As the semester comes to an end, I can't help but wonder "Where does the time go!?" I had such an amazing experience with Dr. Karin Perry's LSSL 5391 Internet for School Librarians class. I loved how each week we explored different technology to be integrated in both the library and the classroom. With such an overwhelming list of choices to use, the list from Dr. Perry was a great guideline to valuable technology sources that have been tested and used. Each week I would share my new learning experiences with my colleagues and my students. I now have the title "techy guru"! Too funny! I still have a lot to learn, but I feel that with this class, I have narrowed my choices and look forward to integrating the technology into my classroom and librarian lessons.
My overall experience with this class was very positive and supportive. All the lessons are presented in a clear and concise manner. If I had any questions, I emailed my professor Dr. Perry. Her response time was fast and informative.
My favorite lessons with technology include: using the LINOIT website and app to create virtual cork boards, Facebook and Twitter are a great way to reach out to the community to promote the library and projects. I really enjoyed creating my first Infographic. Another definite favorite was creating QR codes.
One of the difficult assignment I encountered as creating a screencast. I used Screen cast o matic without problems but, screenr gave me a headache! I did learn how to create a screencast and it will be useful in future flipped classroom lessons.
The technology I feel is most useful for my students is QR codes. QR codes are very beneficial for the students because they can use their smartphone or device to snap a picture of the QR code and obtain all the information. QR codes can include study notes, spelling words, book recommendations and school information. Wordle, Instagram and Vine are also fun and friendly apps to use and student will be engaged in their lessons.
I'm so excited to continue my journey as a graduate student in the Sam Houston State University Master of Library Science department. I'm looking forward to applying gained knowledge in my future endeavors as a teacher and future librarian.
A big Thanks goes out to my professor, Dr. Karin Perry for making this class fun, informative and very useful.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
The Changing World of Librarians by Lee Rainie
Rainie, L. (2013, April 24). The Changing World of Librarians. Pew Research Internet Project. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www.pewresearch.org
With today's ever changing, fast paced, informational world, the role of the librarians is changing. However, according to the following study, people value and like their librarians and libraries. They find them valuable to their communities. The following information is about how the role of the librarians is changing.
With the digital revolution, collections moved from atoms to bits, more volume, velocity and variety of information is available and there is more self starter searches.
The mobile revolution causes real-time, just-in-time searches and availability change process of acquiring and using information.
The social networking revolution caused the composition and character of people's social networks to become important channels of learning, trust and influence.
So what does this mean for our libraries? The role is becoming more technological and informative responsible. People like their librarians and state they are given guidance and support at their libraries. People take pride in their community libraries.
25 pages
With today's ever changing, fast paced, informational world, the role of the librarians is changing. However, according to the following study, people value and like their librarians and libraries. They find them valuable to their communities. The following information is about how the role of the librarians is changing.
With the digital revolution, collections moved from atoms to bits, more volume, velocity and variety of information is available and there is more self starter searches.
The mobile revolution causes real-time, just-in-time searches and availability change process of acquiring and using information.
The social networking revolution caused the composition and character of people's social networks to become important channels of learning, trust and influence.
So what does this mean for our libraries? The role is becoming more technological and informative responsible. People like their librarians and state they are given guidance and support at their libraries. People take pride in their community libraries.
25 pages
10 Things To Know About How Teens Use Technology
Purcell, K. (2013, July 10). 10 Things To Know About How Teens Use Technology. Pew Research Internet Project. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www.pewresearch.org
If you have a teen at home, you're probably wondering how much technology they use, how it affects them social and educationally and if your teen is responsible online. Well, teens and technology seem to go hand in hand now a days, the following 10 facts about teens and technology is very interesting.
1. Teens 12-17, social network site growth has slowed (particularly Facebook), but Twitter use is growing.
2. Teens are sharing more personal information online.
3. Teens do care about online privacy.
4. Today's teens take active steps to manage their online reputations.
5. Parents of teens are very aware that online content can impact their teen's lives.
6. Most teen's educational environments include the use of at least some digital technologies.
7. The Internet has altered how teens do research.
8. Digital tools can benefit teen's writing skills and abilities, according to teachers.
9. Teachers are divided as to whether "digital natives" are all that unique.
10. A digital divide persists in the area of education and technology.
46 pages
If you have a teen at home, you're probably wondering how much technology they use, how it affects them social and educationally and if your teen is responsible online. Well, teens and technology seem to go hand in hand now a days, the following 10 facts about teens and technology is very interesting.
