Last school year, I was a substitute for my school's librarian, and I
met Dr. Sheneman (a professor at Sam Houston State University) at a
Region One training. She asked, "Why don't you go back to school and get
your Master's degree?" I said, "I do want
to, but I am not very techie!" She simply smiled sweetly and replied,
"Oh, don't worry! You will become techie!" She has no idea how that
statement caused me to almost faint.
When I started learning about the new technology tools
available to students, I could not think positive thoughts because I was
terrified. T-E-C-H-N-O-L-O-G-Y!
I do hate failing, and I felt that my brain was not going to be
able to learn anything that dealt with technology. I seriously thought I
was going to do terrible. But, I decided to continue. What was the
worst thing that could happen? (I can seriously
think of millions of things that could have happened!)
Luckily, I hung in there and learned a lot! I learned to create
podcasts, comics, Q.R. codes, infographics, and even learned to create
trainings for my students using Screencast-o-matic!
The school district I work for assigned the Gifted and Talented
group to all librarians. Therefore, I see different groups every day,
and I have to guide them on how to go about completing a project
required by the state. It was so difficult for me
to repeat myself over and over again. When I learned about screencasts,
I immediately realized they were going to greatly impact the way I
teach my G.T. students. I did my recording once, every one saw the
screencasts, and we were all on the same page. I wouldn't
be lost wondering where I had left off with a particular group.
Podcasts are another one of my favorite tools. The students ran with
it, and had a lot of fun. We created from read alouds to interviews. We
also had fun creating comic
and cartoons. Of course, the easiest website to use for with my little
ones was MakeBeliefsComix.com. It did not require registration, so it
was perfect for them to start using their imagination without having to
worry about having access to an e-mail account.
I believe those three are the most beneficial to the children I serve,
elementary students.
Unfortunately, my school district is currently not giving
permission for teachers and librarians to use Twitter or Instagram. We
are not quite there yet! Therefore, it breaks my heart to know that
there are such wonderful tools such as Vine, but my
students do not have access to. In my opinion, Vines are too short, but
I am sure my students can do amazing things with it if we simply gave
them a chance.
To be honest, I never imagined being a librarian. But after serving one whole year and reading J. Hatmaker's article,
For the love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards,
I learned that it is the perfect career for me! Why? Well, I strongly
believe that we are sent to Earth with a purpose. My purpose is to
serve! As a librarian you serve everyone. You
do not discriminate and it doesn't matter whether they have rich or
poor. Your goal is to help every patron, serve them, and protect their
right to access information. One thing Hatmaker helped me realize was to
listen to the needs of those I serve because
I may sin of thinking that I have so much to share. But, I should first
be a good listener. I need to understand what they are having trouble
with and come up with a plan to meet their needs.
Hatmaker, J. (2015). For the love: Fighting for grace in a world of impossible standards.
Nashville, TN: Nelson Books
Knowing that there is a debate about a specific
topic immediately sparks my interest. Now, this debate and the difference of
opinions may be complex because I am finding similarities that may be difficult
to explain. The basic questions that
need to be answered are: Does using technology make a difference when teaching
in the classroom? If we use technology, will it positively support and benefit
the students?
In one corner, we have Richard Clark, a skeptic,
whom feels that "media is merely a vehicle for learning, and that the
truly causal agent in learning is the method of instruction that was
used." On the other corner, we have
Robert Kozma, the advocate, who disagreed with Clark! He believes that media is
more than a vehicle and can make a big impact in learning.
I personally lean more towards Kozma's opinion and
views. I also believe that without a dedicated teacher, not much learning can
occur. Because simply providing a child with an technology device is not enough,
it has to be accompanied with quality teaching. Yes, technology is great, but there has to be
a deliverer of knowledge that can provide the tools required to motivate children
to create something after being taken through the steps of the Bloom's
Technology Pyramid or the Bloom's Revised Taxonomy by Kathy Schrock.
