Reflection on Summer 2021 LSSL 5391

 

Reflection

    While completing my last assignment for the Summer 2021 LSSL 5391 class I take a look back and share my thoughts on the applications we were encouraged to try and share. Reflection is a great tool in order to evaluate an experience and find benefits or challenges.

Blog/Twitter Account

    In the start here module students were asked to create a blog and Twitter account. Students were asked to share the links on a Google Spreadsheet where we could go back to share and comment on our classmates work. While reflecting, I realized I should have set aside a time each week after assignments were turned in (added to our blogs) and comment and interact with classmates. It is helpful to see how classmates set up their blogs and how they present information. Some classmates clearly have more experience technology and applications, and they would be a great resource to use if the class had a discussion board available to discuss or ask each other questions about the assignments. 

Blogs and Blog Readers

    There are many people are really into reading blogs and using blog readers to keep track of the different blogs they may follow. I myself am not really into blogs and creating a blog reader was the end of the assignment for me as I have not gone back to the blog reader. 

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Infographics

    I found the infographics assignment very useful. I like the idea of creating an infographic as a teacher, librarian, or even at a student level. There were great applications available to use and creating the infographics was easy and self explanatory. 

Screencast

    Traditionally most teachers, educators, and librarians are not super comfortable with filming themselves or their lessons. After the 2020 pandemic and teaching virtually, in person, or in a hybrid situation teachers came out of the pandemic masters of technology and teaching. Many made lessons for their classes and even shared with other educators. Screencasts are a great tool which I'm sure many more teachers have added to their toolbelt. I made a Screencast-o-matic about a safari and safari animals for the summer school class I was teaching and the students loved it.

YouTube, Animoto, QR Codes

    I created my own YouTube channel during the 2020 pandemic and found it easy to record live lessons or taping my own lessons to show on Zoom and then upload to YouTube. Again great tool, especially when students were given technology and wireless connections. Animoto was a really fun tool to create a book review and is something great for students to use to showcase their understanding of a text. QR Codes are a game changer, what an easy way to share information with students, parents, and teachers. This is definitely something I can add in to share weekly information or other important information I can share. 

Comics

    Another great application for teachers and students to display learning in a new and interesting way. I actually had a hard time creating comics, but I could see someone who has a plethora of ideas and imagination really find a great use for comics. I think students would really enjoy this form of showcasing their learning. 

Podcasts

    Podcasts are super popular right now, I myself actually have a few podcasts on my list of favorites. This is a form of sharing in which the visual portions are not as important, but the words and thoughts are vital to sharing a successful podcast. 

Podcasts

 Podcasts

Podcasts are a great resource to record a lesson or ideas on a topic to share with faculty and students. Podcasts have gained traction and are quite popular and audiences continue to grow. Podcasts can be broken up into topics and listeners can search topics to find a podcast that may provide interest. There are many podcast application on the market but the three I reviewed are; SoundCloud, AudioBoom, and Anchor by Spotify. 

SoundCloud 

SoundCloud is a free application where the user can create any number of podcasts. Listeners can place your podcast on their playlist easily in order to share with other users. Users get limited upload time for their podcast and will not upload existing podcast episodes automatically. SoundCloud is still a great resource to create and share podcasts as well as music.

AudioBoom

There are many good aspects to use AudioBoom for a podcast. AudioBoom application has a great management for new or existing podcasts. It has some interesting features to create and distribute a podcast. A bonus to AudioBoom is the ability to manage more than one podcast at a time. There is the ability to publish 5 episodes per month. Of course AudioBoom has different levels of accounts and is priced accordingly.

Anchor by Spotify 

Anchor by Spotify is another starts out as free application with the ability to create a podcast. It is a beginner friendly application where content can be edited and arranged by episode. Podcasts can even be made by using a smart phone. I chose this application because of its ease of use and the ability for a beginning to create a podcast without breaking down in tears. 

Podcast: Librarian Tales

Comics

    A resource available to teachers and librarians to connect with students and to create context are application that create cartoons. Cartoons are visually appealing and a fun way to share and communicate information. It is important to look for applications which are user friendly and provide the content the user would like to create. Another look for is value in terms of having a free application or an application that may have a subscription or different levels of service depending on cost. There were several application to choose from, but the main comic application I tried were: ToonDoo, Pixton App, Make Beliefs Comics, and Storyboard That. 

ToonDoo

When going to the ToonDoo sight it states that the sight has been taken down due to a breach of its security and if anyone had an account with usernames or passwords of similarly used websites that they should update their usernames and passwords. 

Pixton App

Signing up for a Pixton app is as easy as using a Google account, Microsoft account, or a Facebook account. The account is free and is ready to use right after you put in your information of the account of your choice. The user can craft their own character or choose from dozens of premade characters. There are dozens of characteristics to choose from; hair style, hair color, body shape, eye color, eye shape, lip size, lip color, and many others. The cartoon is simple to make; first choose a background, second choose a character, and last choose type of text. You can then add more scenes and actions. I'd say this is very user friendly and definitely easy enough for students to use to showcase their learning. Unfortunately with the free version a user does not have the ability to download, print, or share the cartoon they created. I used screenshots of the comic to share. 