1. Teens 12-17, social network site growth has slowed (particularly Facebook), but Twitter use is growing.
2. Teens are sharing more personal information online.
3. Teens do care about online privacy.
4. Today's teens take active steps to manage their online reputations.
5. Parents of teens are very aware that online content can impact their teen's lives.
6. Most teen's educational environments include the use of at least some digital technologies.
7. The Internet has altered how teens do research.
8. Digital tools can benefit teen's writing skills and abilities, according to teachers.
9. Teachers are divided as to whether "digital natives" are all that unique.
10. A digital divide persists in the area of education and technology.
46 pages
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Instagram and Vine Videos
Instagram and Vine videos are a great resource to use in the classroom and library settings. The possibilities are endless. Both Instagram and Vine are popular social media sites and can be valuable teaching tools. The students can explore a variety of ways to use both in their academic settings. I'm a huge Instagram fan and now I really enjoy Vine too.
My Vine Videos:
The videos were fun to make, easy to upload and a breeze to share on various social media sites.
Instagram
Instagram will not let you post any writing onto the pictures so I downloaded the app Overgram and used it to create the writing for the pictures. It's a fun app to help add personalization to the Instagram pictures.
Overall I see many educational and inspiring opportunities where my students can use both Instagram and Vine videos to create projects. Book pictures, quotes, quick favorite book parts can all be shared with the class through the use of both Instagram and Vine videos. I can't wait to explore more options where I can use these wonderful social media apps with my students.
My Vine Videos:
The videos were fun to make, easy to upload and a breeze to share on various social media sites.
Instagram will not let you post any writing onto the pictures so I downloaded the app Overgram and used it to create the writing for the pictures. It's a fun app to help add personalization to the Instagram pictures.
Overall I see many educational and inspiring opportunities where my students can use both Instagram and Vine videos to create projects. Book pictures, quotes, quick favorite book parts can all be shared with the class through the use of both Instagram and Vine videos. I can't wait to explore more options where I can use these wonderful social media apps with my students.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Information Curation
| "Curation is the act of individuals with a passion for a content area to find, contextualize, and organize information. Curators provide a consistent update regarding what's interesting, happening, and cool in their focus. Curators tend to have a unique and consistent point of view--providing a reliable context for the content that they discover and organize." Steven Rosenbaum |
Information curation is a great way to focus on your interests, find reliable sources, and share them with your fellow colleagues, friends and family. This act of sorting out information is not new, librarians have been curating information for years, but the information curation via social media sites is the trending idea now. The following sources are great ways to start your own information curation. As with any new techy source, it's up to you and how you want to use the sites to your advantage.
Scoop It
Scoop it is great for beginning curators (like myself) to start curating information they want to share. I chose topics from the education, science, and technology sections. Then my topics appear in the page I created. It was very user friendly and visually appealing to use. I can't wait to further explore this site.
Paper li
https://paper.li
Paper.li is another source available for use for information curation. The site is very visually appealing and provides an explanation for its purpose. I created a free account but found I was having trouble getting my information together. I plan to further explore this site and become more familiar with it.
Prismatic
http://getprismatic.com/home
Prismatic is a great information curation source to use to get started. I love the layout, very visually appealing and user friendly. You can get started by signing up for a free account, you can use your email, twitter or Facebook account. Then it prompts you to pick 10 topics. Topics to follow include many, so your free to choose your interests. Of course, I chose education, technology, science, etc. to follow. Then I was quickly given topics on my homepage to read about. I really enjoyed setting up my Prismatic account and look forward to utilizing it for education and personal growth.
Apps available for information curation
Apps available for download on the iPad for information curation include Flipboard, Zite and Google Currents. All are available for free.
I started with Flipboard first and I immediately loved it! I linked my twitter and Facebook accounts and set up topics to follow. I was hooked! I started sharing information and reading all about the different topics I chose. I will definitely continue to Flip.
Zite is somewhat familiar with Flipboard but not as visually appealing. I had a harder time navigating through the different options.
Google Currents was not very interesting to me. It was not very visually appealing and I couldn't navigate through the topics are well.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the sites available for information curation. My favorite is definitely Flipboard. I really enjoyed the user friendliness, visually appealing and informative set up. It was easy to share within my social media sites. Plus, I love the idea that's it's on my iPad mini.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Screencast
Screencasts are a great way to flip your classroom or library. As teachers/librarians, we are constantly striving to compete with technology for our students' attention. Why not use technology to our advantage...hence, the screencast. It's an effective tool to be utilized in the classrooms. The possibilities for its use are limited to the creativity of the educator. I tried several sites and created my own screencasts for my students.
Screencast-o-matic
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com
Click on the link below to view my screencast.
Screen-o-matic is very user friendly. The features are very easily mastered and anyone can learn quickly. I created a screencast on how to create a ToonDoo. I want to upload the video to my website so my students can access it as needed. Overall, I eased into the creating of the screencast with Screencast-o-matic.