I do feel that just because we believe technology is
important, we simply cannot force the children to sit in front of the computer
several hours a week and think they are
being benefited. Technology may be a vehicle for learning, but we must be watchful
of what we place children in front of. I have seen programs such as Istation (a
reading program) and Accelerated Reader (a program that monitors students'
scores and points after taking tests when they finish reading books) that may
take control of the learning that occurs in the classroom. After being a
teacher for eight years, I have learned that none of these programs were able
to do what I accomplished in a small group setting doing guided reading.
Bottom line is that technology must be used in the
classroom because we are dealing with digital natives that swim in an ocean of
texts, tweets, blogs, and posts.
Resources:
NATHAN, M., &
ROBINSON, C. (2001). Considerations of Learning and Learning Research: Revisiting the "Media
Effects" Debate. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 12(1),
69. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=GPS&sw=w&u=j108902&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA75645474& asid=bc0e97a2b0aec5dfbd8d2a974e8627d1
Podcasts are
digital media files that can be listened to online, on a smart phone, or any
device that has internet connection. They are a great way to communicate with
others and share your material. People who listen to podcasts want to have the
freedom of choosing exactly what they want to hear.
Subscribing
to podcasts is easy! And, you can listen to your favorite authors, motivational
speakers, comedians, or experts. Your choices are unlimited. Podcasts also have
their place in education and three popular podcasting sites have made it easier
for educators to incorporate them in their classrooms: Soundcloud.com,
Podomatic.com, and Podbean.com. Keep in mind, that you may have to purchase a
microphone for your recordings. You do not have to stress too much about
purchasing a fancy one. An economical mic will do the job!
Soundcloud.com
Soundcloud.com
is a pretty neat site because it hosts music by different artists, but you can
also upload your own tracks or create podcasts. If you have a Google or
Facebook account, you can instantly create an account by using one or the
other. Recording a podcast is easy and the steps you must follow are not
confusing at all. Once you have created your podcast, you must remember to keep
it public, so others can access it. In order to share it with others, all you
have to do is copy the link and share! A big plus for soundcloud.com is their
app! Just go to the App Store or Google Play, and download it. Now, you do not
need your computer to create a podcast. You can start recording straight from
your device. Unfortunately, I like free; after your free trial is over, you
will have to pay $9.99 a month (okay...10 bucks!).
Podomatic.com
Podomatic.com
is another great site for podcasting. Signing up is very simple. I chose to log
in with Facebook because it is faster, and I love having the profile picture of
the hubbster and I on my homepage or feed. Back to podcasting! On the top right
corner, it says, "Create a Podcast." You can then add a file or
record a new one. You can even add an image to go with your podcast. Before
publishing any recording, make sure to review it. Podomatic.com has a Facebook
kind of look. And to be honest, I like that! On the left side, there is a
section titled Trending Posts that you can follow or listen to. And, if you are very popular and have lots of
friends, you can see what they are listening to. And if you do not have lots of
friends, you can request me! So, hey! Just have fun with it! Podomatic.com has
an app, but it does not provide that feature that allows you to create a
podcast using your smart phone (sad face).
Podbean.com
Podbean.com
was not my favorite podcasting site, because it is not as easy to use as
Podomatic.com (nor it was a cool looking). But then, I learned that there was a
Podbean app. IT HAS AN APP! Spending big bucks on a mic is not necessary since
I can create a podcast using my smart phone (jumping up and down!). So, I gave it a try and was so impressed
because it was so easy to use. This is my motto: Why complicate things? I
figured, if I can create an account for my students and download the app to
their Ipads, they can do amazing things! They can conquer the world! All you
have to do is click on the little red microphone icon, record, and save! Voila!
It uploads it to the site and you have an amazing podcast in a matter of
seconds (okay...I do not know how long you are going to take, but I am pretty
fast now!)
