Thing 16: You Pick!

I decided for "You Pick" to create an animoto video for Quarter 2, showcasing the things that happened in the library.

Making an animoto video each quarter is a great way to advocate for your library and to let others know what has been going on.

Here is the e-mail I sent to administrators, the BOE and my whole school:

Hi administrators, BOE and AMS,

 

Below is a link to a short animoto video that will update you on the classes and activities that happened during quarter 4 at the Algonquin Library.

http://animoto.com/play/pf2Sn4zWs1jb6Oit5Uu7dA

 

If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

Thank you,

Rebecca

Thing 15: App-palooza!

I decided to compare the Goodreads app with the Goodreads full version for App-palooza.  I have a Galaxy smartphone, so I was easily able to download the app.  We don't yet have an i-Pad, and my I-pod doesn't connect to the internet, so I'm able to compare the phone app with the full computer version.

As you can imagine, the app is much more limited than the full site.  On the app you can log in, read other's reviews and see their ratings, rate your own books and mark them as read or currently reading, as well as see and send messages, explore your friend's profiles and reading lists and view notifications.
However, I like that with the app, you can scan a bar code, and of course, on the full version on my laptop, I cannot do this.

I am glad I explored the Goodreads app and think it will be very useful when I've just read a book and want to quickly rate and enter the book as "read" or to look up a book we might want to read next for the book club.

This is a somewhat timely post, as I am on the Technology Committee for installing/creating policies around wi-fi in our district as well as creating policies around BYOD, (bring your own device).  BYOD policies will enable us to use apps with kids and for them to be able to use their own devices in the classroom, hopefully beginning one year from now.

Put a Library in Your Pocket is a great idea to kick off encouraging kids to install apps that connect them to their libraries, (school as well as public), wherever they go.  

I installed the EasyBib app and decided to give that a try.  We have been having problems this week with the full version of EasyBib.  Our school even pays for each student to have a subscription.  It has been doing all sorts of odd, glitchy things, about 5 different errors, to be clear.  After I downloaded the app, I can really see the value the kids would find it in, and it might be a back door way around the errors and glitches.  I love how the app can scan the barcode of your source, and kids would love the convenience of that too!  I was able to them email myself the citation, which kids could then copy and paste into Word to print.  I think I will tell the teachers about this app and perhaps kids might want to try it at home, (until we are wireless).  

I also installed the UHLS Public Library app to make looking up books easier and quicker.  I know that it's a free app but I found it annoying that at almost every step, a login prompt pops up, but it isn't needed to simply search for a book on the catalog.  Also, I tried to click on "Go to Standard View", but I kept having issues with this.  I wasn't able to see the standard view and I had to keep pressing Cancel on the login prompt or the back arrow.  Frustrating, and I never even got to see that the standard view looks like.

I see now that it's especially important to road tests these apps before they are recommended to students who may find them a frustrating experience.  I think Put a Library in Your Pocket would be a great way to kick off Open House, as the article you posted suggests!  I will have to work on that this spring and summer!

Thing 14: Social Reading & Book Stuff

I decided to explore Library Reads and a few other tools/articles, as I created an account for GoodReads for another "Thing" post.

http://libraryreads.org/

What a great and yet simple idea!  Having public librarians "nominate" just published books for adults, tallying the nominations and then showing a top ten list for the month.  

This idea has lots of possibilities for translation for use in schools.

Statistics could be examined to create a "most wanted" list of books at whatever level your school library is.  Or your list could be organized by genre, although, with 10 books, it may not need to be.  Students and/or teachers could write the book reviews.  You could also have a "guest reviewer" like the principal who reviews a particular book, not nominated.  

I have to say, I have also been enjoying using Good Reads.  I can't believe I didn't join sooner!

I read up a bit on social reading.  It makes sense that it would be the "next best thing".  Combining social networking apps and books seems like a natural fit.  You could easily host a Google hangout for a particular book.  

For the first time, I have my own classes this year.  We're reading Bystander by James Preller.  How cool it would be-if I could release the chapters we have already read in class and let students comment and annotate, leaving their initials and block.  Since my class is only 40 minutes, this would help bring the course outside of the school day, as time constraints are an issue.  If there wasn't enough time for students to share, this would be a much better way for them to share their thoughts.  Usually if time is an issue-I ask them to let me know what they wanted to say after class, but this isn't ideal, as it's either dismissal or my next class is coming in.  

I think the students would enjoy reading socially and being able to reply to each other and give their thoughts about the text.  I'm sure the author would find it interesting as well if they were able to peek in at reader's thoughts!

Additionally, it would also be fun for book clubs to use.  At my school I run a formal book club, with teachers that we hold for fun.  Not everyone is able to make it to all of our discussion meetings.  Social reading would help those who couldn't make it would be able to add their thoughts when they have time to.  Even if they weren't there, they could still feel like they were part of that book discussion.  

Reading about Kobo's app makes me think it would be a great reading incentive for kids, esp. the badge you can earn for your reading.  A platform like Subtext is like a "Pop Up Video" for books!  That might draw in even more readers if they knew they would get little bon mots from authors.

The article: A Taxonomy of Social Reading was interesting to read-to actually see how you could expand and collapse reader's comments, and how the last one was addressed to the author, and helped him to make a correction in his writing.  

I think I will figure out how to incorporate social reading into one of our book clubs!  What a way to connect kids with books through technology!

Thing 13: Media Skills

I decided I wanted to learn how to make a photo collage using my Mac, and learn how to take a screen shot.  I could do both of these things easily at work, but I didn't know how to do them at home.