Screenr
http://www.screenr.com
Sceenr is another great source to use when creating your own screencast. I watched the tutorial and it seemed very user friendly. However, I tried to use it on my mac and it would not show an audio option. After many tries, I felt very frustrated about the whole thing. Hopefully I will resolve the issue and be able to try it out.
Many apps are also available for the iPad. One app I downloaded for my use is the Explain a Website. It is very user friendly and visually appealing. I had fun creating my first EAW.
Overall, I feed screencast-o-matic was the easiest to use because I downloaded the app to my mac computer at home. With Screenr, I couldn't get the sound turned on and was very frustrating. It might be easier for pc users but until I figure out how to properly install the sound, I will be using screencast-o-matic. I can't wait to explore it further and upload tutorials to help my students.
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Screencast-o-matic
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com
Click on the link below to view my screencast.
Screen-o-matic is very user friendly. The features are very easily mastered and anyone can learn quickly. I created a screencast on how to create a ToonDoo. I want to upload the video to my website so my students can access it as needed. Overall, I eased into the creating of the screencast with Screencast-o-matic.
Screenr
http://www.screenr.com
Sceenr is another great source to use when creating your own screencast. I watched the tutorial and it seemed very user friendly. However, I tried to use it on my mac and it would not show an audio option. After many tries, I felt very frustrated about the whole thing. Hopefully I will resolve the issue and be able to try it out.
Many apps are also available for the iPad. One app I downloaded for my use is the Explain a Website. It is very user friendly and visually appealing. I had fun creating my first EAW.
Overall, I feed screencast-o-matic was the easiest to use because I downloaded the app to my mac computer at home. With Screenr, I couldn't get the sound turned on and was very frustrating. It might be easier for pc users but until I figure out how to properly install the sound, I will be using screencast-o-matic. I can't wait to explore it further and upload tutorials to help my students.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Playing with Words
Words, words, words. Words can be fun, playful, educational, inspiring, life-changing and the key to open knew opportunities. Letting our students use different sites to create word clouds can be very beneficial. As educators we must model the use of different sites to help our students credit word clouds. The following are different sites are tried out and enjoyed exploring.
Wordle
http://www.wordle.net
This is a great site for students to use with their reading assignments. The site is free, no account is needed and is very visually appealing. The choices to create word clouds are many and its ease of use will motivate all students to create their own word clouds.
ReciteThis
http://recitethis.com
Quipio and ReciteThis are great sites to use for quotes, thoughts, and ideas. Quipio is available on the app store as a free download. The app is user friendly, visually appealing and fun. ReciteThis is a web page where you can create you own quotes. Both offer an opportunity to share your creations. This is a great tool to use for book discussion, favorite quotes and poetry lesson.
Overall all the sites and apps offered great resources for both educators and students. They are all easy to use and can offer a multitude of creative possibilities. I really enjoyed Wordle and Tagxedo and I plan to use these sites to help introduce themes for my students.
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Wordle
http://www.wordle.net
This is a great site for students to use with their reading assignments. The site is free, no account is needed and is very visually appealing. The choices to create word clouds are many and its ease of use will motivate all students to create their own word clouds.
"Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends."
Tagxedo
Tagxedo is another source for educators and students to explore and use to create word clouds for reflection, discussions, and presentations. This site is visually busy and but can be easily mastered with practice. The great thing about Tagxedo is the ability to shape the word clouds into uploaded images or preset images. The possibilities are endless.
Tagul
Tagul is another choice for creating word clouds. This site requires registration. You can create a free account to begin to access the features. Overall it is a good source for students to explore and create their own word clouds. This site offers tutorials to help the user develop more creative projects.
Quipio
A free app available for download from the App store.
ReciteThis
http://recitethis.com
Quipio and ReciteThis are great sites to use for quotes, thoughts, and ideas. Quipio is available on the app store as a free download. The app is user friendly, visually appealing and fun. ReciteThis is a web page where you can create you own quotes. Both offer an opportunity to share your creations. This is a great tool to use for book discussion, favorite quotes and poetry lesson.
Overall all the sites and apps offered great resources for both educators and students. They are all easy to use and can offer a multitude of creative possibilities. I really enjoyed Wordle and Tagxedo and I plan to use these sites to help introduce themes for my students.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Cartoons and Comics
As educators and librarians we have a responsibility to educate our students with the most engaging activities available. So many tools are available to help us engage and reach out to all of our students. A great tool to incorporate into our lessons is the use of cartoons and comics. The possibilities are endless and the benefits are many.
We are constantly competing with the digital world for our students' attention. So why not join the two. I explored several sites that help students and teachers create cartoons and comics. I was hooked! Check out my creations below.
Toondoo
http://www.toondoo.com
The comic above was created with Toondoo. Toondoo offers a free account for personal use and offers several pricing plans for educators and students. This site is amazing! I was immediately able to set up my account and create my first toon. It was very easy to save, the variety available to create your toon is amazing. My students would definitely enjoy creating their own toons.
