Final Reflections

As I look back on this course and everything I learned, I can’t help but to be extremely proud of myself.  Technology is not a strength of mine.  Feelings associated with technology for me would be anxiety, frustration, and even embarrassment.  Many people assume I am an expert with technology because of my age range, but somehow I missed that train growing up and never really recovered.  This course made me realize I can get out of my comfort zone and explore web apps that not only engage students, but assist in the learning process as well.  Of all the courses I have taken in this library program so far, I have discussed what I am learning in this class the most with my team of teachers on my campus.

 Here are some notes I have highlighted over what was learned in this course:

Blogs and Blog Readers:

I really enjoyed exploring different types of blog programs out there.  Reading blogs and blogging was not something I did on a normal basis.  I preferred other ways of reading information out there.  After creating a blog for this course, I realized how easy Blogger can be and how useful it is.  Now that I have created a blog, I view other blogs through a different lens.  I am constantly asking myself, “how did they embed that?” or “how can I do that to my blog?”.  I have a lot of room to grow with my blog but I am excited to say I will be using one for my classroom this school year!

Blog Readers is something I have had no experience with prior to this class.  I love the idea of having everything in one spot.  Anything to save me time is a win for me!

Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram:

These were the apps I was very scared of as a classroom teacher in today’s world.  I had heard way too many “horror stories” about teachers getting into trouble with these social media apps so I tried to stay away from them.  This course helped me see how these apps can help educators and school districts connect to students, families, and communities.  On the flipside, as a life long learner, I have really enjoyed connecting to resources to help me grow as a teacher through these apps. 

Infographics:

Why have I not been using these all this time?!  There are so many infographic web apps that students can use to produce what has been learned!  These web apps excited me the most because I loved learning about visual literacy and how pictures and texts communicate together like a dance. 

Screencasts:

I found the time spent on screencasts to be extremely beneficial.  It was not the most excited I’d ever been over a lesson, but I saw the benefits in screencasts and how they can be used in the library and classroom.  This is an app I can see myself using on a regular basis because it meets a practical need and is very easy to use and share. 

Cartoons and Comics:

This was an exciting unit for me as an educator because I can imagine how much my students would love to create and produce work using these fun web apps.  I was very glad to explore several cartoon creators.  Each one has it’s own list of pro’s and con’s that come along with the program.  Of all the web apps I explored in this class I think my students will be most excited to use these programs. 

YouTube, Animoto, and QR Codes:

What I loved most about this unit was learning creative ways to include YouTube channels and QR codes in the library.  The amount of views and likes the YouTube videos received in the school districts I reviewed was impressive. Not only were the videos created by the teachers and staff, but also by students!  This was my first time to upload a video on YouTube and it was easier than I though it would be.  I really like Animoto as a video creator and plan to use it again in my classroom and library.

Podcasts:

Confession time-I am one of those rare people that did not listen to podcasts until I had to create one in this program.  Now, I can’t get enough of them.  I am finding myself doing extra chores around the house just so I can listen to a podcast while I work.  On the creator side of podcasts is where I find it to be challenging.  I believe this will take practice and I think I need to become more comfortable with the programs.  In my library, I will have students create podcast once they have learned a program, for various reasons. 

For my Final Reflection Storyboard, I chose to go with Book Creator.  I have seen several of my classmates blog about this app or use it so I wanted to try it myself!

https://app.bookcreator.com/read/library/-Ll4n2MD_oDCdaBZqxIA/R8VhTSyM5zV7Tu5fOQTxitIh7123/OrWQNcBwQeOOwNgWnjLlxQ/4_Yhlqt9RM6_klcSLzYt_A?from=editor

Podcasts

I have noticed podcasts have become more of a topic of conversation.  People discuss recommended podcasts just as they do movies and Netflix shows.  Exposing students to being on the creator side of podcasts is a great way to engage learning and productivity.  Here are a few podcast web apps I explored:

Audioboom

I spent some time exploring Audioboom and found there is no free trial with this web app.  Users must pay the minimal fee of $9.99 a month for the basic package.  Users are able to import existing podcasts or create a new one within this app.  There are options to create social profiles for users with Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Wordpress.  I appreciate a podcast app that allows users to record in the app but did not like having to pay to use it with so many other sites offering free registration. 

