Let me start by saying that it has been a wonderful experience, one I never thought I'd have. Prior to beginning this journey, I pretty much stuck to the basics - Microsoft Office and by that I mean Word and Power Point. I shied away from most of the social networking sites and from any apps or other forms of technology shy of the internet. In this course, I learned how to use so many different types of technology applications on different platforms and learned that I can teach my students so much just by incorporating them into my lessons. I enjoyed all the assignments and creating this blog. I was a bit nervous about embedding and had some trouble doing so sometimes but in the end it all worked out.
I found the QR codes to be the most difficult assignment to complete. I have seen people use the apps with ease but did not really think of this from an educational standpoint. Even though, I struggled to complete this assignment, I do plan on using it because there are so many great ways to use it in the classroom and library setting.
I enjoyed browsing the online communities the most this semester. My
favorite online book community is Biblionasium. I liked that it is so user friendly and colorful. I found the online communities to be extremely useful. I believe this will be beneficial for my students since they can keep track of all the books they read and recommend books but I think the most benefit will be gained through the use of Screencasts. I also believe they will enjoy creating cartoons and Podcasts the most.
I look forward to using all that I learned in this course both in my classroom as a teacher and when I complete my educational goal and finally become a librarian.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
Mining Pew 5: Teens and Technology
Lenhart, A. (2014). Teens & Technology: Understanding the Digital Landscape. Pew Research Center's Internet Project. Retrieved from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/25/teens-technology-understanding-the-digital-landscape/
Lenhart included data on social media sites. Some teens revealed that they have switched to other social media sites that are less popular with adults to avoid their presence. I have to agree with that. I recently created an Instagram account while my teens have had accounts for a long while. Teens like to create their own space and would prefer for adults to stay out. Unfortunately, this can create problems with online safety.
24 slides/pages
Teens & Technology: Understanding the Digital Landscape from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
As the proud mother of five children ranging in age from 6 to 24, I found this data to be rather accurate. Our teens are online either through the use of their laptops, tablets or cell phones the majority of the time. Our oldest two used to talk on the phone with friends but our younger teens spend most of their time texting as a form of communication with friends. Twitter is very popular with one of our daughters because she is always trying to find a social network that is less popular with adults- mainly her parents of course.
Lenhart presented data on teen cell phone use, internet use and social media use. The findings reveal that 95% of teens are using the internet, 78% of teens own cell phones while 3 out of 4 teens access the internet with their mobile phones, and teens chose texting as their main form of communication. Lenhart added that 58% of teens have downloaded Apps to their mobile phones. These findings are not very surprising since most people don't even have landlines anymore. Personally, we purchased cell phones for our children to help us keep in constant contact with them. While owning cell phones has helped us to keep track of their whereabouts it has also made it easier for them to text and use the internet at anytime. To avoid overuse, we only allow our children to keep their phones, laptops and tablets until bedtime. They are also not allowed to use their cell phones during family time. As the proud mother of five children ranging in age from 6 to 24, I found this data to be rather accurate. Our teens are online either through the use of their laptops, tablets or cell phones the majority of the time. Our oldest two used to talk on the phone with friends but our younger teens spend most of their time texting as a form of communication with friends. Twitter is very popular with one of our daughters because she is always trying to find a social network that is less popular with adults- mainly her parents of course.
Lenhart included data on social media sites. Some teens revealed that they have switched to other social media sites that are less popular with adults to avoid their presence. I have to agree with that. I recently created an Instagram account while my teens have had accounts for a long while. Teens like to create their own space and would prefer for adults to stay out. Unfortunately, this can create problems with online safety.
24 slides/pages
Mining Pew 4: 13 Things to Know about Teens and Technology
Rainie, L.. (2014) 13 Things to Know About Teens and Technology. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from:
http://pewinternet.org/2014/07/23/13-things-to-know-about-teens-and-technology/
At the ACT Enrollment Planners Conference held in Chicago on July 23, 2014 Lee Rainie discussed how teens are using technology, how digital tools are changing teen communication with others, and how they gather information about the world. Rainie used parent and teen survey data gathered by the Pew Research Internet Project and shared that 95% of teens are using the internet while 78% own cell phones. 81% use social networking sites.
