My Final Reflection

This course has certainly been an interesting one! Opening each module was a little nerve wrecking as I didn’t know what was coming next. Each assignment exposed me to something new and interesting that can be implemented in the classroom for educational use.

I created an ebook that would give you a better idea of my experience in this class. I used the web app "Book Creator", it's awesome and very user friendly.

My Final Reflection

Click to read this book, made with Book Creator

https://read.bookcreator.com

RSS Feeders

This was the first assignment we had to post on our blog and let me tell you, I had never heard of a Feed Reader. I had to do a little research on what it was in order to know what I was about to learn. Feed readers are an awesome way to keep the blogs you follow all in one place. This is a great tool to use because you don’t have to waste time looking at everything separately, it’s all in one place. Great time saver!

Social Media

Social media can be used in so many ways. It is a part of many people’s lives and many schools are aware of this. That is why many schools and libraries have used this to their advantage and have joined the social media band wagon. They use social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twiitter  to inform parents and students of school events, news, and updates. The possibilities are endless when using social media in the correct way!

Infographics

I must say, when I started making my infographic, I felt a little overwhelmed. We were given the option to use three different web apps. I played around with Easelly, Infogram, and Piktochart and finally decided to stick with Infogram as I felt it offered more options of layouts and visual effects. As a rookie to all this, I felt like I needed to explore many layouts until I felt comfortable with one. Once I started my infographic, I felt like I was on a roll. I finished my project and felt so proud of myself. I believe infograhics are an awesome way to educate students about specific topics as they are easy to read and usually visually inviting.

Screencasts

Ok, so I had seen a screencast from a previous professor and I had wondered how they did it, to me it was so cool because it was cool to actually be guided through a process that I had no idea about. When it came to me actually creating one, it was a different story. Like everything else, once I started getting my feet wet and playing around with the different web apps I was like, “Ok, I can do this!” Screen casting is an awesome way to guide students and parents through assignments and processes they have never done before. Awesome way to get parents involved and familiarized with school websites and things students do online like use the school’s online catalog or search for school events.

Youtube, Animoto, and QR codes

Youtube-comparing different school youtube accounts was really interesting. Just to see how things flow and work in other schools kind of served as an eye opener as to how much can really be done when using one of the most famous internet websites…..Youtube. Kids are always watching, so why not use it as an educational advantage?

Animoto- I really enjoyed the process of making my own book trailer. Deciding how much information to put without giving the best parts away was hard but very fun! I believe book trailers can go a long way in the library as students are more in tune with technology. Book trailers are fun and exciting to watch, many students stick to certain genres and I strongly believe this will open the doors for many students and get them interested in other topics and book styles.

QR Codes- I would see these codes in stores, on items, online, and I would always wonder how they worked. Well, now I know and I am very glad I do. As educators, we all know time is limited and is not to be wasted. QR codes are awesome time savers as they take you directly to the point. Using QR codes in the library should be something librarians should implement in the library. Kids would love scanning these just for the pure curiosity of where they can lead. Book trailers, presentation, documents, you name it!

Cartoon and Comics

I think I had a little too much fun on this assignment. Creating cartoons and comics had me looking back at my previous teacher experiences and had a good laugh. As teachers we all know having a good laugh can lighten up any mood. I created a comic or cartoon using three different web apps Toondoo, Pixton, and Make Beleifs Comix. I enjoyed using Toondoo the most as if was a little less complicated, user friendly, and it offered more options while using the trial version. Who doesn’t like free right?

Podcasts

Creating a podcast was something I had done before in another course. It was a little nerve wrecking to record our voices as it was done it a group but we got over it and nailed it! Podcasts could be an essential tool in the library as it can serve students who have disabilities or who have not yet learned how to read. We used Podbean as our source and we absolutely loved the experience!

