As I look back over the semester of learning during this course, I can honestly say that I view it as one of the most beneficial of this degree program. Educational technology is a part of everything we do and, as librarians, we should constantly be on the lookout for new, creative, and innovative ways to incorporate technology into learning design.
Being technology literate is perhaps one of the most vital characteristics of a librarian in the 21st century. Being familiar with all forms of social media in this day and age is imperative as it is prevalent everywhere we look. Our students are going to dive into social media whether we are literate about its existence or not. To better serve our students, we should equip ourselves to educate them on constructive, positive ways to utilize social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs. All of these tools can be beneficial when channeled the correct way.
I found the websites used to generate infographics to be highly useful and relevant as well. I especially enjoyed seeing how one teacher share step by step how she taught students to wade through information and then condense it into a visually appealing product through the use of infographic creation. I can see this tool as something highly useful to integrate into a middle school research unit.
Screencasts, YouTube, and QR codes are mode incredibly useful tools with their place in the education world today. I definitely see myself utilizing Screencasts for teachers and students as a means of disseminating tutorials for new tech tools and beyond. Additionally, QR codes are a great way for people to be able to access videos and screencasts. I can also see a YouTube channel as being an optimal place to store Screencasts for future reference.
Though I did not much enjoy the comic creators, I can certainly see the value in finding meaningful ways to integrate them into the curriculum. Being able to breakdown a topic into a minimal number of comic squares and also turn it into something humorous truly pushes students to a higher level of understanding.
Finally, I enjoyed diving further into Podcasts. I believe incorporating Podcasts as a teaching and assessing tool could be highly valuable in the upper grades. Once students have heard a few beneficial podcasts and familiarized themselves with their formats, there is no reason why they shouldn't have podcast production as a choice for demonstrating mastery of learning over a given topic. I can also see this as a useful tool for book clubs to be able to create short book talks about books they have read and would like to review.
Overall, there is a beneficial place for every tool we learned about throughout the duration of this course in the library and also in the classroom. It is up to us as librarians to assess the needs of our specific student (and teacher!) populations as we determine which tools are going to best serve our current purpose. Additionally, we should serve a models of life long learning and continue to dream up ways to keep kids engaged and creating.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Monday, July 16, 2018
Podcasts
Listening and speaking skills are more crucial now than ever before. I have been an avid Podcast listener for a while now, but didn't actually realize just how many there or are available. I enjoy the short amounts of information without the distraction of images or videos - just the sound of someone's voice. Real talk. Podcasts have been around longer than most people realize, but their increasing popularity may be due to the ease of accessibility and variety of content available now. Podcast creators can reach a wide range of audiences all over the world. With the current focus on authentic audience as part of the learning process, podcasts are a useful educational tool! The information available to students via podcasts is expansive, but it should go beyond being only a consumer. Students can and should also contribute to the learning community through this 21st century tool.
Soundcloud
I have some experience with Soundcloud as a means of sharing audio for a variety of purposes with my church. The user is able to upload and/or record sounds. It's relatively user friendly, and I like that you have the option of making it public or private (accessible through a shared link). There is a schedule feature that could be helpful if you were interested in scheduling publication of future podcasts. I love any site that you can sign up for through your Google account, and Soundcloud offers this. The free option allows the user up to three hours of audio uploads. You can upgrade for $5 a month to increase this amount of storage. Podcast creation is as easy as uploading an audio file. It would be even better if this site had a direct record feature like the other two sites I evaluated. You can search for other users and topics within the program just like with other podcast services. The downside to using this at school is that the site also allows for searching music stations. I would prefer the students focus on creating podcasts or searching for relevant topics.