One survey of writing teachers revealed that 87% of teachers believe students have shorter attention spans due to technology while 77% of teachers believe that digital tools have had a positive impact on student research skills. So basically most teachers surveyed expressed positive and negative feelings towards the use of digital tools. Most felt that digital tools positively impacted students but led to students expecting to find information quickly due to the extensive use of search engines.
Rainie goes on to share how knowledge has changed and how it is processed. Learners need to be actively engaged in their own learning and creating knowledge. This is already evident in the classroom today. Students learn differently today compared to ten years ago. Students are active participants in their learning. I agree that learning behaviors have changed and it has been mostly due to digital tools and technological advances. Students have access to a wealth of information which at times can be overwhelming and discouraging. At the same time, the benefit and ease outweigh the negative. Overall, I believe that technology and digital tools will have a positive impact on student learning and cognition.
Millennials' Futures
I agree with the 52% who voted in favor of positive outcome due to technological advances among this group. While cons exist, overall the availability of a great variety of tools has improved many areas of our lives and more is yet to come.
55 Slides
13 Things to Know About Teens and Technology from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
Wow! As I read through these slides, I found myself reflecting on my recent experiences with students. I find myself repeating information because they have such short attention spans. I noticed that my students are more familiar with technological terms and with the Internet but they have a harder time waiting for search results or for information to download. Unfortunately, my campus has old computers and students possess very little patience.
Wow! As I read through these slides, I found myself reflecting on my recent experiences with students. I find myself repeating information because they have such short attention spans. I noticed that my students are more familiar with technological terms and with the Internet but they have a harder time waiting for search results or for information to download. Unfortunately, my campus has old computers and students possess very little patience.
At the ACT Enrollment Planners Conference held in Chicago on July 23, 2014 Lee Rainie discussed how teens are using technology, how digital tools are changing teen communication with others, and how they gather information about the world. Rainie used parent and teen survey data gathered by the Pew Research Internet Project and shared that 95% of teens are using the internet while 78% own cell phones. 81% use social networking sites.
One survey of writing teachers revealed that 87% of teachers believe students have shorter attention spans due to technology while 77% of teachers believe that digital tools have had a positive impact on student research skills. So basically most teachers surveyed expressed positive and negative feelings towards the use of digital tools. Most felt that digital tools positively impacted students but led to students expecting to find information quickly due to the extensive use of search engines.
Rainie goes on to share how knowledge has changed and how it is processed. Learners need to be actively engaged in their own learning and creating knowledge. This is already evident in the classroom today. Students learn differently today compared to ten years ago. Students are active participants in their learning. I agree that learning behaviors have changed and it has been mostly due to digital tools and technological advances. Students have access to a wealth of information which at times can be overwhelming and discouraging. At the same time, the benefit and ease outweigh the negative. Overall, I believe that technology and digital tools will have a positive impact on student learning and cognition.
Millennials' Futures
I agree with the 52% who voted in favor of positive outcome due to technological advances among this group. While cons exist, overall the availability of a great variety of tools has improved many areas of our lives and more is yet to come.
55 Slides
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Mining pew 3: Social Media
Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A. & Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx
http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-media//Files/Reports/2010/PIP_Social_Media_and_Young_Adults_Report_Final_with_toplines.pdf
I was surprised by the findings in regards to social networks. I thought for sure Twitter was going to be more popular with teens and young adults but according to this data teens and young adults are using MySpace. I thought MySpace died a long time ago but I guess I was wrong.
Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr's report focuses on the use of social media, internet and mobile service by teens and young adults. This report compiles data obtained by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. A teen cell phone survey was conducted through a telephone interview which included parents. A separate telephone interview was conducted to compile the adult internet usage data and includes results from a daily tracking internet usage survey.
They found that young adults (18-29) and teens are blogging less since 2006 and the percentage of older adults blogging has increased. Young adults and teens are "microblogging" instead (17). Young adults and teens use different social networking sites than older adults. I think this may be due to teens wanting privacy and to be considered separate from their parents. Older adults use Facebook more frequently. Teens and young adults use MySpace more often. Interestingly, young adults use social networking sites at the same rate as teens. Twitter is also not being used as often by younger teens. I have seen Twitter grow in popularity in our area. Internet use is about the same for all ages but young adults use wireless more often than older adults while older adults use desktops more often than young adults who report using laptops more frequently. I see this often with older colleagues, they shy away from the laptops and find desktops easier to use.