Soundcloud

Soundcloud provides 180 minutes of storage with the free registration.  Users are able to listen to music with this web app as well as podcasts.  The homepage shows top playlists for users to browse through.  Users are also able to view how many listeners are interacting with their podcasts they have published.  I was not able to figure how to create a podcast in Soundcloud but it does allow users to upload an existing recording.  I liked this web app but was disappointed I could not use it to record a podcast. 

Podbean

Podbean has a free sign up with five hours of storage for managing.  After choosing a site name and registering, users are offered the upgraded packed which has unlimited storage and many other features.  You can customize your Podbean account with popular categories.  Users are able to browse podcasts to add to their library.  When creating/uploading a podcast, users will find it is easy and quick to upload to the app.  There, users can view followers and comments of listeners.  Overall this web app was user friendly and fun to explore.

Here is an example a colleague and I created using Podbean about the incline of graphic novels with todays readers.

“The Rise of Graphic Novels” created by Kristi Davis and Janet DeLaFuenta

https://www.podbean.com/media/player/su6x8-b83b02?from=usersite&vjs=1&skin=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=1

As a future librarian, I can see how using podcasts can benefit the library program.  Librarians can use podcasts to promote books and programs in the library.  Students can create and publish podcasts over literature they are reading or to highlight a genre in the library.  Librarians can encourage teachers to use this app in the classroom especially for fluency practice and for our English Language Learners.  

There are several podcasts for the educational audience.  

Truth for Teachers - is a podcast for the educator audience.  This podcast discusses the daily lives of teachers and is meant to encourage and inspire educators.

The Teachers Lounge - gives teachers insight on how to be a successful teacher.  Everything from supplies, classroom management, to dealing with parents, this podcast touches it all.

TEDTalk Education - audiences can hear from some of the brightest minds about all things education.

For more recommendations for podcasts for educators, visit:  https://www.teachaway.com/blog/11-teacher-podcasts-you-need-listen-right-now

Cartoons and Comics

Cartoons and comics are a great tool to use in the educational setting.  There has recently been a rise in graphic novels and comics with students.  Using comic strip creators is a great way to heighten student interest and engagement.  I explored a few comic strip creators including ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefs Comix.  I attempted to use Tellagami but it is not compatible with iPhones and appeared to be no longer available for iPads. 

ToonDoo:  http://www.toondoo.com/

The first program I tried was ToonDoo.  I could not believe how student friendly this program was!  Users are able to make cartoons, comic strips, and books.  The icons are kid friendly and visually pleasing.  Templates are offered to get a project going and there are several images in each category to chose from.  The user friendly toolbar allows you to manipulate images and text to fit the needs of each panel.  Naming your project and saving it is simple to do with the brightly colored icons.  This was my first time to use a comic strip creator and this program made it very easy to do.  I created a comic over a reoccurring nightmare I have about being at a track meet and falling before the finish line.  I believe students would have a lot of success using this program.  The visually rich pages are helpful for young students.  It seemed like one of those programs that students could start exploring, with a few starter guidelines, and be able to successfully create through self-exploration. 

Pixton:  https://www.pixton.com/

After spending a lot of time exploring Pixton, I have mixed emotions about how I feel about this program.  When I first signed up for a free trial, I selected “For Educators” expecting to find features of this program that would work great in the classroom.  After several frustrating minutes I discovered that this selection did not allow me to do what I really wanted to do….just make a comic strip.  I then went back to the main page and selected the other option of “For Students”.  I did not find this selection much more helpful and continued to run into road blocks in the program.  Some positives were I was able to create a fun avatar for a class.  There was also “Quick-Start” options that give students a direction for creating using hashtags to find images.  I did not see how I could incorporate this into curriculum.  As I closed out of the program I noticed in the top right hand corner of the website “Pixton Classic” and this is where the fun began for me!  After a quick start up for the free version, users are asked if they are creating for work, education, as a student, or just to have fun.  An easy to follow how-to video pops up for a tutorial of the program.  The program offers a search bar in each category so users can quickly find characters and images.  What I liked most about the program was once you chose a character, you are able to change the facial expressions and positions which gives users a lot of room for creativity in their comic strip without starting from scratch.  When you add a new panel, the characters automatically appear making it easier to begin manipulating them for the story line.  I had minor frustrations once I was finally in this part of the program.  For example, I had a difficult time directing the text bubbles the way I wanted and I could not figure out how to close out a panel if I decided I did not want to use it.  I am sure, like most programs, it just takes time to feel more comfortable.  My comic was easy to save after I chose to “Publish” it, however to be able to download the comic users must upgrade.  I believe students would find this program very interesting with all the options of facial expressions and body positions with characters. 