The assignment that excited me the most was creating the cartoons and comics. I had an awesome time laughing at my comics and at the comics my classmates created. The assignment that was most difficult for me to do was the Feed Reader assignment, it was out first assignment and I was way out of my comfort zone, but I was able to do it! Out of all the assignments, I believe screencasts will mostly benefit students as it serves as a guide for many things. A lot of students are too embarrassed to ask for help and having this available for them and parents as well.

Overall, I learned a lot from this class! I plan to implement everything I learned in my classroom and share this awesome information with my colleagues!

Podcasts

   All students learn differently, there are visual, tactile, and auditory learners... some even learn by combination of the three. As educators we must always look for ways to educate our students, though the lesson might be the same, we always have to ensure we deliver it as needed by them.

   For this assignment, my partner Karen Williams and myself, decided to conduct a research of collaborative lesson planning between teacher and librarian.  We were able to successfully collaborate ourselves and come up with this podcast on the topic using GarageBand.

 Creating a Podcast was actually very simple, you just have to make sure you are reading fluently at a regular pace and with the right tone. We don't want our listeners to fall asleep on us or NOT understand what we are saying🤣. We chose to work with GarageBand because the program itself made it simple enough for us to make the recording. The features simplified the process and made it a pleasurable experience.

Thanks again for listening and be sure to read the article The power of collaboration between school librarian and classroom teacher in the December issue of Teacher Librarian.  

Sources

Copeland, A., & Jacobs, L. (2017, December). The power of collaboration between school librarian and classroom teacher. Teacher Librarian 45(2).

Educational Podcasts for Kids

TUMBLE

tumblepodcast.com

Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, appropriate for any age

Tumble is a science podcast that shares the stories behind science discovery. It explores how science actually works as a process. With stories ranging from reaching the deepest part of the ocean to hunting for black holes in distant galaxies, Tumble is co-hosted by a science journalist and a teacher.

BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS

bookclubforkids.org

Age Range: Best for ages 9-14, appropriate for any age

In every episode of this podcast, a different group of kids discusses a young adult book. Each episode also features a celebrity reader and an interview with the book’s author.

THE SHOW ABOUT SCIENCE

soundcloud.com/the-show-about-science

Age Range: Best for ages 3-9, but fun for curious minds of any age!

This science interview show is hosted by 6-year-old Nate, and while it has some serious science chops, it’s also just plain adorable. Nate talks to scientists about everything from alligators to radiation to vultures, in his distinctly original interviewing style.

SHABAM!

shabamshow.com

Age Range: Best for ages 8-18, but entertaining for older ages as well

This fast-paced, quirky podcast uses fictional stories to teach listeners about science. It’s hosted by an emergency medicine physician, a science journalist, and a filmmaker. Season 1 tells the story of three kids who are separated from their parents during a zombie apocalypse.

BRAINS ON!

brainson.org

Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, but interesting to all curious minds

Each episode of this science podcast is co-hosted by a different kid, tackling their questions with interviews, fun segments, and the occasional musical number. Episodes cover a wide range of topics like carnivorous plants, interpreting dog and cat sounds, and life on other planets.

Cartoons and Comics

Cartoons and comics is something I always enjoyed looking at as a child. They don't take much of your time and they always put a smile on your face. Using cartoons and comics at the library is very much related to using graphic novels. We always have those students and teachers who always prefer to do visual learning. 





ToonDoo:

I was kind of skeptical at first but once I started the cartoon I started to have fun with it. Making an account was quite easy as well. My cartoon was made from personal experience, students seem so surprised when they find out I shop and eat food too. I was able to make the cartoon with in 30-45 minutes just because I was playing around with the options ToonDoo has. Even the options seem a little cartoony, the website might use a little updating but maybe that's just the way it is. When I finished, I saved the  cartoon and was able to embed it onto my blog quite easily. Thumbs up ToonDoo!

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

Pixton: I was able to make an account quite easily but it really didn't have much to offer with the trial version. It only let me use this dinosaur era option and I was able to make the best of it. Am I right? Making the comic was quite easy and simple, I would have liked to be able to play around with the options but there weren't many options to choose from. Overall, Pixton is acceptable but I did not enjoy using this program.