As for cell phone usage, the largest growth of cell phone usage has been the teen group. Seventy-five percent of American teens own a cell phone(9-10). Those with higher income and higher education are more likely to own cell phones. Teen boys and girls use their cells for different purposes. Teen boys are more likely to own gaming devices. I purchased cell phones for my children when they started middle school so that they could call me if they needed to stay after school or simply to keep track of their whereabouts with ease.
51 pages
http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-media//Files/Reports/2010/PIP_Social_Media_and_Young_Adults_Report_Final_with_toplines.pdf
I was surprised by the findings in regards to social networks. I thought for sure Twitter was going to be more popular with teens and young adults but according to this data teens and young adults are using MySpace. I thought MySpace died a long time ago but I guess I was wrong.
Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr's report focuses on the use of social media, internet and mobile service by teens and young adults. This report compiles data obtained by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. A teen cell phone survey was conducted through a telephone interview which included parents. A separate telephone interview was conducted to compile the adult internet usage data and includes results from a daily tracking internet usage survey.
They found that young adults (18-29) and teens are blogging less since 2006 and the percentage of older adults blogging has increased. Young adults and teens are "microblogging" instead (17). Young adults and teens use different social networking sites than older adults. I think this may be due to teens wanting privacy and to be considered separate from their parents. Older adults use Facebook more frequently. Teens and young adults use MySpace more often. Interestingly, young adults use social networking sites at the same rate as teens. Twitter is also not being used as often by younger teens. I have seen Twitter grow in popularity in our area. Internet use is about the same for all ages but young adults use wireless more often than older adults while older adults use desktops more often than young adults who report using laptops more frequently. I see this often with older colleagues, they shy away from the laptops and find desktops easier to use.
As for cell phone usage, the largest growth of cell phone usage has been the teen group. Seventy-five percent of American teens own a cell phone(9-10). Those with higher income and higher education are more likely to own cell phones. Teen boys and girls use their cells for different purposes. Teen boys are more likely to own gaming devices. I purchased cell phones for my children when they started middle school so that they could call me if they needed to stay after school or simply to keep track of their whereabouts with ease.
51 pages
Mining PEW - E-Reading
Zickuhr, K. & Rainie, L. (2014). "E-Reading Rises as Device Ownership Jumps". Pew Research Center's Internet & American
Life Project. Retrieved from:
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2014/E-Reading-Update.aspx
It was music to my ears when my teen daughter requested a Nook last Christmas. I was delighted to make such a purchase. As for myself, I read some books using the Kindle and Nook apps but I still find myself purchasing some books.
A survey was conducted in January 2014 to find out how many American adults are reading using e-readers. The survey was conducted by phone interview and included 1,005 adults living in the United States. Zickuhr & Rainie found that half of American adults now own a tablet or e-reader (4). I found it quite interesting but not surprising to learn that owners of e-readers are more likely to be white with some college education. Tablet owners were younger than e-reader owners and overall the levels of education were higher as was the annual income. Once again not a surprise, since electronic devices can be expensive.
The survey also asked about reading habits. The number of American adults reading e-books has risen but very few read e-books solely. According to Zicuhr & Rainie's survey only four percent of American readers read e-books only. Most Americans are still reading print books and seventy-six percent of American Adults read a book in some type of format annually. Women read more often than men and women were more likely to read an e-book or a book in print. On average, most participants read five books per year. The study also revealed that audiobook listeners have the most diverse reading habits (6-7). I enjoy reading books in any format but I find myself looking for print and still needing to physically turn the page and feel the paper. This study included only adults but I often find in my classroom that girls enjoy reading time more than the boys. As a librarian, I hope to motivate boys to read and help them become life long readers.
Zickuhr & Rainie concluded that older adults use mostly e-readers while younger readers access books on their cells, tablets, or computers. They also found that people who read using e-readers read more often but were unable to determine why (11). It would be interesting to find out more about the reasoning behind such reading habits.
20 pages
It was music to my ears when my teen daughter requested a Nook last Christmas. I was delighted to make such a purchase. As for myself, I read some books using the Kindle and Nook apps but I still find myself purchasing some books.
A survey was conducted in January 2014 to find out how many American adults are reading using e-readers. The survey was conducted by phone interview and included 1,005 adults living in the United States. Zickuhr & Rainie found that half of American adults now own a tablet or e-reader (4). I found it quite interesting but not surprising to learn that owners of e-readers are more likely to be white with some college education. Tablet owners were younger than e-reader owners and overall the levels of education were higher as was the annual income. Once again not a surprise, since electronic devices can be expensive.