Audioboo
Audioboo is a free social podcasting platform with a 3 minute length limit. One great thing is that you only need to sign up if you want to keep track of or share your podcasts, otherwise there is no account required to simply use the site as a consumer. Sharing of your published podcasts can easily be done through Facebook or Twitter. This is an especially appealing feature because of how easy it makes for parents to be able to access podcasts. Titles, tags, and a photo can be added to the recording as well. One thing to be aware of is the ability to add a geotag, so I would ensure close monitoring so that students avoid doing this prior to uploading any of their own created content. Despite the ability to make the podcast private, the ability the geolocation issue would cause me to hesitate to consider this app as useful in school.
Podbean
PodBean is a podcast publishing service which offers both free and premium accounts. The free account enables you to create up to a 90 minute podcast. The user has the ability to customize the look of the podcast by choosing from a variety of theme. A customizable widget sidebar is even available. Users can browse by topic using the search feature and easily keep up with content of interest. The support option offers video tutorials and even put in a help ticket. I did not see this feature with the other apps.
I have already used this site several times and found it extremely user friendly every time. Your mp3 can be directly uploaded into the file manager and then imported directly to the site. Podbean also has phone app that can be downloaded and used to directly record your podcast. Podbean is my overall pick for most user friendly podcast service. With a simple, clean look, it is easy to navigate. Direct recording through the use of their app is also a huge plus.
I used Podbean to make this book talk podcast:
Using Podcasts in the Library
There are so many seamless ways to interweave with literacy. Here are some ideas I came across that I think would be engaging for the students:
Podcasts can also be a great tool for classroom organization. They can be used to catch up absent students by creating a podcast with what they missed and sharing the link with them. Class discussions can even be recorded to keep track of student understanding. An audio newsletter to the community could be sent out in podcast form and help to promote all the great things happening in the library.
The use of the app to record directly makes podcast creation so much faster and easier. This is the number one thing I would look for in a service. This eliminates the steps of having to record, download, then upload - which younger students might struggle with. The biggest hurdle in podcast creation would be ensuring student privacy.
Want to listen to some other podcasts?
To help you locate educational podcasts, most podcast services have search features that allow you to search by topic. Edutopia is also a great resource that offers a list of the top educational podcasts each year. Check out some great podcasts below!
Wow in the World - a podcast focused on science topics for kids
Book Club for Kids - book talks for kids
Brains On - a variety of topics offered that pique the curiosity of young learners
Soundcloud
I have some experience with Soundcloud as a means of sharing audio for a variety of purposes with my church. The user is able to upload and/or record sounds. It's relatively user friendly, and I like that you have the option of making it public or private (accessible through a shared link). There is a schedule feature that could be helpful if you were interested in scheduling publication of future podcasts. I love any site that you can sign up for through your Google account, and Soundcloud offers this. The free option allows the user up to three hours of audio uploads. You can upgrade for $5 a month to increase this amount of storage. Podcast creation is as easy as uploading an audio file. It would be even better if this site had a direct record feature like the other two sites I evaluated. You can search for other users and topics within the program just like with other podcast services. The downside to using this at school is that the site also allows for searching music stations. I would prefer the students focus on creating podcasts or searching for relevant topics.
Audioboo
Audioboo is a free social podcasting platform with a 3 minute length limit. One great thing is that you only need to sign up if you want to keep track of or share your podcasts, otherwise there is no account required to simply use the site as a consumer. Sharing of your published podcasts can easily be done through Facebook or Twitter. This is an especially appealing feature because of how easy it makes for parents to be able to access podcasts. Titles, tags, and a photo can be added to the recording as well. One thing to be aware of is the ability to add a geotag, so I would ensure close monitoring so that students avoid doing this prior to uploading any of their own created content. Despite the ability to make the podcast private, the ability the geolocation issue would cause me to hesitate to consider this app as useful in school.
Podbean
PodBean is a podcast publishing service which offers both free and premium accounts. The free account enables you to create up to a 90 minute podcast. The user has the ability to customize the look of the podcast by choosing from a variety of theme. A customizable widget sidebar is even available. Users can browse by topic using the search feature and easily keep up with content of interest. The support option offers video tutorials and even put in a help ticket. I did not see this feature with the other apps.