Pixton
http://www.pixton.com
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Pixton is another great source to use with your students to create comics. The website offers easy set up, videos to help get you started and examples to follow. The site is visually appealing and easy to navigate through. I created my comic with ease and enjoyed the process. There are many choices for creating your comic. Saving my comic was easy and it offers a variety of options to publish the comic. I can't wait to demonstrate my comic to my students.
MakeBeliefsComic
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
MakeBeliefsComic is a great resource to use with students of all ages. What I really love about this particular site is that you don't have to create an account to use their site. I feel this is a kid friendly, visually appealing site that will encourage the students to use their creativity. I created my comic easily, many choices are provided to create the comic, and you can easily save and share your comic.
Overall, I really enjoyed ToonDoo, Pixton and MakeBeliefsComic. I brainstormed ideas on how my students can utilize this fun, creative and education tool. For my 3rd grade students I can put them into collaborative groups and assign them vocabulary words to incorporate into their comics. The comics can also be used to demonstrate the main idea of the story of the week. Summary, character traits and cause and effect can also be demonstrated with the use of the comics and cartoons.
We are constantly competing with the digital world for our students' attention. So why not join the two. I explored several sites that help students and teachers create cartoons and comics. I was hooked! Check out my creations below.
Toondoo
http://www.toondoo.com
The comic above was created with Toondoo. Toondoo offers a free account for personal use and offers several pricing plans for educators and students. This site is amazing! I was immediately able to set up my account and create my first toon. It was very easy to save, the variety available to create your toon is amazing. My students would definitely enjoy creating their own toons.
Pixton
http://www.pixton.com
Pixton is another great source to use with your students to create comics. The website offers easy set up, videos to help get you started and examples to follow. The site is visually appealing and easy to navigate through. I created my comic with ease and enjoyed the process. There are many choices for creating your comic. Saving my comic was easy and it offers a variety of options to publish the comic. I can't wait to demonstrate my comic to my students.
MakeBeliefsComic
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
Overall, I really enjoyed ToonDoo, Pixton and MakeBeliefsComic. I brainstormed ideas on how my students can utilize this fun, creative and education tool. For my 3rd grade students I can put them into collaborative groups and assign them vocabulary words to incorporate into their comics. The comics can also be used to demonstrate the main idea of the story of the week. Summary, character traits and cause and effect can also be demonstrated with the use of the comics and cartoons.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Books, libraries, and the changing digital landscape
Zickuhr, K. (2013, November 12). Books, libraries, and the changing digital landscape. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/12/books-libraries-and-the-changing-digital-landscape/
"The internet revolutionized how people connect with information, shifting our interactions from atoms to bits. Now the devices by which we access digital content have shrunk in size and grown in power, putting the tools to find and create content in our pockets. Amidst this constantly evolving digital landscape, America’s libraries are trying to keep pace with the latest technological changes while still serving the needs and expectations of more traditional patrons. "
Our libraries are now moving forward to incorporate 21st century tools and services for the public. E reading is on the rise. From 2011 to 2012, the percentage of people reading ebooks rose from 16% to 23%. The reasons to read varies by different age groups but include: reading for work or school, reading for pleasure, to keep up with current events, and to research topics of interest. People who visited a library last year still go to borrow a book or browse the stacks. 46% of people visited the library to use a research database. 77% of Americans say the it is very important for their library to offer access to computers and the internet. With the increasing use of ebooks and technology, the librarians roles are evolving too. Librarians are asked to provide information and guidance for computers, internet, data bases and media. Americans still want their library to offer quiet spaces for study, activities for adults, teens and children, and availability of ebooks, apps and kiosks with information.
pages read: 43
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"The internet revolutionized how people connect with information, shifting our interactions from atoms to bits. Now the devices by which we access digital content have shrunk in size and grown in power, putting the tools to find and create content in our pockets. Amidst this constantly evolving digital landscape, America’s libraries are trying to keep pace with the latest technological changes while still serving the needs and expectations of more traditional patrons. "
Our libraries are now moving forward to incorporate 21st century tools and services for the public. E reading is on the rise. From 2011 to 2012, the percentage of people reading ebooks rose from 16% to 23%. The reasons to read varies by different age groups but include: reading for work or school, reading for pleasure, to keep up with current events, and to research topics of interest. People who visited a library last year still go to borrow a book or browse the stacks. 46% of people visited the library to use a research database. 77% of Americans say the it is very important for their library to offer access to computers and the internet. With the increasing use of ebooks and technology, the librarians roles are evolving too. Librarians are asked to provide information and guidance for computers, internet, data bases and media. Americans still want their library to offer quiet spaces for study, activities for adults, teens and children, and availability of ebooks, apps and kiosks with information.
pages read: 43
Teens & Technology: Understanding the Digital Landscape by Amanda Lenhart
Lenhart, A. (February, 25 2014).