The survey also asked about reading habits. The number of American adults reading e-books has risen but very few read e-books solely. According to Zicuhr & Rainie's survey only four percent of American readers read e-books only. Most Americans are still reading print books and seventy-six percent of American Adults read a book in some type of format annually. Women read more often than men and women were more likely to read an e-book or a book in print. On average, most participants read five books per year. The study also revealed that audiobook listeners have the most diverse reading habits (6-7). I enjoy reading books in any format but I find myself looking for print and still needing to physically turn the page and feel the paper. This study included only adults but I often find in my classroom that girls enjoy reading time more than the boys. As a librarian, I hope to motivate boys to read and help them become life long readers.
Zickuhr & Rainie concluded that older adults use mostly e-readers while younger readers access books on their cells, tablets, or computers. They also found that people who read using e-readers read more often but were unable to determine why (11). It would be interesting to find out more about the reasoning behind such reading habits.
20 pages
Friday, November 21, 2014
Instagram and Vine
I first started using Instagram about six months ago. I used it to keep in touch with some of my nieces and nephews that live out of state and no longer use Facebook. I only posted a single collage and the rest of the time I have simply followed them and commented on pictures that they have posted. Instagram has become one of the most popular social network services out there especially for teenagers. It allows you to take pictures and videos that can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. Instagram videos are only 15 seconds long. Instagram has many uses beyond just social networking. Educators can use it in their classrooms to feature the student of the week or to showcase student work. Students can use Instagram to share reading recommendations or record the steps of a science project. Younger students can use it to go on scavenger hunts or to create ideas for writing. The possibilities are endless. Here are a couple of examples for you to view.
Another great service to try is Vine. It is a short video sharing service. The videos are short six second videos. The videos loop and are great to use in the classroom to help students commit content to memory. As an educator, you can create your own videos related to content. Vines are also great for predicting. They can be used by students to create videos, too. Here are a couple of examples of Vines, I created.
Another great service to try is Vine. It is a short video sharing service. The videos are short six second videos. The videos loop and are great to use in the classroom to help students commit content to memory. As an educator, you can create your own videos related to content. Vines are also great for predicting. They can be used by students to create videos, too. Here are a couple of examples of Vines, I created.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Screencast
This week, I learned how to make a screencast. I was nervous about doing so but in the end it was a great learning experience. I used Jing, Screenr and Screencast-o-matic. Of the three, Screenr was easier for me to use. Jing must be downloaded and installed and Screenr and Screencast-o-matic require Java. Screenr is easy to use once you configure Java. That was the most challenging part. I had a difficult time figuring out the settings and I kept getting a message that did not accept the Java download. After completing a Google search, I came across a screencast that walked me through configuring Java. So, Screenr is extremely easy to use if you have the correct settings for Java. I included two screencasts I created using Screenr and Screencast-o-matic. There is also the Explain a Website app for IPad which can be used to create a screencast. I was unable to find it on the app. store but it may have been temporarily unavailable. Screencast-o-matic takes a bit longer to save the screencast and I lost mine a couple of times before finally getting it uploaded. Overall, Screenr was the easiest to use and will be the one that I will use. Please take a few minutes to view the screencasts I created.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Cartoons and Comics
This week I utilized some awesome tools for making comic strips. I had an opportunity to use ToonDoo, Pixton, Tellagami, and MakeBeliefsComix. I created a few comic strips and will share them with you today. So, I set out to explore each site and app.
I created this comic strip using ToonDoo. It was extremely easy to use. I would use this tool with upper elementary school students to promote team building or to practice vocabulary. A comic strip can be used to teach just about anything. It can be used to teach Social Studies, Reading, Life/Social Skills. I would use this tool to help students introduce themselves by creating an autobiography.
I created this comic strip using Pixton. I found Pixton to be the most complex to use but with the greatest variety of options. I would use this tool with middle school and high school students due to the complexity. I would also use it to create autobiographies, to encourage creative writing or to tie in with daily themes such as the news or vocabulary.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=22883614C1444871
The link above will take you to the third and final comic strip I created. I created this one using makebeliefscomix. This particular tool is very basic and has limited options. It is a great place to start and to get some practice.