I copied and pasted 3 photos of our cat Fern into Pages, and selected "floating" so I could move them around easily, and then I found out that there are many ways to capture a screen shot and save it.  I posted the photo to a facebook page: Home the Blind Wonder Cat and to my page as well.  Voila!  Accomplishment!  I have been wanted to test this for so long and today it just was the right time to explore it!  I guess this counts as something new to me...but also something I'm familiar with, (on a PC).  I have attached the photo.

I also decided to make a "Past and Present" photo.  I have never done this before, but the skills used in the above photo helped me do this.  Although I'm not standing in the same spot, you get the idea.  Here is my first attempt merging fall decorations and Christmas:

My second attempt came out better because it was easier to line up b/c I'm standing in pretty much the same spot.  We don't put presents under the tree until Christmas, making this past and present, (no pun intended):

I also made a meme using Quick Meme:

I also really enjoyed looking at the Pinterest site with ideas for photography class for students.  There were some amazing examples on there!

Oh-and when my husband needed some information about an account online, I just took a screenshot of it so I could mail it to him-so useful!

I could see using Quick Meme to make educational memes for class and for fun as well.  I could see students really enjoying making a "Past and Present" photo.  This was a great lesson.  Everyone should know how to make a screenshot and save it!  Thanks!

Thing 12: Social Learning & Learning Management Systems

I have never used a Learning Management System with my own students in school before.  But, the good thing is students are exposed to them already.  ELA and Social Studies teachers in grade 7 and 8 are just a few that use Edmodo or are interested in using a MOOC in class.  I could see using Edmodo with my 6th grade students, as our class is only a semester, every other day for 40 minutes.  Using Edmodo would be a great way to extend class time. 

Good Reads
Believe it or not, I've never created a Good Reads account, even though it's been popular for several years.

Within a few minutes of registering, a friend connected with me on Good Reads, which was helpful b/c it allowed me to see another dimension of the site, (to look at her books and see her recommendations, etc.).

I stumbled across a Summer Reading list for a specific school in Listopia.  This seems to be to have potential to be a great idea to use with kids.  You could make a Summer Reading book list, (but I think kids would have to make their own accounts first).  Students could rate the books and it could inform what future students would choose for Summer Reading.  For example, if you knew that Kevin really liked the same types of books you did, maybe you'd choose a Summer Reading book he read and liked.  The caveat is that kids have to be 13 or older, which may confine this idea to grade 8 and above.

Book club members could give abbreviated recommendations for those who missed the book club, or better yet-you could host a "virtual" book club where kids recommend books to each other online!

I really liked the book discussion feature.  I've noted that you should only open a discussion if you've read the book b/c there are spoilers.

I think it would be cool to use Good Reads with the Pleasure Read Book Club I run, beginning in January.  We could do a pilot of it and see how it goes.  I think the kids would really enjoy this!


Edutopia Community Groups
I also checked out the Edutopia Community Groups.  It's great that you can "eavesdrop" on the group discussions and decided which groups you want to join after you've read the posts.  I found the Literacy group discussions interesting.  The Classroom Management group was also very helpful, as I have my own students for the first time this year.

I wonder if other teachers know much about these discussion groups.  I thought it would be a good idea to perhaps email the teachers about them.  Maybe others know about them, and just need a reminder.

I'm so glad I made a Good Reads account and checked out Edutopia Community Groups-I look forward to using them more!

Thing 11: Mapping & Geolocation Tools

Thing 11's topic is timely, as I'm reading Bystander by James Preller with my 6th grade class, (a new course this year where we'll discuss bullying and do some technology projects).  We were reading a chapter in Bystander where Eric and his mom were at Jones Beach, and it also mentioned a hotel with large windows.  My students wanted to know exactly where the hotel and the beach were.  I told them maybe sometime we can go on Google Maps and look at it.  They were very excited to do this!

The first thing I did for Thing 11 was I added my vacation spot to the collaborative map, (Aruba), and made a comment about vacationing there.  I enjoyed seeing other's favorite spots as well.

I have used Google Maps before, but always felt like I was just bumbling around and guessing what different clicks would do.  Setting aside time to intentionally go in and look at the program, (and recent changes they have instituted), made a big difference in my understanding of how it all works.  With the tutorials from Daniel Demitri, I was able to do similar searches, pause the video and execute the same functions to better understand what Google Maps can do.

Yes, I do admit I got a bit held up looking at the block where I grew up, as well as peeking at New York, Chicago, Long Island, etc.  But that's what exploration is all about, right!?

I also tried out Google Earth.  One of our Technology teachers uses it with students.  I even had it installed on a few computers in the library, as students would need access to it, at times.

I downloaded it on my home computer, and it was very slow and it took a few seconds for each layer of images to show.  I decided to first see the Empire State Building.  I had to be patient because the program was slow going.  Then I started to have some issues, couldn't change what was in the search bar, hand instead of pointer so I couldn't click buttons.  I think I might need to try GE first at school....which requires a special download on my computer from the Technology staff.  For now, I'll show my students places from Bystander on Google Maps, which should be fairly reliable and fast to use live in class with them.

The MAP video in French was quite funny.  It reminded me a bit of what I show students in class-a PRO/CON chart for websites vs. books.  Some of the same ideas apply.  I sent the video to my brother who is a City Planner for the city of Richmond, I thought he would appreciate it.  I think I'll also send it to our technology teachers as well!

Cool Tools for Schools

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