I have already used this site several times and found it extremely user friendly every time. Your mp3 can be directly uploaded into the file manager and then imported directly to the site. Podbean also has phone app that can be downloaded and used to directly record your podcast. Podbean is my overall pick for most user friendly podcast service. With a simple, clean look, it is easy to navigate. Direct recording through the use of their app is also a huge plus.
I used Podbean to make this book talk podcast:
Using Podcasts in the Library
There are so many seamless ways to interweave with literacy. Here are some ideas I came across that I think would be engaging for the students:
- Create a news source for their peers about upcoming events in the school and community
- Summarize books they've read to show understanding on key concepts
- Create tutorials explaining how to access resources in the library
- Using podcasts as a way to do book talks would be fun and informative
- Interview people from a different country and share information about various cultures to celebrate diversity
- Record and broadcast group discussions from book clubs
Podcasts can also be a great tool for classroom organization. They can be used to catch up absent students by creating a podcast with what they missed and sharing the link with them. Class discussions can even be recorded to keep track of student understanding. An audio newsletter to the community could be sent out in podcast form and help to promote all the great things happening in the library.
The use of the app to record directly makes podcast creation so much faster and easier. This is the number one thing I would look for in a service. This eliminates the steps of having to record, download, then upload - which younger students might struggle with. The biggest hurdle in podcast creation would be ensuring student privacy.
Want to listen to some other podcasts?
To help you locate educational podcasts, most podcast services have search features that allow you to search by topic. Edutopia is also a great resource that offers a list of the top educational podcasts each year. Check out some great podcasts below!
Wow in the World - a podcast focused on science topics for kids
Book Club for Kids - book talks for kids
Brains On - a variety of topics offered that pique the curiosity of young learners
Cartoons and Comics: Classroom and Library Application
There are several comic generator websites out there for exploration and a myriad of ways to utilize them in the classroom to increase engagement, supplement, and assess learning. Today we will visit three possible programs for use in the education world.
ToonDoo
Below is a comic I created using ToonDoo.
Pixton
Below is a comic I created using Pixton.
ToonDoo
Below is a comic I created using ToonDoo.
ToonDoo was very easy to use. I was surprised at how many options were available with the free account. There are a wide variety of characters, backgrounds, and additional props available for users to make the comics unique and exciting. Another feature I found beneficial is the ability to go back and edit your comic. This would be a great tool for students' writing. We encourage reflection and revision, so being able to continue making adjustments is extremely valuable. The variety of options for sharing such as directly uploading to social media sites, email, downloading as a png, and embedding the code are greatly beneficial as well.
One downfall I realized after a bit was that some of the options are hidden until you click the play button on the main screen. Additionally, after creating my comic, I struggled to find my way back to the main screen after saving my work. I even struggled locating the save button. I do think the site is student friendly, but this might be something that would be worth guiding the students on initially, or it could be solved by creating a screencast prior to the activity detailing each step.
Pixton
Below is a comic I created using Pixton.
A tutorial pops up when you first start working with this tool. I actually made the mistake of going through the tutorial after getting frustrated while creating my comic. I felt like there weren't very many options, but once I went through the tutorial I saw how many alternatives there were to help amp up the creativity. The user is able to change the facial expressions of the characters and even change their poses. Key word searches are also available for each step which makes this even easier. Older students could use this site independently. Some pre-made templates are available, but many features are not available without upgrading.
I was disappointed that I couldn't download my comic without upgrading my account. The option to upload to social media, use an embed code, or email are available.
Make Beliefs Comix
Below is a comic I created used Make Beliefs Comix about Teacher Brain - it's a real thing, y'all! For this site, you don't need to create an account.