Podcasting
can be not only fun but very educational. There a millions of things you can do
with your students and podcasting. I have not made a list that long, but I am
sure there are many ways you can use it in the classroom. Scholastic has
published an article titled 9 Podcasts
for Teachers and Kids. They provide nine fun and interactive ways to use
podcasts in your classroom. They include podcasts from National Geographic to
help your kids learn about animals to ways to help your ESL students practice
English in an entertaining way. Erin
Macpherson, author of 10 Podcasting
Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom, does a phenomenal job in
listing ways teachers and librarians can use podcasts. So, if you are not very
comfortable with using podcasts now, this article can give you 10 awesome ideas
on what to do and let podcasting add a new twist in learning! Out of the 10
items listed, my three favorite are the following: Current Events Newscasts,
Reading Radio, and Bring Your Teacher Home. I plan to use those in my library!
Current Events Newscasts can help me get the word out to all students and staff
about what is happening in our library or the world around us. Reading Radio is
definitely one that I will enjoy doing. My students can read new titles and can
summarize them for me. That way, other students can hear their recommendations
and may decide to read the new books. This one gave me an idea! There are many
children reading below level, and audio books is a great way for them to
improve their fluency. So, I invited two good readers to read a book that many
will like. They can grab an Ipad, put on their headphones, and listen to the
book recorded by their very own classmate or friend! Bring Your Teacher Home is
great to help your students remember what important parts of the lesson they
should focus on to help them do their homework. So, go ahead, and have fun with
podcasts. But, please have a script ready before you start recording. No
pressure! If you come up with more ideas on how to use podcasts in the
classroom, don't forget to comment below!
Check out these podcasts recorded by two awesome students!
Bertucci B.
(2016, September 12). Ever Wondered About Podcasting? Get the Basics! Retrieved
November 13, 2016, from http://podcasting.about.com/od/basics101/a/whatis.htm
9 Podcasts for
Teachers and Kids | Scholastic.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016, from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/9-podcasts-teachers-and-kids
Macpherson, E.
(2014, August 7). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom.
Retrieved November 13, 2016, from
http://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/
I have always liked coloring! Yes, coloring! Drawing...well,
not so much! Does tracing count? Probably not! For those of us who are not very
creative or artistic, there are ways you can create comic strips online! There
are great sites that can help you create comic strips without worrying about
not knowing what do draw: ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComix. These sites
provide different images that you can easily incorporate in your comics. And
what you want to do with them is up to you!
ToonDoo
ToonDoo is a very neat site that allows you to get creative
and provides all the tools you may need to create a comic strip. On the Toons
tab, there is a drop down menu that allows you to Create a Toon. Once you click
on it, your next step is to select a layout. You have two categories:
Horizontal Layouts and Vertical Layouts. This is where you have to decide
whether you want to design something simple or more detailed. If you are going
for a more complicated comic strip, you may want to choose a lay out with more
boxes. Once you select a layout, you will have a white canvas ready for you to
work your magic! You can choose different characters, places, props, and even
add talking bubbles. Once you have your characters ready, you can also modify
their body posture and facial gestures! The comics are very easy to create
since you have all those tools at your finger tips! Saving the comic strip was
easy. All I had to do was publish it and then save it to my computer. I did
panic for a few seconds because when I was waiting for it to be published, it
was showing me a "loading" icon. I was afraid I had lost my work.
But, no I didn't! All I had to do was practice PATIENCE! I cannot wait for my
students to get a hold of ToonDoo! They will definitely create more
entertaining comic strips, but that is the whole point!
Pixton also allows you to create comics strips. Unfortunately,
it is not free. The good news is that they give you a fifteen day trial. What I
liked about Pixton is that they provide you with a tutorial that guides you
through the steps for completing a comic strip. It is pretty neat because it
has a large variety of options from characters to backgrounds. But, I personally
feel that the elementary students I serve may have a harder time using Pixton.
I was having trouble moving items. Items that I did not want them to move would
move. I guess with a little more patience, anyone can create a amazing work of
art! Now, saving the items was a little difficult. In order to download the
comic strip, I had to subscribe to the full version!
MakeBeliefsComix
MakeBeliefsComix was simple, fun, and easy to use.
Registration is not necessary, so this is perfect for elementary children who
still have a hard time using their e-mail accounts or just simply do not have
access to an e-mail account to register for any online resources. This site was
not overwhelming with millions of characters nor backgrounds. This is where the
saying "Less is more!" fits in! And saving the comic strip was a
piece of cake!
