing
This site is not as visibly attractive as the others and not as easy to use and customize.
This site allows you to access your Amazon account and add books that you have already purchased and order books quickly online.
Library Thing
This site is not as visibly attractive as the others and not as easy to use and customize.
Good Reads
This site allows you to access your Amazon account and add books that you have already purchased and order books quickly online.
Shelfari
This site is easy to navigate and find books. I like the overall look and feel of the site.
Booklikes
This site allows you to customize your profile so that it fits your personality. You can chose from free backgrounds, purchase others, or create your own.
BiblioNasium
This site is great way for educators to connect to parents and students. This site is perfect for starting a book club with students.
I plan to continue to use Booklikes and BiblioNasium during the school year to find new books and stay connected with students.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Podcasts
What are podcasts and how can they be used in education?
Podcast is a popular way to share information online. Podcasts are a series of recording that can be downloaded and listen to from anywhere and at any time. A podcast can be incorporated into a classroom or library in many ways.
For teachers it’s a good way to save lectures for students to listen to review before a test or if they have been absent, saving valuable class time. Podcasting can also serve and a great way to differentiate instruction. Teaching students how to make a podcast is a great way to incorporate technology and teach students yet another tool they can use in the future. Students can use podcasts for assignments such as history reports and interviews. It’s also a wonderful way to showcase student work online. Podcast can be used to teach students how to use spoken language more effectively and to create a product they can be proud of I personally would love to post original work like poetry, short stories or reports on the library or school website.
Speaking on the library and school websites, podcasts are a great way to share information and promote events going on the campus and in the library. Its important for schools to make use of the same technology that we expect the students to use, to show them not to be afraid of technology and to give them examples of how it can be used for something positive.
There are so many options for podcast software and a lot of it is free to get started. Some examples include Soundcloud, Audioboo, and Podomatic. You just need an email address to sign up. I have created an example of a podcast I have done. It’s a brief how-to for students and teachers on how to create a podcast.
Podcast is a popular way to share information online. Podcasts are a series of recording that can be downloaded and listen to from anywhere and at any time. A podcast can be incorporated into a classroom or library in many ways.
For teachers it’s a good way to save lectures for students to listen to review before a test or if they have been absent, saving valuable class time. Podcasting can also serve and a great way to differentiate instruction. Teaching students how to make a podcast is a great way to incorporate technology and teach students yet another tool they can use in the future. Students can use podcasts for assignments such as history reports and interviews. It’s also a wonderful way to showcase student work online. Podcast can be used to teach students how to use spoken language more effectively and to create a product they can be proud of I personally would love to post original work like poetry, short stories or reports on the library or school website.
Speaking on the library and school websites, podcasts are a great way to share information and promote events going on the campus and in the library. Its important for schools to make use of the same technology that we expect the students to use, to show them not to be afraid of technology and to give them examples of how it can be used for something positive.
There are so many options for podcast software and a lot of it is free to get started. Some examples include Soundcloud, Audioboo, and Podomatic. You just need an email address to sign up. I have created an example of a podcast I have done. It’s a brief how-to for students and teachers on how to create a podcast.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Videos and QR Codes in the Library
Youtube
Youtube is a wonderful resource to find videos free online. I know when most people think of Youtube, they think of it a as place to watch countless hours of strange clips, music videos, and even episodes of tv shows, but it can also be a great resource for educational and instructional videos. It can also serve as a way to promote your library and show off the accomplishments of the students and staff. You can use Youtube either by searching key terms or following links that you have found. Some groups and individuals who have created several videos can organize their collection into channels, this helps to organize videos and allows visitors to see a complete list of their works at once.
I have gone through several channels that were created by librarians and have picked out a few of my favorites from each one.
Norman High School has an excellent collection of videos on Youtube. They have a great video that showcases their librarians' fun side. One of their videos is of a skit the librarians did of the book Pete the Cat. There are also videos that show students how to access resources for projects. One video about accessing resources for students' poetry project was particularly helpful and detailed.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos
The Unquiet Library has a channel on Youtube with videos that showcase student work and helpful how-to videos. I discovered how to use Wikimedia, a sight I was unaware of, through one of the videos on the site. I really liked, and Im sure many students would enjoy a creative video that a group of girls made for their greek mythology project.
https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos
The Pikesville High School Library channel on youtube features many videos that cover issues that concern student. I particularly liked the video on registering for classes. Choosing the right classes can be a daunting task for students and this video help to ease some of the stress. One video that I thought was particularly entertaining and would be a favorite of students is a farewell skit done by the seniors in the library.
https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos
Bonnie Branch Middle school feature many videos that show off the personality of the students and staff. I loved the informative video on books with strong female lead characters. Its important for students to realize there are many different kinds of books out there and to expand their choices. A video that I enjoyed and I am sure students will as well is a parody of Frozen's "Let it Go", which is entitled "Bring them Back". Its a video about bring in overdue library books.
https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos
Youtube videos are a great way to spread news and informations, and most importantly to get students involved.