Make Beliefs Comix

In order to access using a free account the user needs to sign up with an email address. There are many speech bubbles, characters, objects, and backgrounds to choose from. All of the choices are accessible on a choice bar that you have to scroll through. You are not able to make your own character, so you have to choose cartoon looking characters choices given to you. There are four poses to choose from for each character. While it is not too difficult to build a cartoon, but I did not find this one as easy to use to create a comic. There was an option to save to a disk or even to email to yourself. Again, a screenshot seemed the easiest way to access the comic. This program reminded me of using WordStar in the 1990's when everyone else was using Word Perfect because it is what my dad had me use, much to my dislike. 

Storyboard That

Storyboard That is another free online application to use to create a comic. There are so many different backgrounds and characters to choose from. The menu is at the top of the page and goes through each part of a comic you may need. I was impressed the choices given, like when I chose a character I could choose facial expressions, arm and leg movements, as well and changing any and every color. There were loads of text and thought boxes to choose from the make the comic. Signing up for the service and starting a comic is quick and easy. A free account allows the user to save two free comics a month. Just like the other free applications you may gain access to more content and stronger abilities to create and share content. 

YouTube, Animoto, QR Codes

 YouTube, Animoto, QR Codes

    Librarians and teachers have many avenues to teach students and faculty, as well as communicate with stakeholders. YouTube is a great way to have lessons, blogs, and student reactions recorded for easy accessibility. Animoto is a free application in which teachers nd students can create a book trailer or a book review. What a great way to influence technology and learning. QR codes are a fast and easy way for people to access information you'd like them to have with just a click of a picture. Librarians have so many technological gadgets at their hands to communicate and create with students and parents and they should take advantage of which gadget or application works best for their program. 

The NHS Library

Video most helpful to students: English Guided inquiry

The English Guided Inquiry video is screen shots and labels of a lesson the English class completed. This is a great way for students to get a quick refresher on the lesson they have completed.

Video students would like the best: EBSCO host video

This is the EBSCO host video where the librarian goes step by step and shows students how to use the computer to look up information they may need. It is just long enough where students can skip quickly to find the step where they may need help.

The Unquiet Librarian

Video most helpful to students: Permission to Fail

It is okay to fail in the learning process and even in the teaching process. Give yourself permission to fail, take risks, and the learning process is still ongoing and evolving.

Video students would like the best: Student Blogger Sharing

A student givers her reflection on blogging. Not only will students hear from one of their own, it is relatable in student terms, and gives benefits in which students would appreciate.

Pikesville HS Library

Video most helpful to students: The Panthers' Library

Gives a quick and easy overview of what services the library offers at Pikesville HS.

Video students would like the best: Pimp My Binder

This is a student created piece in which a student needs help organizing her binder in order to be more successful at school. Written by students, recorded by students, and acted out by students. It will show the most important things other students should know about organization.

BBMS Media

Video most helpful to students: Star Wars Late Books

Made by students for students shows the importance of turning in books with a humorous student created video.

Video students would like the best: How to Cite a Website Tutorial

Gives students a step by step tutorial of how to cite a website when working on a project. Long enough for those who want to watch the entire process and learn and short enough for other students to scroll through and find the information they require. 

Animoto

Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes Book Trailer

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

by 

Eleanor Coerr,

 

Ronald Himler (Illustrations)

 4.08  ·   Rating details ·  23,464 ratings  ·  1,705 reviews

Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic--the star of her school's running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the "atom bomb disease," Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan.

Scan this QR code to see the book trailer for Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

    QR codes are quite handy and easy to use. Librarians can connect so many pieces of information to a QR code for the library patrons. Students and librarians can make book reports, book talks, new book covers, or even book movie trailers for students and parents to access. This is a great way for students to use technology and showcase their comprehension and reading skills from a text in which they have interacted. Librarians can use QR codes for newsletters, current events, or even to showcase new books to the library. 

Screencast

    As a teacher or librarian there may be times when you want to create content and share information in a smooth and meaningful way, especially if you are unable to be present when the lesson or information is shared. One type of application making it easy for teachers or librarians to share content in their own way is screen sharing applications. There are several available on the market, but here are two that I've tried out and can share with you my experience.

    Screencast-o-matic is a free app that can assist users in making screen shots and videos. Signing up is as simple as adding your email and a password or signing up through your google account. The opening page gave quick tutorials on how to capture screen shots and make videos. There are also reminder pop ups when you are going through the process of using the stem. I created a Google slide show to input my information for my presentation because Google is user friendly and saves on its own. I think we all know the pain of losing power, accidently hitting a wrong button, or a pet, child, or another person disturbing our work on the computer. I was able to create some of my own slides and incorporate screen shots of material I purchased on Teacherspayteachers.com to create my presentation on a safari. After I created the slide show I was able to run the slide show and record my voice with the information and save it to share on this blog, as well as my summer school class who happen to be studying safaris and safari animals this week. Overall, I found screencast-o-matic very user friendly and supportive of a novice user.