Everybody should try to create a comic strip in their life
time! It is pretty fun! Now, if you are educator, you can certainly have fun
with it as well. But, you can also give your students an opportunity to create
comics strips to allow them to use their imagination. They will certainly be
challenged because in order to create a comic strip, they will need to decide
what it will be about, who will they choose for characters, and what background
fits their comic strip. And if you are a writing teacher, don't get me started!
There are many ways you can use comic strips. Students can create them and then
swap and write a story that goes with their partner's comic strip! How about to
improve reading comprehension? After reading a passage, students can create a
comic strip focusing on the beginning, middle, and end of the passage. I plan to share those ideas with my teachers!
For sure! I can expose them to all three of the above mentioned resources, but
they will get to choose which one they prefer. I personally had a lot of fun
with MakeBeliefsComix. And, I can say it was my favorite!
Q.R codes? They are the funny looking
squares with different designs on them. In order for you to know what
information is behind the code, you have to download a Q.R. code reader to your
smart phone or device. People use them all over the world in business,
marketing, and advertising. Once scanned, they may lead you to a picture or a
video. Of course, they have trickled into
education!
Librarians are also using Q.R. codes!
After reading Library Girl’s blog, I learned that Q.R. codes can make visiting
the library a lot more techie and interactive! In her blog, she describes ways
librarians can use Q.R. codes. She used them to allow children to access book
reviews and book trailers that can help students make a more educated decision when
selecting the next book they read instead of just looking at the front cover of
the book in front of them! One of her good friends, made it easier for parents
to access the library’s Facebook page, Twitter account, or any important
information. Let’s face it! Some parents don’t have a lot of time on their
hands, so this is a great way to keep them in the loop! So, if Q.R. codes are
present in other’s libraries, why can’t they be part of mine, too?
It’s barely the weekend, and I cannot
wait for Monday to get here! Why? Well, I have some ideas on how to use Q.R.
codes, but I want to be able to stand in the middle of the library, observe the
children and their habits, and come up with even more amazing ideas! But for
now, I plan on using them to help me promote newer titles. I’ve worked so hard
to buy new books to get them to the children’s hands. But, I’ve noticed that if
the author doesn’t sound familiar, they are not likely to grab the book! And,
there I am sitting behind the desk (in pain) watching them place the book back.
Then, I run over there and tell them how great the book is. Finally, they
decide to check it out! Well, with Q.R. codes, I can avoid the suffering. I am
planning on sticking a Q.R. code and linking it to a book trailer. That way,
they know what the book is about, so they can give the book a try. Besides,
book trailers will do a better job than me!
Also, I do not know why, but at my
school, a new student arrives every other week. Ten leave; fifteen come in.
Five leave, ten come in. All in a 6 weeks! I don’t want to sound lazy, but
those children do not experience the whole library tour and orientation. I am
soooooo going to use a Q.R. code, so new students can scan and have an idea of
what my library is all about. No, I am not lazy. I am efficient! J
Videos are a great way to communicate
with your students. I saw several examples in which very talented students made
very entertaining videos that informed others about turning books in on time
and also reminded them of taking good care of books. Tiger Visits the Norman High Library by Calypso Gilstrap is definitely one of my favorite
videos. Even though it was filmed in a secondary setting, I feel that my little
Pre-K students would love this video. They are the ones that may be lost or
confused when they come to the library because they are brand new to the whole
"school" idea. Tiger is a fun way to teach the students all they can
do at their library. I loved how he tipped toed and walked in a quietly manner
towards the Nooks. That is one thing we need to teach them, to walk and not
run. This is probably a video I will use next school year and make it part of
orientation. Fifth Harmony Overdue Library Book Parody by bbmsmedia is also another video I enjoyed. To begin with, the
tune is pretty catchy! I hope that students sing that tune as soon as they
finish reading their books. One thing I have noticed is that students forget to
return their books and come to the library expecting to check out more! And if
it helps, I am willing to replay and replay this video on our library's
monitor!
YouTube is
definitely a great tool! It can help you promote your library, events, and even
new books. I created a book trailer for The
Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton.