Teens & technology: Understanding the digital landscape
. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/25/teens-technology- understanding-the-digital-landscape/
"Amanda spoke to students in the school of Public Health at George Washington University about how adolescents ages 12 to 17 are using the internet, social media, and mobile phones in their daily lives. The talk includes data on smartphones, tablets, and youth who use mobile devices to go online most of the time, as well as data about apps and privacy. "
Today's teens are very tech savy. 95% of teens use the internet and 93% have a computer or access to one. What is changing with teens and the internet is that they are going "mobile". Many of today's teens have have a cell phone with access to the internet. 78% of teens have a cell phone, 37% of all U.S. teens own a smart phone. Teens are using their smart phones to diversify their social media. Increasing numbers show teens utilizing social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Many teens are shying away from Facebook and using sites such as snapchat and Tumblr. Although teens are spending more time online, they are also taking time to manage their "social privacy" by deleting people, posts and pictures from their media sites.
pages read: 24
. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/25/teens-technology- understanding-the-digital-landscape/
"Amanda spoke to students in the school of Public Health at George Washington University about how adolescents ages 12 to 17 are using the internet, social media, and mobile phones in their daily lives. The talk includes data on smartphones, tablets, and youth who use mobile devices to go online most of the time, as well as data about apps and privacy. "
Today's teens are very tech savy. 95% of teens use the internet and 93% have a computer or access to one. What is changing with teens and the internet is that they are going "mobile". Many of today's teens have have a cell phone with access to the internet. 78% of teens have a cell phone, 37% of all U.S. teens own a smart phone. Teens are using their smart phones to diversify their social media. Increasing numbers show teens utilizing social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Many teens are shying away from Facebook and using sites such as snapchat and Tumblr. Although teens are spending more time online, they are also taking time to manage their "social privacy" by deleting people, posts and pictures from their media sites.
pages read: 24
Friday, March 21, 2014
Online Book Communities
The way we read books is evolving everyday. More and more people are exploring options like, ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, online book clubs, etc. It is easy to see why the growth of online book communities has exploded. Online book communities can be used for both personal and professional reading. It's a great way to explore, research and reach out to the masses of readers. I explored the following online book communities. Each one is different and offers a variety of options.
GoodReads
https://www.goodreads.com
goodreads is a very popular online book community that offers many options to the users. An app can be downloaded to your device. You can share your information with your social media sites. goodreads is visually appealing and easy to navigate through. You can connect with your friends, explore new books to read, and add to your virtual book shelves. I think the students would enjoy a goodreads account for this library book clubs. Overall, I feel goodreads is a great resource to get recommendations on great new books or what to read next. The screen shot below is of my own goodreads account.
librarything
https://www.librarything.com
LibrayThing is another option for online book communities. You can create a free account and create your online virtual book shelves. You can connect with your friends and share thoughts on books. You can join groups and search for what to read next. It is somewhat visually appealing. It seems very busy and wordy for my taste. The following screenshot is my account with LibraryThing.
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GoodReads
https://www.goodreads.com
goodreads is a very popular online book community that offers many options to the users. An app can be downloaded to your device. You can share your information with your social media sites. goodreads is visually appealing and easy to navigate through. You can connect with your friends, explore new books to read, and add to your virtual book shelves. I think the students would enjoy a goodreads account for this library book clubs. Overall, I feel goodreads is a great resource to get recommendations on great new books or what to read next. The screen shot below is of my own goodreads account.
librarything
https://www.librarything.com
LibrayThing is another option for online book communities. You can create a free account and create your online virtual book shelves. You can connect with your friends and share thoughts on books. You can join groups and search for what to read next. It is somewhat visually appealing. It seems very busy and wordy for my taste. The following screenshot is my account with LibraryThing.
Shelfari
Shelfari is a great online book community. As it states in its logo, readers can read, share and explore the world of books. It is part of the amazon web. With a free account, you can upload and create your virtual book shelf. You can find friends, explore new books, read what others are saying about books and join groups. It's visually appealing and easy to navigate through. Overall, I feel comfortable with this online book community and would encourage students to create an account.
Booklikes
booklikes is a very user friendly online book community. It is visually appealing and gives the user many options to explore with books. You create a free account and can search for new books, share your thoughts on a book, find your friends or join a discussion. I feel this would be a great tool for teachers and librarians to incorporate with reading clubs. The students can create their virtual book shelves and discuss their books. I really enjoyed creating my own book shelf.
biblionasium
A great online book community for elementary students is biblionasium. It's a safe secure online book community geared towards children K through 8. The teacher creates the account and sets the options for the students. It is very visually appealing and will encourage the elementary student to participate. Click on the following link to take a tour of this amazing online book community.