Make Beleifs Comix: though this website is easy to use, I did not like what it has to offer. The website itself has a odd vibe to it, I felt as if it was a virus waiting to happen. I was able to make the comic, but options offered were not what I would have liked. Characters were extremely quirky and made an odd combination.

    








    Overall, the comic generator I would prefer to use  is ToonDoo. I enjoyed making my comic and it was very easy to navigate around. Saving and sharing was easy as well. This is new to me so ToonDoo made me feel right at home! I look forward to using these comics and cartoons at the library, placing them around the library would be great, that way students can see them as they walk around. I would love to share these cartoons with my colleagues as we all always enjoy a little teacher humor. Days can be stressful for teachers and sometimes we need a breather, these will definitely do the trick. 

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

YouTube    

     YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the internet. People go to YouTube for fun, informational purposes, tutorials, movie and book trailers, and so much more. Because it is so popular, teachers, professors, and students have started uploading videos of their work at schools and colleges to better serve students, parents, other teachers, former alumni....you name it! When used creatively you can do wonders with YouTube and reach millions through the click of a button.

    Comparing different YouTube accounts was quite interesting. You get to see each school's style of how they do things which can help improve how you do things at your schools. Watching an awesome video motivates you and inspires to do the same for your students.

Norman High Library
This library's YouTube channel consists of 19 subscribers and I believe the reason this might be is because it's last updated video that was posted was 4 years ago. Keeping up and updating their channel with new videos would definitely boost their view ratings. Technology changes every day and students might need help with more modern technology than what is posted here.

Video students would like the best: Students love to get motivated and this video is cute and shows students throughout the library which is fun to watch.


Most Helpful: As an adult, even I have had difficulty navigating through EBSCOHost and this is extremely helpful as it guides you through the searching process.






The Unquiet Library
This YouTube channel consists of 161 followers and the most recent video was uploaded 6 years ago.
It had a lot of videos and I truly believe this YouTube channel could have thrived if the postings were to have been done more consistently.


Video students would like the best: 
I believe students would enjoy this video because it has student insight. Students usually always rely on what their friends have to say vs. what adults do. So students giving their input on particular topics, like gaming, will really help students explore and have a perception of their own.


Most helpful: this video would be most helpful as embedding videos was something I learned how to do while taking master's level courses. It would have been great if I had learned before that. Yet again, I don't remember YouTube being used back in highschool. So it's never too late to learn.




Pikesville High School Library

This YouTube channel has 32 subscribers and the last video to ever be uploaded was 4 years ago. The titles of the videos are not as clear as they should be. Clear, concise titles would give students a better preview of what the video consists of. Otherwise, they'll just scroll right by it.

Video students would like the best: 
Students learned about the history of "hip hop". They got to dress up and skype with hip hop artists. How exciting!



Most Helpful: Financial aid is something students have trouble filling out at times. Seniors need to make a lot of decisions and that can be quite overwhelming, so there's nothing like a video showing you exactly how to do so.




BBMSMedia
This channel is the one with the most subscribers which is 271 and it's not surprise as it is also the YouTube channel that is most updated. 

Students would like the best:
Who wouldn't enjoy a recap of the school year? 


Most Helpful: This video is awesome because it shows viewers how to create a book citation. Something most students in high school have yet to master.

Animoto

     This is just the best! I created a short book trailer with it and it was quick to get the hang of and easy to create the video. Especially since it was my first time. I see this being used by teachers in the classroom and by students for book projects or book reports in my library. This is a great way to get students interested in reading books. 

   It would be amazing if students could create book trailors for other students to see! They can motivate one another to read their favorite books. So many possibilities. This isn't just limited to book trailers, students can use Animoto to create trailers on places they have visited, would like to visit, or would like to promote

Mufaro's two daughters react in different ways to the King's search for a wife - one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. The king disguises himself to learn the true nature of both the girls and chooses Nyasha, the kind and generous daughter, to be the queen.