Here is a summary of the book
provided to you by Goodreads:
“Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her
birthday this year. A BIG horse. A STRONG horse. A horse fit for a WARRIOR
PRINCESS! But when the day arrives, she doesn'tquite get the horse of her dreams...
From the artist behind the comic phenomenonHark! A Vagrant,The
Princess and the Pony is a laugh-out-loud story of brave warriors, big
surprises, and falling in love with one unforgettable little pony.”
I fell in love with the plot, and it quickly became
part of my faves! I used Animoto to create my very own book trailer. It doesn’t
look very professional, but for being my first book trailer, I think it was
pretty good. Since I was very proud of it, I also created a Q.R. code, so
everyone can have access to my book trailer. Once you scan the Q.R. code, you will
be redirected to YouTube. Just play the trailer and enjoy! Trust me! It is an
awesome book! Instead of me giving you all the details, I invite you to scan it
and prepare to be amazed! Not at my talent but at Beaton’s!
Sources:
Girl, L. (2012,
January 5). The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News, and More [Web log
post]. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from
http://www.librarygirl.net/2012/01/from-tech-trend-to-teaching-tool-taking.html
Tiger Visits the
Norma High Library
[Video file]. (2015, May 4). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4
Fifth Harmony
Overdue Books
[Video file]. (2016, June 13). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIpc4Hnj_HU
Illustration of a
sword [Illustration of a sword with a transparent background]. Retrieved
October 29, 2016, from http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15567
Make great videos. Retrieved October
29, 2016, from https://animoto.com/
Pink googley-eye bird [A
funny-looking pink cartoon bird with big eyes.]. (2013, November 9). Retrieved
October 30, 2016, from https://openclipart.org/detail/183310/pink-googleyeye-bird
Hearts in a Heart [Multiple hearts
in a bigger heart.]. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2016, from
https://www.goodfreephotos.com/vector-images/heart-in-heart-vector-files.png.php
Kate Beaton. In Flickr. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/5of7/5881972829 (Originally photographed 2011,
June 19)
Finger Face with a Question Mark. In Flickr. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/86979666@N00/7623744452 (Originally photographed
2012, July 22)
There are many ways to engage our students! Do they
like to use a pencil and paper, use their talents, and create something
amazing? I am sure they do! But, there are many tools out there that can spark
their creativity and catapult them into the spectacular world of technology.
I'll be honest! I am totally old school, and I fear
technology. I love being in a safe place where learning and messing up is not
required. But I overcame my fears (some, not all) and gave Instagram, Vine,
Screencast-o-matic, and Adobe Spark a try. You may ask, "Wh-wh-what are
those? Don't panic!
Instagram and Vine are social networking services
that allow you to upload or share your videos and pictures. They are great
tools to share what you are up to with your friends, but you can actually use
it as an educational tool as well. The only tricky thing about Vine is that
your video can only be 6 seconds or less! Screencast-o-matic is a screen
recorder that allows you to teach others anything you want to teach on your
computer screen. The possibilities are endless! And, Adobe Spark allows to
create videos by adding your voice, pictures, change its themes, and add music!
Viola! You got yourself an awesome writing prompt if you are a writing teacher.
No more boring single illustrations that children need to create an essay from.
Can you imagine? Your students are going to be extremely excited! I know I am!
Just last week, our book fair arrived. And, it is a
great opportunity to fundraise. Scholastic brings a large amount of books to
your campus, and all you have to do is sell. And sell! And sell! If you reach
your goal of $2,500, you get $500 in cash. After many budget cuts, I thought it
would be great to use that money for new books! Instagram is a great way to get
the word out there and let the community know that the book fair has arrived,
and that they can come support their library. I also like the idea to share with kids a
little activity I came up with. I plan on using Instagram to show a cover of a
book, cover the title, and ask the kids to come up with a new title and story
using the front cover of the book. I am going to have fun with that one! I
cannot wait to see what the children come up with.
Vine is a fun tool as well. It is affiliated with
Twitter. Thanks to Vine, you can upload videos on Twitter. But, if you are a Facebook
lover, you can upload your Vine videos on there as well. You can upload it on
Pinterest too.