Animoto
I have recently been trying out make book trailers for my library with Animoto. I wanted to see if I could create videos that would encourage my students to read. I have provided the link that you can click on to see the trailer and the QR ( quick response) code that you can scan with your phone to see the trailer as well.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Here is the synopsis from GoodReads.com
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Scan the QR code to be linked to my book trailer
QR Codes in the library
Since I am an elementary school librarian I do not see myself integrating QR codes too much in the library itself, but I do plan to place then on newsletters and flyers in the library to promote the library and the events that will take place there. I will put the library's website, my blog, and any helpful websites in the QR codes. QR Codes are a quick and easy way for someone to access information. All you have to do is download a free QR scanner app and get started.
Youtube is a wonderful resource to find videos free online. I know when most people think of Youtube, they think of it a as place to watch countless hours of strange clips, music videos, and even episodes of tv shows, but it can also be a great resource for educational and instructional videos. It can also serve as a way to promote your library and show off the accomplishments of the students and staff. You can use Youtube either by searching key terms or following links that you have found. Some groups and individuals who have created several videos can organize their collection into channels, this helps to organize videos and allows visitors to see a complete list of their works at once.
I have gone through several channels that were created by librarians and have picked out a few of my favorites from each one.
Norman High School has an excellent collection of videos on Youtube. They have a great video that showcases their librarians' fun side. One of their videos is of a skit the librarians did of the book Pete the Cat. There are also videos that show students how to access resources for projects. One video about accessing resources for students' poetry project was particularly helpful and detailed.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos
The Unquiet Library has a channel on Youtube with videos that showcase student work and helpful how-to videos. I discovered how to use Wikimedia, a sight I was unaware of, through one of the videos on the site. I really liked, and Im sure many students would enjoy a creative video that a group of girls made for their greek mythology project.
https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos
The Pikesville High School Library channel on youtube features many videos that cover issues that concern student. I particularly liked the video on registering for classes. Choosing the right classes can be a daunting task for students and this video help to ease some of the stress. One video that I thought was particularly entertaining and would be a favorite of students is a farewell skit done by the seniors in the library.
https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos
Bonnie Branch Middle school feature many videos that show off the personality of the students and staff. I loved the informative video on books with strong female lead characters. Its important for students to realize there are many different kinds of books out there and to expand their choices. A video that I enjoyed and I am sure students will as well is a parody of Frozen's "Let it Go", which is entitled "Bring them Back". Its a video about bring in overdue library books.
https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos
Youtube videos are a great way to spread news and informations, and most importantly to get students involved.
Animoto
I have recently been trying out make book trailers for my library with Animoto. I wanted to see if I could create videos that would encourage my students to read. I have provided the link that you can click on to see the trailer and the QR ( quick response) code that you can scan with your phone to see the trailer as well.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Scan the QR code to be linked to my book trailer
Here is the link if you haven't downloaded the scanner app yet:
QR Codes in the library
Since I am an elementary school librarian I do not see myself integrating QR codes too much in the library itself, but I do plan to place then on newsletters and flyers in the library to promote the library and the events that will take place there. I will put the library's website, my blog, and any helpful websites in the QR codes. QR Codes are a quick and easy way for someone to access information. All you have to do is download a free QR scanner app and get started.
Blog Readers and Blogs
Blog Readers
Blogs
After finding a blog reader that I liked I was able to find blogs that I have become a fan of and discovered a few that I thought would serve as a great resource for me and other librarians.
I have to admit that I am not the most creative or artistic person so I try to find blogs to help me with library display and decor.
Lorri's School Library Blog
This is a great blog for examples and inspiration for library displays. These displays are beautiful and a perfect fit for any library.
Library Displays
This is a blog was created by Elaine Pearson, an educator from New Zealand. This blog has great ideas for library displays that were created by Ms. Pearson or submitted by others to her blog.
Not So Distant Future
This is a blog that talks about integrating technology into schools and libraries. This blog has many resources to offer such as presentation and articles that focus on issues for modern libraries.
Library Media Specialist Help Desk
This blog covers a range of topics from booklist,book reviews, displays, and setting up a library. This informative site is easy to navigate and and a good resource for new librarians.
Mrs. Reader Pants
This extensive blog connotations many great resources and ideas. It features tabs on many topics I am interested in such as gentre-fication. I have picked up some tips that I plan to use in my library such as having students pay their library fines by reading.
Tumblr
I have also started a Tumblr to help keep up with blogs, find new ones, and to connect with other professionals. Here is my Tumblr. Its fairly new but I will be adding more to it as I go.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Infographics
This Infographic was created using ‘How do they
even do that?’: How Today’s Technology is Shaping Tomorrow’s Students, a presentation available on the Pew Research Internet Project.
Citation: Lenhart, A. (2013, April 9). ‘How do
they even do that?’: How Today’s Technology is Shaping Tomorrow’s
Students. . Retrieved July 14, 2014, from
http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/04/09/how-do-they-even-do-that-how-todays-technology-is-shaping-tomorrows-students/
Infographics are a great way to share information and present ideas in
an effective and creative way. Here is my first attempt at an inforgraphic
using http://www.easel.ly/.
This presentation is 43 slides long, so its quick read.
43/150
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