Overall, ToonDoo is my favorite tool in this category. I will be using it in my classroom and hopefully some day in my library. I had a ton of fun playing around with these tools. I would definitely encourage students to use them. I plan on using this tool with a special needs child and will use it in the future to encourage creative writing and improved communication and language skills.
I created this comic strip using Pixton. I found Pixton to be the most complex to use but with the greatest variety of options. I would use this tool with middle school and high school students due to the complexity. I would also use it to create autobiographies, to encourage creative writing or to tie in with daily themes such as the news or vocabulary.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=22883614C1444871
The link above will take you to the third and final comic strip I created. I created this one using makebeliefscomix. This particular tool is very basic and has limited options. It is a great place to start and to get some practice.
Overall, ToonDoo is my favorite tool in this category. I will be using it in my classroom and hopefully some day in my library. I had a ton of fun playing around with these tools. I would definitely encourage students to use them. I plan on using this tool with a special needs child and will use it in the future to encourage creative writing and improved communication and language skills.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Online Book Communities
I recently explored five online book communities. Prior to doing so,
I had no idea they existed. I explored and created accounts for
Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, Booklikes and Biblionasium. Online
book communities are certainly a good way to find the type of books you
may be interested in reading. Some are easier to use but all of them
take time to build up. They are also a good place to get book
recommendations. I didn't like that it takes a while at first to search
books but once you get the hang of it it's fairly simple. All of them
make it simple for you to connect with friends and others through
Twitter or Facebook.
The first one I explored was Goodreads. It is fairly easy to use but it is a bit busy for my taste. I enjoyed the easy access to reviews and how quickly I could locate books. I also liked the recommendations section. I didn't like the ads. Here is a screenshot of my profile page. Creating bookshelves was simple to do but you have to have to chose whether to duplicate books.
I set up an account on LibraryThing. It was also easy to use and I liked the instant recent recommendations. Every time you type in a title it recommends similar books. This can come in handy when you are having a hard time finding a book or you simply want something similar. It can also be annoying when you just want to add your books. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
The next account I created was on Shelfari. I loved that I could choose the kind of shelf I wanted. That gave it a more personal touch. You can create a blog called Shelfari blog and that is an interesting option. I also liked that the ratings are easy to see and include stars so that you can easily rate the books you have read. Shelfari was my second favorite online book community. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
Then I created an account on Booklikes. It was my least favorite online book community. It was not that easy to use and it was not visually appealing. I enjoy color so the brown was not working for me. I also did not like the way the shelves are displayed. I did like that there are many options and giveaways. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
My favorite online book community is Biblionasium. I love that it is a protected social network and that kids are able to setup virtual bookshelves and track their reading. They can recommend their favorite books to friends. It is also the most pleasing to the eye. I think my students at the elementary level would prefer this particular online book community. I like that it is colorful and user friendly. I'm super excited about sharing this with other educators and parents.
Here
is a screenshot of my profile page.
The first one I explored was Goodreads. It is fairly easy to use but it is a bit busy for my taste. I enjoyed the easy access to reviews and how quickly I could locate books. I also liked the recommendations section. I didn't like the ads. Here is a screenshot of my profile page. Creating bookshelves was simple to do but you have to have to chose whether to duplicate books.
I set up an account on LibraryThing. It was also easy to use and I liked the instant recent recommendations. Every time you type in a title it recommends similar books. This can come in handy when you are having a hard time finding a book or you simply want something similar. It can also be annoying when you just want to add your books. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
The next account I created was on Shelfari. I loved that I could choose the kind of shelf I wanted. That gave it a more personal touch. You can create a blog called Shelfari blog and that is an interesting option. I also liked that the ratings are easy to see and include stars so that you can easily rate the books you have read. Shelfari was my second favorite online book community. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
Then I created an account on Booklikes. It was my least favorite online book community. It was not that easy to use and it was not visually appealing. I enjoy color so the brown was not working for me. I also did not like the way the shelves are displayed. I did like that there are many options and giveaways. Here is a screenshot of my profile page.
My favorite online book community is Biblionasium. I love that it is a protected social network and that kids are able to setup virtual bookshelves and track their reading. They can recommend their favorite books to friends. It is also the most pleasing to the eye. I think my students at the elementary level would prefer this particular online book community. I like that it is colorful and user friendly. I'm super excited about sharing this with other educators and parents.