In conclusion, I feel that the options for the online book communities are endless. Each community offers different features and options. It is really up to the teachers/librarians to pick an online book community that will benefit all the students. Personally, I'm very excited about biblionasium. I can't wait to explore more features, options to help my students get excited about books!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Listen Up! Podcasts in our classrooms and libraries
Listen Up! Podcasts in our classrooms and libraries
Podcasts are multimedia files available on the internet for download to a portable media player. Over the past few years, podcasts have become very popular for sharing anything from songs, books, talk shows to tutorials on just about anything. Podcasts can be a very valuable tool to use in our classrooms and libraries. The possibilities for creating content rich podcasts are endless. With practice, patience and practicality, we can train our students to become expert podcasters.
Podcasts can be used in the classroom in a variety of ways. Students can research a topic (monthly themes, authors, community issues) and create a podcast to present as their final product. Podcasts can be published by both teachers and students to create peer support in subjects where students need tutoring. Book reports can be fun by creating a podcast. The podcast can be used across all subjects and by all grade levels.
There are many tools available to help teachers/librarians create podcasts. I explored 3 tools and created accounts with each one. Some are easy to navigate through, others can be a little more complicated. Depending on your preference and technological comfort zone, you can chose the best tool for you and your students with a bit of research and practice.
Soundcloud
Soundcloud is a tool available to create, share, and listen to our podcasts. Their list of categories includes a variety of music and many educational topics. They offer an app for Android, iPhone and iPad. This is very useful because the students can download the app to their devices. Soundcloud can be used in the classroom for many different activities. The students or the teachers can create the podcasts they want to share. The possibilities are endless. Overall, Soundcloud can be used with ease and it is very visually appealing and easy to use.
Audioboo
Audioboo states it is the "easiest and most effective" tool for teachers and students to create and share podcasts. The unique thing about audioboo is that it is integrated with edmodo, a secure online resource community specifically for teacher and students. With the edomodo app, the students and teachers can record material, retrieve content from audioboo, and add it the edomodo library. This is such an interesting feature because the use of edmodo in the classrooms in growing. I found this tool to be easy to use, visually appealing and a great source for students, teachers and librarians.
Podomatic
Podomatic is available for download in the app store. This is convenient because the students can use their devices to create, share and listen to podcasts. Podomatic has a multitude of available podcasts that range in topics. It is very easy to use and create your own podcast. Podomatic guides you along in creating your own podcast in 5 easy steps. This tool is easy to use and visually appealing. Students will find this tool easy to implement.
I created the following podcast for my students. We are currently reading all about Dr. Seuss.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Webbing our thoughts with Mind Mapping Tool
We have a access to vast array of information. We can simplify our lives by using Mind maps as webbing tools. These tools offer a visual, simple way to organize our thoughts, notes and presentations. If used effectively, they can be a great teaching tool. Our students love to use technology so we can provide them the tools necessary to help them study, organize and prepare.
After reading an article about mind mapping as a teaching recourse, I created the following webs with three different mind mapping tools.
http://popplet.com
popplet is a great tool to use in the classroom with students. It offers an app to download so the students can easily access it with their device. It is visually appealing and it will encourage student participation. I created the following popplet with a free account available when you sign up for services.
http://popplet.com/app/#/1685099
http://www.spicynodes.org
Spicynodes is another webbing mind tool available. A free account can be set up. Spicynodes was not as visually appealing as the other tools. It offers great editing tools, but I feel it may be too much for my students. It is very busy and might confuse first time users.
http://www.spicynodes.org/a/c3f09d63ea849bfdefb4104196461bea
wisemapping is a webbing tool that will appeal to the students. It uses emoticons and they can be inserted into the mind mapp. It is fairly easy to use and fairly visually appealing. I would encourage my students to use wise mapping only after they have become comfortable with mind maps in general.
https://app.wisemapping.com/c/maps/184557/public
Webbing information is found in the following article:
Cooper, N., & Edward, S. (2010). Mind mapping as a teaching resource. The Clinical Teacher, 7, 236-239.
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After reading an article about mind mapping as a teaching recourse, I created the following webs with three different mind mapping tools.
http://popplet.com
popplet is a great tool to use in the classroom with students. It offers an app to download so the students can easily access it with their device. It is visually appealing and it will encourage student participation. I created the following popplet with a free account available when you sign up for services.
http://popplet.com/app/#/1685099
http://www.spicynodes.org
Spicynodes is another webbing mind tool available. A free account can be set up. Spicynodes was not as visually appealing as the other tools. It offers great editing tools, but I feel it may be too much for my students. It is very busy and might confuse first time users.
http://www.spicynodes.org/a/c3f09d63ea849bfdefb4104196461bea
wisemapping is a webbing tool that will appeal to the students. It uses emoticons and they can be inserted into the mind mapp. It is fairly easy to use and fairly visually appealing. I would encourage my students to use wise mapping only after they have become comfortable with mind maps in general.
https://app.wisemapping.com/c/maps/184557/public
Webbing information is found in the following article:
Cooper, N., & Edward, S. (2010). Mind mapping as a teaching resource. The Clinical Teacher, 7, 236-239.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Videos and QR codes in the library
Today's libraries are becoming a technological setting. So why not embrace technology and use it to work "smarter not harder"? I have been exploring various options on how to incorporate technology into our libraries while still keeping touch with traditional routines and procedures.