I love reading to my students the latest books (when possible). On Fridays, I always tell them what book I will
be reading to them the following week. But, it may get kind of boring. I show
them the cover, read to them the title, and say, "Next week we will read
this book!" Well, Vine can help me do that in a more entertaining and
efficient way. Take a look at my Vine video, but please do not make fun of my
funny "commercial" voice!
Screencast-o-matic has literally saved my life. Okay!
I am being dramatic, but it did save my voice. When I have to teach students
how to do something, I repeat it about twenty times. With Screencast-o-matic, I
say it once and show the video to all my classes!
Video Spark is probably one of my favorite tools. When
I first clicked on the webpage, I was
clueless! But after playing around with it, I realized I could easily use it in
the library. I love writing, and I am passionate about writing with my
students. Well, this is a great tool to use in writing class. Students can
create their own stories and then add more details on paper. I am also planning
on starting a story and having the kids choose their own ending. Check out my sad,
sad story. It almost made me cry!
All these tools are great! But they have unique
features. You basically have to decide what you want to do or want to teach to
the students. Once you have made your decision, it is your job to decide which
tools is best for your task. Knowing what you can do in Instagram, Vine,
Screencast-o-matic or Video Spark is a good way to start. Once you have
brainstormed ideas, you may then move on to the next step and ask yourself,
"Which tool should I use for this?"
Sources Used:
Instagram. Retrieved October 24,
2016, from https://www.instagram.com/
Vine. Retrieved October 24, 2016,
from https://twitter.com/vine
Screencast-O-Matic. Retrieved
October 24, 2016, from http://screencast-o-matic.com/
Adobe Spark Videos, images and stories
made in minutes. Retrieved October 24, 2016, from https://spark.adobe.com/
I remember
my first year teaching and being introduced to Dina Zike's foldables (http://www.dinah.com/index.php)
at a G.T. conference. She provided graphic organizers that children could create
with simple tools: a paper, pencil, scissors, a glue stick, and markers (to
make it more interesting and colorful). These would help children organize
information in a way that made for sense for them and then glue them to a
journal to keep all their work in one place. Dina Zike is definitely a genius!
I couldn't wait to go back to the classroom and implement all I had learned. Fast
forward ten years later! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Today, I am introduced to foldables on
steroids: INFOGRAPHICS. Infographics remind me of those foldables but allow
children to use the technology that surrounds their everyday lives. They are
visual representations of information that tells a story of what they have
learned. It allows students to use graphics and lots of color to share with
others data that may be confusing if just explained with words. There a
different sites that allows children to create these for free. I will be
discussing three: Easel.ly, Piktochart, and Infogr.am. My favorite one is (drum
roll).....Easel.ly! Why? It is simple and great for beginners! My students
would start with Easel.ly and then let them experiment with the others once
they are comfortable with infographics.
Easel.ly
Easel.ly
provides you with different templates that can be easily modified to your
needs. You can experiment with it and have lots of fun posting objects, changing
the template's color, adding images from your files, and even adding a header
to type all your teacher requires of you to let her know it is your work. It is
pretty simple to use, but don't panic if you are a little confused. What I
loved about Easel.ly is that if you get stuck they share with you resources to help
you move forward such as Tips on Creating Infographics (on the bottom, right
corner) and a live chat. If you feel you are an expert, go ahead and get the Go
Pro membership for only $3.00 a month and have a lot more access!
Piktochart
Creating an
account on Piktochart was easy since I logged in with my already existent
Google account. It does give you the option of logging in with Facebook, but I
simply chose Google. As soon as I created an account, it welcomed me with a pop
up message that provided an e-book and in their own words, "to help me
create beautiful content." Piktochart gives you the option to create
different items: infographics, reports, banners, or presentations. It offers
free and paid templates with a variety of themes and allows you to add charts,
maps, videos, and other neat stuff. When you are done creating your
masterpiece, you can share it via e-mail or on social media.
