Final Reflection

I have enjoyed learning new technology resources that I can share with others. My goal in the library is to serve our digital natives and provide engaging resources they can benefit from. I also want to help encourage teachers to step out of their comfort zone and implement new technology in their classrooms.
The technology I enjoyed the most were the RSS Readers, infographics, screencasts, Animoto and podcasts. I love searching for new ideas and the RSS Readers, especially Digg Reader will definitely help me to organize and search the blogs I currently follow. Screencasts will be especially helpful when providing tutorials. Students will also benefit from this as well because students learn from each other as well. I love Animoto because it allows you to be creative when sharing information and it is set to music. I'm excited to create booktalks and share Animoto with students so they can create their own as well. I would also like to showcase library activities and share the learning that goes on. Students will also like podcasts and comics. I think podcasts will give them another outlet to share what they have learned or create a project and report on it without having to stand out in public and speak. Creating comics would also be beneficial to students to be able to share in a fun way. I have a lot of students who love reading graphic novels so this might be right up their alley to be able to create their own comic.
One thing about learning something new, there is a process and sometimes you don't catch on right away and that's okay. Initially I had a tough time with infographics and trying to figure out how to share the information but when I got over the fear of trying something new, the possibilities are endless!

Clark vs. Kozma Media Debate

The Clark vs. Kozma media debate focuses on media and whether it affects the learning process or is media just the vehicle for instruction. I agree with Kozma’s argument on how certain media can help achieve certain learning goals. It would depend on the type of media that is presented. I think I am more drawn to Kozma’s argument because of the question of how media affects learning. I agree it is important to take a deeper look into exploring the relationship between the two. I believe learning can occur in different ways and it does not come from just direct instruction. The way our technologies are advancing, media is influencing our students lives and we have to adjust our teaching practices accordingly. Our 21^st century students are digital natives and they do not learn in the same way and we need various methods to engage children in their learning. This reminds me of my daughter and her struggles in math and how her teacher has recognized that it’s going to take more to engage her so that she gains true understanding. I do believe media, in addition to her teacher’s instruction has helped her to become more successful in math. 

Podcasts

Podcasts are digital audio files that are available to downloaded to a computer or mobile device.  I began listening to podcasts when I had to create my own for an assignment last year. I have a podcast app on my phone and I listen to TED Radio Hour and Geek Fit. I explored three podcasts: Sound Cloud, Audioboom and Podomatic. With Audioboom and Sound Cloud, you have the option to upload an audio file or you can record directly from the site. I only saw the option to upload your audio file to Podomatic. You would just have to record your file and then upload that file to Podomatic.

I liked Sound Cloud the best. I signed up quickly using my google sign in and recorded directly from the site. Time is always a factor in the classroom and students would be able to create their podcast in a timely manner. Podcasts would be an excellent tool to use in the classroom/library to help motivate and engage students in their learning. Podcasts can be used to share new and upcoming books and offer technology tips. Students can use podcasts in the classroom/library to conduct interviews and create oral reports. Teachers can record lessons as a reference for future use. I found a blog on We Are Teachers and it has possible podcasting projects that can be done in the classroom, for example, creating a current events news cast and recording a podcast to send to another classroom in another state or country.

I thought it would be a good idea to share with students how you can share important facts about a topic that they have learned using one of the online databases.

Cartoons and Comics

I am exploring several different comic strip sites that can be used in the library and classroom.   Below you will find examples of comics that I created. I used the following sites: Toondo, Pixton, Make Belief Comics and Tellagami.

TOONDO

By sdroyal | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

-          It was very easy to sign up. I had to look around for a few minutes to see how to get started, but once I found the "Create" option.  I was ready to go! Once you choose your layout, you can click, drag and arrange however you like. Toondo has a lot of fun characters and backgrounds to choose from. I think students would be able to use this site with no problems.

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- PIXTON

The message box popped from Clive the creator popped up quickly that helped me to get started. I still had a hard time but once I found the “create” section, I was able to choose my layout and setting, After that, I was ready to create. It took me a little longer but once I played around, Pixton had a lot of options to choose from to help create an engaging comic. I also liked the beginning and advanced options. I think students are much more computer savvy that I am so I believe they could navigate through this website with no problem.

MAKE BELIEFS COMIX

There is no registration necessary for this site. Make sure you select the box you want to work in, otherwise you will add/delete objects to the wrong box. It took me some time and frustration to figure this out. You have to scroll through the different pictures to find the one you like. I liked the others better because you can see all your options. But there were a lot of fun characters to choose from. Your comics are not saved to this site, so you have to make sure you either print, save to a disk or email. I think if students already have there comic planned out, they can create easily through this site.

TELLAGAMI

Click here for my GAMI!

Tellagami is a little different because it allows you to create a narrated animation. I created a "Gami" using the book "The Adventures of Beekle". This sit was very easy to navigate through. You are able to choose your character, emotion and background. The options are limited, but they do get the job done. Then you add a 30 second narration. You can also add text. Once you decide on those options, you are ready to share! You can share by Facebook, Twitter, email or sms/text. This would be fun and easy for students to use. The added bonus is that they can record their own voice.