A great way to promote reading, new books, and more visits to the library is to use YouTube. Many librarians are producing great YouTube videos that range in topics from orientation to book trailers.
I have included some of my favorite library YouTube videos that I feel benefit the students.
Norman High School Library Rocks! by Calypso Gilstrap
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This is a fun, short video that students will enjoy and hopefully be encouraged to visit their library.
NHS Library Orientation by Calypso Gilstrap
This is a great video that will be very helpful for all students. It's a great way to introduce new students, freshman and the community to the library resources and procedures.
This is a great video tutorial that will help students locate copy right friendly images for any school project.
This is a great video to motivate student to read and visit their library. The students featured in the videos can encourage their peers to visit the library and read.
This youTube video was created to help students figure out what classes to enroll in for the following year. It also advises students on graduation requirements. This is very helpful for students and parents.
The Panthers Library Shakes by pikesvillehslibrary
This is great video that features students at their library having fun. It demonstrates that the library is a cool place to be. The students will enjoy this video.
Great video presented by the students at BBMS. It's a great way to get students to return their books. The students will enjoy the funny presentation by the students.
Leviathan is an awesome book review that will encourage the students to read and check out the book. The students will benefit from book reviews and trailers because they will be able to connect with a book and be encouraged to read.
A great way to promote reading, new books, and more visits to the library is to use YouTube. Many librarians are producing great YouTube videos that range in topics from orientation to book trailers.
I have included some of my favorite library YouTube videos that I feel benefit the students.
Norman High School Library Rocks! by Calypso Gilstrap
This is a fun, short video that students will enjoy and hopefully be encouraged to visit their library.
NHS Library Orientation by Calypso Gilstrap
This is a great video that will be very helpful for all students. It's a great way to introduce new students, freshman and the community to the library resources and procedures.
This is a great video tutorial that will help students locate copy right friendly images for any school project.
This is a great video to motivate student to read and visit their library. The students featured in the videos can encourage their peers to visit the library and read.
This youTube video was created to help students figure out what classes to enroll in for the following year. It also advises students on graduation requirements. This is very helpful for students and parents.
The Panthers Library Shakes by pikesvillehslibrary
This is great video that features students at their library having fun. It demonstrates that the library is a cool place to be. The students will enjoy this video.
Great video presented by the students at BBMS. It's a great way to get students to return their books. The students will enjoy the funny presentation by the students.
Leviathan is an awesome book review that will encourage the students to read and check out the book. The students will benefit from book reviews and trailers because they will be able to connect with a book and be encouraged to read.
YouTube in the Library
After exploring the many ways to use YouTube in a library setting, I have come up with a few ideas to incorporate into my library. I want the students to create their book review trailers with animo and publish them to YouTube. I would like to start my own YouTube channel featuring my students reading, reviewing and using their library for projects.
Book Trailer
I signed up for an Animoto account with my teaching credentials. I quickly learned a fun and new way to present pictures, information, projects. I used Animoto to create my first book trailer. I was so excited! The possibilities!
I created my book trailer on the book Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.
About this author
Click on the QR code below to watch my book trailer.
| Book Trailer QR Codes
QR codes, which means quick responds codes, are a great way to place information in an easy, new techy way that's easily accessible from any device. The possibilities for QR codes in the libraries are many. From providing library schedules, information, resources and book trailers, to updating book lists for students, QR codes are efficient to use. What a great resource to use and help the students gain information quickly and easily.
I plan to use QR codes in the library to help students find a book to read. I will group books together by theme, author, or a best selling list and develop QR codes with the book information. Students can then quickly access the book information and decide to check it out or not. I want to send home flyers with QR codes for parents to scan and get information regarding library hours, AR testing procedures and information on how they can help their children become life long readers.
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Thursday, February 13, 2014
It's all about the BLOGS!
Blog! Blog! Blog!
We live in a global community where "sharing is caring". We are constantly thinking up new ways to create, improve, implement or just explain new ideas. What better way to keep up with all the latest and greatest than with a Blog Reader. It's a great place to organize, strategize and keep up with your favorite blogs. I explored several Blog Readers before I decided to use Bloglovin' as my go to Blog Reader.