Infogr.am
Creating an
account for Infogr.am was also very simple. If you get overwhelmed with a very
busy site or with a colorful background, Infogr.am may be perfect for you. As
soon as you create an account, you see a dark background with only a few items
to choose from. You can create an infographic or report, a chart or graph, or a
map. When creating an infographic, you won't be bombarded with an overoald of
choices since you have 10 to 11 themes to choose from. If you want more
choices, I suggest you upgrade and have access to ProThemes. Infogr.am allows
you to include charts, pictures and videos from YouTube. And if you can't wait
to show your friends your creation, you can certainly share it on social media.
Sources:
Rainie, L.
(2013). Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading. Retrieved October 16, 2016,
from
http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/05/01/parents-children-libraries-and-reading/
Create and share
visual ideas online Easel.ly. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from
https://www.easel.ly/
Create Easy
Infographics, Reports, Presentations Piktochart. Retrieved October 16, 2016,
from https://piktochart.com/
Create online
charts & infographics infogr.am. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from
https://infogr.am/
Organization!
That is probably one of my favorite words! I love to be organized, and if you
are part of my everyday life, you would see that chaos and I do not get a long!
Everything has to be in order. Come to my home and you will see labels in the
kitchen and my clothes organized by color and style. By the way, I do need more
clothes! But, that is another story!
When I was
first introduced to Symbaloo, a free social bookmarking service, it was "love
at first click!" I could not believe that I no longer had to be like
a chicken without a head trying to
remember the website I had used the previous day for an online timer that my
students loved! Geez! I wasted precious time clicking here, there, and
everywhere! Now, thanks to Symbaloo, I have all my favorite websites in one
area making me the most efficient librarian in my school! Oh, wait! I am the
only librarian in my school!
So, when I
learned that you can organize
blogs, I was totally in love again! I
was not aware that there are feed readers that allow you to access your
favorite blogs. Where have I been? (Eating donuts, probably!)
I dropped
the donuts and decided to have my own feed reader! (Not Just any kind of
donuts. I am talking about the powdered, cream filled ones.) I was not too sure
which one to choose, but I did feel more comfortable choosing one that many,
many people already have. According to Vicky Cassidy, author of The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News,
and More, Feedly is among the most popular feed readers. It's not that I am
a "follower," but it is probably pretty good if a large group of people
use it already. Cassidy used words such
as clean, simple, and casual to describe Feedly. So, it has "Rosalia Rohr"
written all over!
Creating a free account was very easy. We all love free. (I wish donuts were free!) I
went to feedly.com and it asked me if I wanted to create an account using
Facebook or Google. I chose Google, and in less than 3 seconds, I had an
account and joined the millions of Feedly users.
Navigating
Feedly was pretty easy; I was able to categorize my favorite blogs using
folders. It can be organized by topics, it's personalized to your likes, and reflects
who you are! Feedly is all about you! I cannot wait to open those folders and
start reading!
One thing
that caught my attention was the fact that Feedly gives you a chance to learn
about topics you probably didn't ever consider reading about nor thought you
would love. Blog writer, Vicky Cassidy, says,
"Feedly also curates "starter kits" of content focused around a
certain topic, which can be a great way to discover new websites." I gave
it a try, and now I have a blog about integrating technology in the classroom patiently
waiting for me. Because Feedly allows its users to share on social media, I
will share it on Facebook after I finish reading it. Many of my teacher friends
will certainly benefit.
There are
five blogs on my FAVORITE BLOGS list. Library Stuff (http://www.librarystuff.net/)
and School Library Journal (http://www.slj.com/) are great since they both provide information that can help you be more
aware of what is going on in the world of libraries. I know my flaws, and I may
be guilty of just focusing on what is going on around my 5 mile radius.
Learning important news pertinent to librarians and education is definitely a
must for me since I want to improve every day. Library Displays (http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com/)
is another blog I plan to check out daily. In all honesty, I am aware of my
talents, but creativity is not one God blessed me with. It provides awesome
library displays that children would love to see in my library. It's creator describes it as a blog filled
with "creative ideas that promote books from your library collection."