Cartoons and comics definitely have a place in the library! I would use them to create book talks for upcoming books. They can also be used to help promote library events. Students can also be given a chance to collaborate with others and create together. They can create their own book recommendations on books they think others should read. I am excited about providing teachers and students various means to motivate and enhance literacy learning.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

I explored Youtube videos, Animoto and QR codes. I am familiar with all three but this was my first time actually creating my own booktrailer using Animoto and generating a QR code for you to view it. This was fun and exciting because I have more ideas to help with my library to get the school community excited about what's happening in the library. For example, sharing new and upcoming books or sharing information that students need to know about research.

YouTube

NHS Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjpxzgZQkZM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEEvnsuHQZ0

The first video shares how to access the library website. It gives step by step directions and highlights special features to make it easy to search around. I also shared a fun video that students would love because of the upbeat music and it was about the Harry Potter Series.

The Unquiet Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XIMgryIYEo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_5t11aMd5Q

This library shared a lot of tutorial videos that will be helpful to students. I chose one that showed students how to locate copyright friendly photos. I also shared another video of a student sharing how she created mind maps.

Pikesville HS Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2z35rOwbLk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwoklsadBc4

I saw videos of teachers sharing information about their specific classes they taught. It would be helpful for students to know that information and match a name with a face for the class they will be taking. The students would also love watching videos shared by other students giving information on how to prepare for college.

BBMSMedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps8TUylUepQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jo1RLPoD6s

The first video I chose shares information about how to cite information and that would be helpful for students especially as they learn about how to research. Students would also love the parody's for overdue books. I thought that was a fun way to share with others that it's time to look for those overdue books and turn them in.

Animoto

Animoto is a service that allows you to create a slideshow using pictures and video clips. Animoto was very user-friendly and it had a brief tutorial before you got started creating your own. When you are ready to create, choose a video style and there are several free options to choose from. You can also pick from a selected list to play a song during your slideshow. From there you add pictures or videos you download. There is also an option to add text to your pictures/videos. Make sure your slideshow is in the order you want it played. You can preview your video and then share it for others to view!  I created a book trailer about the book The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. I chose this book because I did a book study with some of my students using this book. This would have been an excellent activity for my students to create a book trailer to share with other students to read.
                                        Scan the QR code below to view my book trailer.

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.

QR Codes

QR code is short for Quick Response code and this code can store a lot of information that can be pulled up using a tablet or cell phone. I chose the QR Code Generator QR Stuff to share my book trailer that is found above. It was very easy! My code was generated in 4 steps using this site. QR codes can definitely be used in the library!  As I researched more about the use of QR codes in the library, I found a Wiki called Library Success that listed a lot of additional great ideas. Here are a few ideas that I liked: use codes to direct patrons to contest information, use codes on bookmarks that highlight popular authors/books, post codes on bookshelves, posters and other print media to share book talks to help peak interest of books that are available and posting codes on popular books to recommend further reading.

Instagram, Vine, and Screencasts

 Instagram and Vine are two social media sites that allow you to share online with others through pictures and videos. On Instagram, you can post pictures and also share short clips of video. On Vine, you create short videos that loop. Instagram and Vine can both be used in the classroom and library. The We are Teachers blog post shares some very interesting ways that Instagram can be used. For example, showcase student work, share reading recommendations, and document student progress. I am very familiar with Instagram and have used it for personal use for years now.  I have a bookfair coming up so I think I will use this as a way to promote my event. I used Instagram to create a public service announcement to share with my students about getting a public library card. The picture shows my daughter when she received her library card. I also shared my enthusiasm of new books arriving in the library which happens to be my first official library purchase!

This was my first experience with Vine and I loved it! It allows you to be more creative since you only have about 6 seconds to share through video.  Vine can be used in the classroom to document your experiences with a project and also create fun book trailers. I used Vine to share Dr. Seuss books and show the book check out process.

Screencasts are digital recordings that show what is happening on a computer screen that you want others to view. In the world of education, students and teachers can use screencasts to share information. They can present content material to also be viewed at a later time for review. It can also be beneficial in a flipped classroom where students listen to a screencast at home for homework and then use class time to do further research or collaboration on difficult tasks.  I used Screencast-o-matic to share with patrons how to access the library catalog and ebooks. I would definitely suggest using this particular screencast because it was very user-friendly and I didn’t have to download anything. 

A photo posted by Stacey Royal (@sdroyal) on Mar 9, 2016 at 6:33pm PST

This is my first year as a librarian and this has been an overwhelming yet exciting year for me!

A photo posted by Stacey Royal (@sdroyal) on Mar 9, 2016 at 6:05pm PST

A photo posted by Stacey Royal (@sdroyal) on Mar 11, 2016 at 8:34am PST

Infographics

Infographics help to create a visual representation of real information. I am new to the world of infographics but I can see it useful for sharing data easier. There are three sites that you can use to create one. I looked at Piktochart, Easel.ly and Infogr.am. I decided to use Piktochart to show data from the Pew Research Center about social media usage. I chose this one because of the variety of themes/templates and the variety of icons and images. I think the hardest thing was deciding on a template because I wasn't comfortable venturing on my own and starting from scratch. I was able to navigate pretty easily through the site. I showed some statistics of the trends of different demographic groups, but I think I went a little crazy with the colors of the different graphs. I think next time I will try and stick with the same color scheme so that it will blend together. Below you will find my Piktochart infographic.

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