Here
Friday, October 17, 2014
Podcast
A Podcast is online audio content that is delivered via a RSS Feed. The listener can decide when to listen to the audio file. I was first introduced to Podcasting as part of the Tech 21 program at Brownsville ISD back in 2010. As teachers, we were encouraged to teach our students to create Podcasts pertaining to any subject area. Podcasts can be used by students of all ages. Students can create book talks, projects, or record interviews just to mention a few. They can create a Podcast of a trip to a museum, an experiment, or debate. Podcasts can be used to teach "How to's" or to reinforce concepts. Teachers can use them as alternative assessments or to provide study guides. Library Media Specialists can use them for reading (storytelling), book promotions, to share school news or to increase community involvement. David R. Wetzel offers a variety of creative ways that Podcasts can be used in the classroom. You can use Soundcloud, Audioboo, Podomatic, Audacity or other options on the Web. I have used Soundcloud, Audacity and PodOmatic. They are all fairly easy to use. I created a Podcast on a contest we are having to promote literacy. Check it out!
Pumpkin Character Contest
Pumpkin Character Contest
Friday, October 3, 2014
Videos & QR Codes in the Library
Galypso Gilstrap
I found the video titled, NHS Library Orientation to be the most helpful. It provides the hours of operation as well as expectations, purpose, rules, etc. I also think the video that is best liked by students is the Norman High School Library Rocks video. It's short, direct and to the point. It lists the library resources.
The Unquiet Library:
The most helpful video was the one titled, Finding CC Licensed Images in Advanced Flickr Search. This video helps walk students through the process of searching for photos they can use without violating Copyright laws. There are several videos on selecting Creative Commons photos. I think the video they might like best is titled Make Your Mother Proud: Check out a Kindle @ The Unquiet Library. Again it got right to the point in a fun way.
Pikesvillehslibrary:
The most helpful video here is the one that provides a quick guide to the library, Snapshot of the Panther's Library. It gives the kids a quick overview of the library. The most popular video is the AVID Pimp My Binder 2012. It is an entertaining video on organization.
bbmsmedia's channel:
The most helpful video here is the BBMS Integration Poem. Students take turns discussing. The most liked video is the Harlem Shake @ Bonnie Branch Middle School. It's a fun and wacky video that depicts students in the library.
After watching all those YouTube videos, I decided to create a book trailer. As a librarian, I plan on creating videos to motivate students to visit the library and to take advantage of all the available resources. I also plan on creating book trailers to encourage them to visit the library frequently and to create their own. I chose the series, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy primarily because it is October and it's at a cute creepy level I can handle. Please check out my book trailer by scanning the QR code below.
Synopsis:
Meet Skulduggery Pleasant
Ace Detective
Snappy Dresser
Razor–tongued Wit
Crackerjack Sorcerer
and
Walking, Talking,
Fire-throwing Skeleton
—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.
These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.
The end of the world?
Over his dead body.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/284440.Skulduggery_Pleasant
Well, hopefully you had a chance to view my book trailer by scanning the QR code. After a little searching, I found that librarians and teachers are using these codes in their classroom. They are using them to provide students with access to library news, blogs and literacy resources. QR codes can be used for scavenger hunts, to access multimedia, for book reviews and to hear stories read aloud! I plan to use QR codes so that students can hear stories that are read aloud!
I leave you with my favorite YouTube video from bbmsmedia's channel:
Friday, September 26, 2014
Blogs & Blog Readers
After blogging for a few weeks and kind of getting the hang of it, I decided to search through several Blog Readers. I viewed Bloglovin', Feedly, Bloglines, NewsBlur, Digg Reader and Newsvibe. Blog Readers allow you to keep blogs that you have read organized and in one place so that you don't have to revisit the individual websites to view them. After registering, I searched all of the Blog Readers, I decided on my two top choices. My two favorites were Bloglovin' and Feedly. I found both fairly easy to use. It was easy to search, organize and save content. The organization of information was impressive and extensive. Bloglines, NewsBlur and Newsvibe were less appealing to me. NewsBlur and Feedly charge for their premium accounts. Feedly charges a $45 annual fee for the premium version so I decided to use Bloglovin' even though I found it easier to use Feedly. I chose to follow the following blogs:
http://schoollibrarylady.com/
I chose this blog because of the book reviews, book trailers and listing of resources. Among these, school library lady also shares links for avoiding plagiarism and for researching.