Following blogs such as The New York Times book reviews (http://www.nytimes.com/section/books?partner=rss&emc=rss)
and Goodreads (Bloghttps://www.goodreads.com/) can certainly keep me up to date
with the most popular children's books. It is almost impossible to read every
single book that is released, so reading reviews can help me better serve my
patrons when it comes to recommending a new release based on their favorite
authors or genres.
There are
several feed readers out there, but I preferred Feedly. It does the job, and it
does it well. If you want to learn more about the different feed readers out
there, I suggest you read Vicky Cassidy's article The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News, and More. You can find
it by copying a pasting the following link: https://zapier.com/blog/best-rss-feed-reader-apps/
I have much to read and much to share. With
knowledge comes responsibility, and all I learn through my blogs, I promise to
do my best and share with colleagues. But I also like to have fun! Tumblr is a
great site that is similar to Facebook but allows you to have more privacy. You
create your own username without having to use your real name. On the very top
of your Tumblr, there are 7 things you can choose from: text, photo, quote,
link, chat, audio, or video. When you are ready to share, click on one, and
start sharing away! To learn a little more about my craziness, check out my
Tubmblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/blessedlibrariansmiles
Source:
Cassidy, V. (2015, September 22). The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News, and More. Retrieved October 06, 2016, from https://zapier.com/blog/best-rss-feed-reader-apps/
Facebook?
How did Mark Zuckerberg
come up with that term? That may have a silly story behind it. But what is not
silly, is the impact Facebook is making in our lives! And Twitter? The idea that posting a message online that could be seen by many around the world seems unimaginable. But it sure is possible. Facebook and Twitter have become very much part of our lives and have made their way in education. Yes, Facebook helps us stay in
touch with our friends and family members that have moved away, and it also
allows us to plan our weekends based on the events that appear by clicking on
the "events" tab on the left side of the page. But now, it also helps librarians promote
their library! Well, we need to be "cool" and show our
"swag" somehow to our students and community. Not many schools in my
district have Facebook library accounts, so I had to look for other nearby
school districts to see how they are using social media to bring more attention
to their beautiful libraries. What I noticed was that local campuses and others
across the country used Facebook to show the public what amazing things are
happening in their libraries. Many used it to promote important events such as
book fairs and authors visits. Some librarians also shared pictures of their
monthly activities or holiday celebrations. Unfortunately, their pages only had
100 to 500 likes. And, not many people commented on their posts.
Facebook is definitely a great tool, but can
also have its disadvantages. One thing that makes me a little nervous is
allowing anybody to post or comment. There is always that unhappy parent that
may post a negative comment and tint the image of the library or librarian. But
of course, that may never happen. So, let's still use Facebook and take that
chance! If you are interested in creating an account and even better, use it to promote your library, go to www.facebook.com.
Tweets
are no longer just for birds! Anybody with a Twiter account can tweet! Our
students are using Twitter and it is a great way to stay connected with the
world. It is also a great way to get professional development using your smart
phone. Technology leaders are very present on Twitter, and we can easily learn
from them by following them. Following others is cool now and is no longer
considered stalking! Times have changed! By following people such as Kathy
Schrock and Jim Lerman, we can learn from them and find about what is new with
technology and education. Schrock 's latest Tweet includes her edtech websites.
These websites are phenomenal and educators can discover great resources for
using Ipads to using Pokemon Go in the classroom! Schrock not only shares with
her followers new gadgets, but she is kind enough to add where you can purchase
it at discounted prices! Jim Lerman is
extremely passionate about technology and helping educators. On his Twitter, he
shares many practical things such as how to retrieve data from a damaged SD
card and the basic things you need to know in order to use Snapchat. But, he
also shares many great tools teachers and librarians can definitely apply in
the classroom or library. One of my favorite Tweets is one he shared a couple
of days ago which lists 15 new ideas teachers should try. The lists includes
ways to support students, motivate them to think outside the box, and use their
creativity to the max! Twitter can facilitate easy access to such knowledgeable
leaders that are considered superstars in the world of technology and
education. If you wish to start being part of the tweeting group, go to www.twitter.com and create a free account.