Steptoe, J. (1987). Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. New York: Scholastic.

QR Codes

    QR codes are short for "quick response" codes. In a classroom or during a professional development, the last thing we want is to waste valuable time, every second counts and with QR codes we will be able to do just that.

   I was able to download a QR app on my iPhone and it didn't take but a few seconds to create my own code. QR codes open up so many possibilities in the classroom and library

*Putting a QR code on an reading assignment would be a great idea, that way students can automatically download it onto their tablets or phones.

*Set up QR codes for library events, schedules, and newsletters so that they are scanned directly into student's, parent's, and teacher's digital calendars.

*Making book trailers and making QR codes so students can automatically scan and see them.

* When having a professional development, librarians have put a QR codes on any handouts teachers might need to read and that way they can download them onto their personal devices.

Screencasts

    A screencast is a video which can record any actions that are being done in a computer as well as yourself. It is an awesome tool for education as it takes it up a notch. Educators like ourselves can give instructions while also giving students a visual as to how exactly it is supposed to be done. I had never had the opportunity to do one and now I am glad I can. One of my professors, for a previous class, had used this program and I though it was just amazing! Screencasts are extremely helpful, especially if you are a visual learner. There are so many benefits when using a screencast not just for students, but for parents as well. Some parents might need extra help navigating through school websites or with homework assignments and this is the perfect tool to use as it personally guides the viewer through practically any process.

    For my first attempt at a creencast I chose to make an account with Screencast-O-Matic. I registered and was able to use it for free but it does offer more versions with more options. The free version was sufficient for this assignment as it gave a great amount of options to choose from as well. The limit is 15 minutes and that was more than I even needed. I did have to run the program through my computer but I did not have to download any software. I was able to pause and continue and that was great because I was interrupted several times but Screencast-O-Matic let me pause the video I was doing and continue as need be. Perfect for those who have little ones running around, we all know how many times we get interrupted in one day.



   For my second screencast, "Citing Your Sources" I opted to use Screencastify, which is awesome, because it is an extension of google. There are a few packages to choose from but I chose the free version, which gives you the ability to create 50 videos a month which is more than enough. It is extremely user friendly and a great tool to use. I love how it is associated with Google because I can save my videos on my google drive and manage them as I choose.
  The program is extremely user friendly, today is the first day I make my own screencasts and I really enjoyed the process.



   I was able to make two different screenscasts with two different programs and I have to say it was quite an experience. I had experienced several screen casts before in other classes but making my own was by far the best experience. As a teacher and future librarian,I believe Screencastify can serve many educational purposes in the classroom and in so many other ways as well. Both programs were great and extremely easy to use, but Screencastify would be the one I would prefer to use personally and professionally. I work in a school district where there are a lot of Spanish speaking parents who sometimes have trouble helping their children  with homework. I believe I can use screencasts to clarify topics and lessons for parents as well as students. Screencasts can also be used for professional development trainings for teachers as well, a lot of the programs and licenses that are bought for educational purposes are sometimes not used because teachers don't know how to use them. Oh the possibilities!

Infographics....take a walk on the visual side!

Eseally- though this website offered a lot of great features, I did not feel it had many user friendly features as Infogram. Making my first infographic chart was a big deal for me but unfortunately I did not feel this website guided me as well as Infogram and Piktochart.

Infogram- out of the three websites, this one is the one I felt was more user friendly especially for those who have never made their own infographic chart, like myself. I was able to maneuver around the website with no problem whatsoever. This website offered a great amount of templates without having to purchase the full program. Modifying them was easy and l enjoyed making my first of many infograohics.

Piktochart- when I made an account with Piktochart I realized it had very few options for those who didn’t plan to purchase the full program. Though the website looked very stimulating I wasn’t able to access many of the features that other websites offered without having to purchase the full program or a membership. 

Infographic Modern
Infogram