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production
This blog has lots of useful information including information on awards, news and resources from the School Library Journal.
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/
This blog was created to share the love of reading. They also announce winners of the Nerdy Book Club Award.
http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/
This blog shares award information, the use of physical space in the library, conference information and weekly book picks.
http://www.aasl.ala.org/aaslblog/
The AASL blog shares discussions, interviews, videos, collaboration and literacy awards.
http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/
This blog has some great resources including graphic organizers, lessons among other information.
All of the blogs above share large amounts of information pertaining to literacy and library science.
I signed up for a Tumblr account and here is the link:
http://lizramirez150.tumblr.com/
http://schoollibrarylady.com/
I chose this blog because of the book reviews, book trailers and listing of resources. Among these, school library lady also shares links for avoiding plagiarism and for researching.
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production
This blog has lots of useful information including information on awards, news and resources from the School Library Journal.
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/
This blog was created to share the love of reading. They also announce winners of the Nerdy Book Club Award.
http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/
This blog shares award information, the use of physical space in the library, conference information and weekly book picks.
http://www.aasl.ala.org/aaslblog/
The AASL blog shares discussions, interviews, videos, collaboration and literacy awards.
http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/
This blog has some great resources including graphic organizers, lessons among other information.
All of the blogs above share large amounts of information pertaining to literacy and library science.
I signed up for a Tumblr account and here is the link:
http://lizramirez150.tumblr.com/
Friday, September 19, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Today I will share some "tweets" that were posted by professionals in educational technology. Twitter, which is a free social networking service, has become a popular way for professionals to share. This week Linda Braun @lbraun2000 shared the following information.
These are just some examples of the benefits of using Twitter. Initially, I had my doubts but Twitter has slowly won me over. What a great way to get some great information out there.
RT @gigaom: Amazon launches KDP Kids, a tool to help authors self-publish illustrated books http://t.co/tLyjLBKXeF
— Linda W Braun (@lbraun2000) September 3, 2014
I was excited to read that the Kindle Kids' Book Creator software is available and can't wait to try it out. Another exciting "tweet" was shared by Tony Vincent +Tony Vincent informing us that his, My Story -Book Maker for Kids, is free right now and it won an award.
My Story - Book Maker for Kids is free right now. Combine text, drawings & photos. Web publish or iBook. http://t.co/80nDYBczF9 #iosedapp
— Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) September 5, 2014
The Daring Librarian +Gwyneth Jones posted a "tweet" sharing photography projects. See below to improve your creativity.
7 Photography Projects to Jumpstart your Creativity via the awesome @Edutech20 http://t.co/XD4ClQhWtK
— The Daring Librarian (@GwynethJones) August 31, 2014
Jim Lerman @jimlerman shared some easy to use tech tools for educators. Pinterest is one of my favorites!
- 10 More Easy Tech Tools That Every Educator Should Have Started Using Yesterday, Pt. 2 ~ Tech & Learning http://t.co/83p9cp5XtY
— Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) September 5, 2014
Kathy Schrock +Kathy Schrock "tweeted" steps for creating presentations using your ipad. I know that will come in handy.
@kathyschrock Happy day. I will be teaching this in Study Skills on Wed. #google
— Kem Opperman-Torres (@SraTorres) August 26, 2014
And last but not least on my list is Buffy Hamilton @ buffyjhamilton. She shares an article in Edtech Digest on the blended approach to teaching which involves digital and analog tools. I agree that a combination of both yields the best results.
Why Technology Isn’t The Only Answer: http://t.co/8e6beA6iRd via @edtechdigest
— Buffy J. Hamilton (@buffyjhamilton) September 5, 2014
These are just some examples of the benefits of using Twitter. Initially, I had my doubts but Twitter has slowly won me over. What a great way to get some great information out there.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Facebook Use
School libraries are using Facebook to communicate with parents, students and the community. They are able to upload pictures, share hours of operation and promote events at the school involving the library. Some pages included links to ALA and book awards. Other pages shared library highlights and student participation in the library. Some shared book reviews and suggested reading material for students. The pages I visited did not have many comments. The advantage to using Facebook is that it is easy to disseminate information and saves you time. Anyone with internet access can use Facebook and benefit from the information provided. The disadvantage is the lack of privacy. Too much information is available. Overall, I found the use of Facebook by school libraries to be advantageous.
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