MakeBeliefsComix:  https://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

MakeBeliefsComix was easy and fun!  Users are able to create comics without registering for a free trial.  The toolbars are very kid-friendly with brightly colored icons and simple labels.  Users are able to create several panels in their comic with categories of  characters, masks, balloons and prompts, greeting cards, words, objects, backgrounds, and background colors to choose from.  Within each category, the images are limited and there is no search bar available.  Text bubbles of different sizes are offered but users must select the correct size for the space and word count or else it will not fit.  In order to save and edit your comics, users must sign up.  Considering this is a free program with no sign up, I felt it was overall a decent comic creator.  With the simplicity of the program and not as many image options, it may be a great starting point for younger students.

As a future librarian, I plan to share information and ideas about these comic strip creators.  Breakout sessions during staff development or creating a screencast to walk teachers through getting started with these programs is a great way to introduce teachers to something new.  I plan to inform teachers about the rise and interest of today's students with graphic novels and comics.  Not only do teachers need to know about these programs, they will want ideas on how to use them in the classroom.  Providing examples and time to collaborate will encourage use in the classroom.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

This week I spent some time exploring how videos and QR codes can be used the library.  I specifically worked with YouTube and Animoto which are both excellent video tools.

YouTube

I first explored YouTube and researched how school libraries are using this tool.  My focus was to look for videos that would be helpful to students and videos that the students would like the best.  These schools are using YouTube channels to reach students in their libraries:

Calypso Gilstrap:  Norman High School - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos

“How to use EBSCO Host” is a screencast by the librarian who shows students how to use this site to conduct research.  It had a high number of views which led me to believe student’s probably refer to it when needed.  The screencast is narrated and walks students through using EBSCO Host effectively.  With education’s high push for more research skills in the school system, I felt this video was extremely helpful to students.

"Norman Public Schools Celebrates Your Freedom to Read" is a powerful video showing teachers reading excerpts from frequently challenged or banned books from the past.  I believe this video would be very intriguing to students who would see books they love and grew up with, only to learn there may at one time have been a possibility of have never been allowed to read it.

The Unquiet Library:  Creekview High School - https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos

This YouTube channel has many videos to view.  The videos ranged from tutorial screencasts on how to do or use something the library offers, student reflections of programs and tools, and much more!  The video "How to Add a Web-Based Video", is one I found to be the most helpful to students had over 2 thousand views.  The channel offers many tutorials, but I thought this one would be a skill many students would need to know how to do and have a place to refer too.

"What Makes a Library a Library, Volume 1" is a video I thought students would like the best.  It had an impressive amount of views!  This video is of the students getting interviewed on what makes a library a library.  I think students would like to see their peers explaining the positive atmosphere the library has to offer.  It is also interesting to see how the "norms" of a library changing and evolving.

Pikesville High School Library - https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

This YouTube channel has several videos to view.  The video I found to be most helpful to students was "2013-2014 Registration Process".  Although it is out of date, the concept of creating a video that ALL students will need to refer to during a stressful process of registration is incredibly helpful.  The video walked students through the process, showed examples, and gave easy instructions to avoid confusion and future conflicts with scheduling.

"AVID Pimp My Binder 2012" was a very creative video with over 8 thousand views, and also sent a great message about organization.  The video is a copy cat of MTV's "Pimp My Ride" and mirrors many of the same aspects of the show.  The message sent is about organization and how important it is for student success.  I can see students getting excited to watch a video that mimicked a hot show.

bbmsmedia:  Bonnie Branch Middle School - https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos

This YouTube channel is full of helpful and VERY entertaining videos!  Many of the videos are parody's of famous songs, singers, or well-known commercials about library issues, mostly the issue of overdue books.  The video I found to be the most helpful for students was "Noodle Tools-How to make a website citation" because this is a skill many students are using and will need to use it correctly.

Selecting a video that students would like the best was a challenge on this channel.  The students created hilarious videos with themes ranging from Lady Gaga, the Old Spice commercial, Twilight, and even the Hunger Games.  I considered the most views for this decision and felt that the video reminding student to turn in library books with the song "Return Them, Maybe" would be the best selection considering it had over 3 thousand views.  The best part of the video was the end, where the students said the song will know be stuck in your head to help you remember to bring books back...and it's so true!