Bloglovin is such a great way to keep up with you chosen blogs. It's very user friendly, visually appealing and just a fun way to follow all your favorite blogs. The search section is easy and convenient to use when searing for new blogs to follow. It also suggest new blogs to follow based on your current blogs. You can sign up with your Facebook account or set up an account with your email. Bloglovin offers an app for all your mobile devices so you can keep up with your blogs on the go. I really enjoyed setting up my account. Bloglovin is definitely my choice for Blog Readers.
Using my new Blog Reader I stared to follow interesting blogs about school, technology and libraries.
http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com
This blog is all about awesome library displays. "Creative ideas to promote books in your library collections". The ideas are presented along with pictures. I love how the blog incorporates themes and different displays for all the age groups. Blogs are described and credit is given to the creator of the displays. It's a great blog to read and follow. I plan to submit a few ideas myself.
mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com
This blog was the Winner for Library Blog 2013 by Edublog Awards. It's a great source for the techy librarians in all of us. The blog is so organized and divided into different categories of blogs. My favorites are authors, ESL, Grades K-5, Teacher-Librarians, and Web tools A-Z. It's a vast source for great technology information. It's a very friendly blog, easy to navigate through.
mrschureads.blogspot.com
I love this blog because it's all about great books presented through book trailers. Its concept is "Watch. Connect. Read., Exploring Children's Literature Through Book Trailers". I want to be able to incorporate as many book trailers in my lessons as possible and this blog makes it easier to locate great book trailers. The blog includes many videos with authors, activities and reports. This blog is a must follow for all teacher-librarians looking to "hook" more students into reading.
freetech4teachers.com
This blog is written by Richard Byrne and it talks about free technology for teachers. It's a "Review of free technology resources and how teachers can use them. Ideas for technology integration in education. The blog is very organized and easy to navigate. The categories include iPad apps for school, android for schools, google tutorials, and free guides. I'm very excited to follow this blog and incorporate the free recourses into my classroom lessons.
thedaringlibrarian.com
The blog is maintained by Gweneth Jones. This is such a cool, fun blog that covers anything and everything amazing about books, topics, education etc. The blog is very visually appealing and easy to follow. The blog covers tips on how to amp up our own blogs (I'm taking notes), cool fonts, and pictures of all kinds of topics on books. This is a blog I plan to follow for a long time.
I decided to explore Tumblr and sign up for an account. I searched for school libraries and decided to follow. Click on the link below and follow me on Tumblr.
http://zueblue.tumblr.com
Using my new Blog Reader I stared to follow interesting blogs about school, technology and libraries.
http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com
This blog is all about awesome library displays. "Creative ideas to promote books in your library collections". The ideas are presented along with pictures. I love how the blog incorporates themes and different displays for all the age groups. Blogs are described and credit is given to the creator of the displays. It's a great blog to read and follow. I plan to submit a few ideas myself.
mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com
This blog was the Winner for Library Blog 2013 by Edublog Awards. It's a great source for the techy librarians in all of us. The blog is so organized and divided into different categories of blogs. My favorites are authors, ESL, Grades K-5, Teacher-Librarians, and Web tools A-Z. It's a vast source for great technology information. It's a very friendly blog, easy to navigate through.
mrschureads.blogspot.com
I love this blog because it's all about great books presented through book trailers. Its concept is "Watch. Connect. Read., Exploring Children's Literature Through Book Trailers". I want to be able to incorporate as many book trailers in my lessons as possible and this blog makes it easier to locate great book trailers. The blog includes many videos with authors, activities and reports. This blog is a must follow for all teacher-librarians looking to "hook" more students into reading.
freetech4teachers.com
This blog is written by Richard Byrne and it talks about free technology for teachers. It's a "Review of free technology resources and how teachers can use them. Ideas for technology integration in education. The blog is very organized and easy to navigate. The categories include iPad apps for school, android for schools, google tutorials, and free guides. I'm very excited to follow this blog and incorporate the free recourses into my classroom lessons.
thedaringlibrarian.com
The blog is maintained by Gweneth Jones. This is such a cool, fun blog that covers anything and everything amazing about books, topics, education etc. The blog is very visually appealing and easy to follow. The blog covers tips on how to amp up our own blogs (I'm taking notes), cool fonts, and pictures of all kinds of topics on books. This is a blog I plan to follow for a long time.
I decided to explore Tumblr and sign up for an account. I searched for school libraries and decided to follow. Click on the link below and follow me on Tumblr.
http://zueblue.tumblr.com
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Infographics: Great visuals
Parents, Teens, and Online Privacy
Cortessi, S., Duggan M., Gasser U., Lenhart A., Madden M. (2012). Parents,
teens, and online privacy. Pew Internet and American Life Project, etrieved from
http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_ParentsTeensAndPrivacy.pdf
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