    Another application I have used to create video and share content is Zoom. While most individuals who were employed and working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, we were introduced to a meeting and video site called Zoom. Zoom has the ability to have many members meet at a single time, share screens, and make a recording that is easy to record and save. The Zoom recording is also very easy to upload for students and parents, as well as include on YouTube. You can record a lesson, or even share a Zoom that a student may have missed so they are able to review the meeting at a later time. 

    Safari Screencast-o-matic

Infographics

Infographics 

An infographic is a compelling way to share important information in an eye-catching and creative way. People tend to pay more attention to eye grabbing and simple infographics. There are several free web applications available to use to create an infographic, like Easelly, Piktochart, and Infogram. Here are critiques for some of these infographic creating applications.

Easel.ly

Easelly is a free online web application that creates infographics of whatever information you are interested in sharing. Easelly is user friendly with many choices like template, font, and colors. The tabs are set to the left and the page you are working on is shown with measurements surrounding. The menu choices on the left are easy to see and navigate. The infographic templates are bright, well organized, and very pleasing to the eye. This one is my favorite. I like the bright infographics and the pictures and text are easy to manipulate.

Piktochart.com

Piktochart is another free web application where you can create visual content in any form. The menu has choices for font, color, and templates. Some of the templates are more complicated with smaller and more bits of information. They promote it as so easy you do not need someone to help you use Piktochart for your creation.  It was relatively easy for a beginner to navigate.

Infogr.am

Infogram is a free online resource to create memorable charts, maps, and reports. There is an option to upgrade for a fee. When I started to investigate the web application it seemed pretty easy to read and navigate. There are templates to choose from, as well as fonts, graphics, color, and shapes. I found Infogram user friendly and had many options, even with the free version, for a user to create a product. The menu page seemed dark and boring, which did not catch my eye.

Infographic created on Easelly 

Sources

Weyer, M. & Casares, J.E. (2019). Pre-Kindergarten-Third Grade Literacy. National Conference of State Legislatures. https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/pre-kindergarten-third-grade-literacy.aspx.

Instagram, Facebook "Pages", and Twitter

In the age of technology a school librarian has many choices of how they will communicate with their patrons. Some of the most quick and current ways to communicate are using social media applications. There are several popular and readily available social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Choosing the application which best suits your needs is very important.

 Facebook

Facebook is how Bette Perot Elementary School's Library promotes live announcements done by students. They also used Facebook to promote their Scholastic Book Fair, Reading Bingo Blackout Program,  and the Kids' Mobile through KISD. Irma Mash Middle School Library shared pictures of 6th grade ELA students looking at student products from recent lessons, pictures of students who started a speed cube club, and a link to CommonLit.org to search for readings and activities related to snow. Roan Forest Elementary School Library used to remind students to return their books at the end of the school year and patrons of NEISD can combine their Sora account to San Antonio Public Library's Sora Collection. The ease of posting and following people or groups on Facebook seem pretty easy to navigate. The content can seem stale on your feed if no one posts any new content or you do not follow other people or groups. To be perfectly fair, I have used Facebook long enough to navigate easily. It is easy to end up in a worm hole and pull your way out later, but the feed can seem stale and repetitive. 

Twitter 

Following feeds of The American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Colby Sharp, and Paul W. Hankins on Twitter provides a current and insightful look into librarianship. ALA_booklist proveds a book review of the day , while Paul W. Hankins posted a book inspired by a teacher and crayons in a less formal style. Library Love Fest offers a look at staff suggestions for a August Library reads list.  Twitter provides an ability to follow many groups or people, as well as continue to provide current posts even with suggested feeds to follow. You can find information on the person or group you've followed, as well as click on other links which have been tagged . Twitter provides a quick and easy way to locate who you'd like to follow, seeing the most current posts, and it has a lively and eye catching format.

Follow my professional Twitter at @SummerLibrarian.

Instagram

Instagram is another social network librarians may use to communicate with their patrons. The ease of using a hashtag can send posts to those people and groups you may tag. It also allows quick videos and pictures. As a librarian you can update your information and make it available to patrons immediately. Librarians and teachers can also use Instragram to share art work, projects, and pictures of student activities with parents. There are a variety of projects students can create and share which allows some autonomy. As with any other social network it easy to be overcome with content and get sent away on long "field trips" when clicking on users links and other offered content.

Follow my professional Instagram at brandi.mayhall.

Overall, I'd say it is valuable for a school librarian to have a social network platform (or more than one) to communicate and share with parents. Parents and patrons can sign up for notifications anytime they'd wish. The other great aspect of using a social network to promote a school library is that everything is archived and patrons and the librarian can go back into and check information whenever they'd like. Some advice to librarians when setting up a socail media account for their school library is to ensure to use the program regulary and keep it relevant to reading and all of the students.