As a future librarian, I plan to use YouTube as a great tool to help support the library.  Making tutorials for students on how to use the resources the library has to offer is a great place for students to refer to with questions.  I love the ideas I came across while viewing these YouTube channels.  Student made videos that reflect on tools in the library and showcase what the library has to offer is a great way to involve students and to take ownership in advocating for the media center.  I can see how book trailers, interviews, and creative videos about the library can help aid the library to better support the school, students, staff, and community.

Animoto

Another video service I explored was Animoto.  I chose to create a book trailer using Animoto over "Mikey and the Dragons" by Jocko Willink.  Using Animoto for this first time user was fairly easy and the free trial offers many features.

Book Synopsis:
"Little Mikey is scared of everything.  He's certain there are creepy crawlies hidden under the rug.  He sleeps with his light on to keep the monsters at bay.  He's scared of sharks and snakes--even ladders and and slides--and it all makes him incredibly sad.  But, when he stumbles upon an old book that tells the tale of a young boy prince that volunteers to protect his king-less kingdom from hordes of dragons, there's a change Mikey might discover that his fears are not quite as big as they seem..." - Amazon

The QR code below will take you to the video I created using Animoto

QR Codes

QR codes are used all over the place including schools and libraries.  After researching how libraries are using this tool, I got some great ideas on how I can use them in the library.  I could use QR codes to provide access to special needs resources.  The uses for teachers and their curriculum is endless!  QR codes can be tied into outdoor education for P.E. and science teachers.  Concepts can be linked together through QR code thinking maps and timelines.  Spanish language audio services for translations can all be accessed through QR codes.  I personally love the idea of students scanning a QR code to preview a book their are considering checking out.

I was excited to see how much these tools can enhance a library program.  I can't wait to explore each one more and continue to find new ways to incorporate them in my library.

Resources

 Lamb, A., & Johnson, L. (2013). QR Codes in the School Library: A Dozen Practical Uses. Teacher Librarian, 40(3), 63–67. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.shsu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=85445403&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Enjoy!!!

Screencasts

Today I am going to talk about screencasts.  Screencasts can be very useful in the educational setting.  There are several free screencast apps to chose from depending on what you are wanting and needing from the application and how comfortable you feel the app is.  Here are two screencasts I recently explored with.

The first screencast I explored was Screencast-o-matic.  I have never used this program before but I had heard of a couple of teachers using it in another grade level.  Signing up for a free trial was quick and easy.  This program did require a download of the software used but it did not take long.  Short tutorial videos are offered for the many features and common questions for Screencast-o-matic.  I found these very beneficial because I was not at all familiar with the program.  After I view a couple of videos that were only about 2-3 minutes each, I felt ready and comfortable to explore the program.  Users are able to set the size of frame they would like to have the screencast show.  The option of a webcam is available or just the voice option.  What I liked about this application is I was able to pause and review my screencast before closing it out.  Users can trim their work, add background music, and even add captions for their users.  The free trial allows 15 minute videos and allows users to share their work through email, Google Classroom, Twitter, and Facebook.  Saving to Google Drive requires an upgrade.  I really liked the simple tool bar that appears at the bottom of the screen while in use.  Here is an example I made using Screencast-o-matic explaining to students what all the Library Media Center web page at Hajek Elementary has to offer.

The second screencast I explored was Screencastify.  I have had some experience with Screencastify but I have not had the time to truly explore all of the features this app has to offer.  I personally used Screencastify this year for only reason, and that was for students who received oral administration on assessments.  I would record the questions and answer choices on Screencastify and, because it automatically can download to your Google Drive, I would then share the screencast with students who received oral administration.  Screencastify has so much more to offer!  The simple set up is appealing to users.  Screencastify is used in the Chrome browser with an extension so no download is necessary.  Users have options of operating through a browser tab, desktop (which is the only one I have tried to record tests) and the use of a webcam.  The free trial allows user 50 videos a month each with 10 minutes of length.  The watermark will be visible on the video but it is not in the way of the viewer so I did not think that was a big deal.  The Premium package allows users to edit their work, there is no watermark, and they can make longer videos with no limit on the amount made.  Today, I made a screencast in the browser tab.  I was able to use the multiple tools available in the toolbar.  One problem I ran into was I wanted to switch back and forth between tabs on my computer and I was unable to do that with this program.  The extension would only work on one tab at a time.  Here is a screencast I made using Screencastify explaining to students the basic functions of Flipgrid.

After using both of these apps today, I found Screencastify easier to use.  I was able to download my video directly to my Google Drive which was the selling point for me.  I also found the extension in my Chrome browser more convenient to use as well. 

Both applications can be used for multiple reasons in the classroom.  Teachers would like to have videos uploaded for reoccurring questions or topics can provide a place for students to refer to when needing a refresher.  Teachers may also use both of these apps when they are absent and need a lesson taught.  I love the idea of providing a place for students to seek out answers to.  Screencasts allows students to be in charge of their own learning giving them a place of reference.  They also serve multiple learning styles.  I look forward to working more with screencasts in my classroom. 

Infographics

Infographics

I recently spent some time researching infographics.  Infographics are visual representations of information.  Many times this may be confused with a picture.  An infographic must be knowledgeable.  They can work in the classroom to grab students attention and to prep them for learning.  Creating infographics requires students to break down complex information which supports that 21^st Century skill of telling a story with data.  Anticipating what your audience will want to gain can be a challenge but may be made easier with an infographic webapp.  I researched three webapps, Easel.ly, Piktochart, and Infogr.am. 

I began with Piktochart.  Piktochart is the only one of the three that I had minimal previous experience with.  I honestly forgot I even used is several semesters ago but was able to see my work in my library once I logged in.  Piktochart offers infographics, presentations, posters, reports, and fliers.  Many templates are offered that are easily interchangeable (that’s what I did on that previous assignment).  The templates include timelines, step-by-step formats, and multiple design themes.  An “Inspire Me” option is available for users to get ideas to work from.  Once inside a project, users have many background options and images to insert.  You may upgrade to the Individual Pro or Pro Team.  The options available with free access is impressive however I would have liked to see the templates organized and offered by the function or structure of the infographic to help get your project started.  You may discover Piktochart at http://piktochart.com. 

I then explored Infogr.am and found it to have many similarities to Piktochart.  Infogr.am offers infographics, slides, reports, dashboards, and Facebook posts.  Templates are offered more so by function or structure to allow creators to begin projects with ease.  Once inside a project, many options of text formats, images, charts, and maps are available.  Upgrading will make more options available.  Starting a project from scratch with this webapp was a little overwhelming for me.  It took me some time to navigate through the tools but once I became more familiar with the program it was user friendly.  You may discover Infogr.am at http://infogr.am.

Last, I explored Easel.ly.  I decided to use this program to create my project for an assignment in order to really dig into this webapp and figure it out.  Easel.ly offered many templates that were well organized by function or structure.  This made beginning a project easy once I found a style that met the needs of the information I wanted to present.  Working in the template is made easy with labeled icons for the tools.  The layout of the program was very user friendly.  Once in a project, users will quickly learn the free trial does not offer many options.  Images has many categories but few options within.  Charts are available to insert but you must upgrade to insert saved images.  Upgrading allows more options for users.  You may discover Easel.ly at http://easel.ly. 

Here is an example I made using Easel.ly with the options available to users that were free.  I chose a template for comparing information.  The free trial does not allow users to download the image but it does offer a link to share.  

https://www.easel.ly/infographic/qjudwi

References

Anderson, M., Jiang, J., Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2019, January 07). Teens' Social Media Habits and

Experiences. Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/11/28/teens-social-media-habits-and-experiences/

Schulten, K. (2010, August 27). Teaching With Infographics | A Student Project Model. Retrieved June

28, 2019, from https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/teaching-with-infographics-a-student-project-model/

Malamed, C., Villar, M. A., & Malamed, C. (2018, January 23). ELC 010: How To Design Real (Not Fake)

Information Graphics. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from http://theelearningcoach.com/podcasts/10/

APA Citation Style Game

APA Citation Game:

It is important for librarians to provide references an to be able to assist others with giving credit to those whom they belong.  APA Citation is a format I must get more familiar with.  I recently played this APA Citation Game for extra practice.  Here is my final score!

You should give it a try!  http://www.citationgame.org/play.php?game=6

It took me a few attempts to reach the goal of 100%.  This game was excellent practice with books, book chapters, magazine articles, journal articles, and newspapers.  This exercise showed me I have a lot to work on before I become an expert in this area.