I found myself frustrated with this site. It had far fewer options that the others and was very finicky when it came to moving or resizing anything in the pane. The character and background options were extremely limited causing me to have to change my comic idea several times because I couldn't find anything to fit with what I was envisioning. The only publishing options were to save (by creating an account), print, or email. There were no options to embed or share via social media.
Sharing with Teachers and Colleagues
There are countless ways to share ideas with other educators. Comics are highly engaging for learners of all ages - including teachers! Uploading them into newsletters is a great way to promote their use in the classroom while relaying important information at the same time. Sometimes just seeing an example can spark inspiration for a way to adapt in an individual's classroom. Another fun idea might be to upload a comic regularly to my library website just to share a laugh with students and colleagues. QR codes could be created for the comics and placed around the campus for everyone to access using their own device. I can see offering support for these tools for my fellow educators in helping them learn how to access and create using these tech tools.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Videos and QR Codes in the Library
With video programs ever increasing in popularity, we would be remiss not to seek out ways to integrate these resources into our instruction. YouTube, Animoto, and QR Codes all have a variety of educational uses and ways in which they can enhance learning for students and teachers.
YouTube
YouTube is most widely known for entertainment, but have a wealth of educational learning opportunities as well. There is a treasure trove of tutorial videos and online read-alouds, as well as the ability for students upload their own videos as evidence of learning. One great YouTube feature is the ability for users to follow their favorite channels in order to stay up to date when new content is published. I have seen teachers utilize their YouTube account to upload content tutorials for parents and students to access at home. It is also a great way to build and support a sense of community by uploading videos of school events and student work.
The biggest instructional benefits for YouTube include the ability for students to create tutorials for other students. In most recent updates, videos can even be made compatible for use with Google Cardboard, allowing students to experience them in virtual reality and 360 interactive views. Below are some great examples of great videos I found on library channels.
Channel: Calypso Gilstrap
I found the following video to be most helpful to students as they are guided through using the library website.
I felt the below video would be best liked by students because of its practical application to assignments they may be working on. Videos like this can help make digital projects be less overwhelming.
Channel: The Unquiet Library
This helpful video shows students how to upload their work into Slideshare. With the increase in digital classroom communities, this seems like an invaluable resource to help students become accustomed with online work submission.
The featuring of a fellow classmate and her published writing is sure to cause this video to be one of the most liked by students.
Channel: Pikesville HS Library
This video would very likely be counted among the most helpful as it walks students through how to obtain financial aid for college.
This video features how the Wii Party in the library will be fun for students, and as such would probably be most liked.
Channel: BBS Media
This video would be helpful for students as it walks them through digital resources.
With many students featured in this video, it is sure to have been a student favorite.
Animoto
Animoto is an edtech tool that allows for video creation. Students can customize their videos with different backgrounds, music, photos, videos, and text. Educators are even able to create a free account. Once they have received a code from Animoto, they are able to create student accounts and track videos the students make. There are lots of options available without even needing to upgrade to a paid account.
The Animoto blog is also linked and contains helpful tutorials for users to familiarize themselves with the site and how it works. Students could use this tool in the library to create book trailers or even news videos or commercials. Animoto could serve as a wonderful tool for summative learning assessment of a unit.
I enjoyed exploring Animoto and could definitely envision myself using this tool again in the middle school library. The most challenging aspect for me was the character limit on the slides including text. Below is a book trailer I made using Animoto.
Publisher's Synopsis: Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
QR Codes
Quick Response, or QR, codes are machine readable codes that house URL information. They are scannable and are used to provide quick access to information. The vast majority of digital devices have an app that can be downloaded to read these codes. Free sites are available for users to create their own codes.
Check out my QR code below to take you to my Fish in a Tree book trailer:
YouTube
YouTube is most widely known for entertainment, but have a wealth of educational learning opportunities as well. There is a treasure trove of tutorial videos and online read-alouds, as well as the ability for students upload their own videos as evidence of learning. One great YouTube feature is the ability for users to follow their favorite channels in order to stay up to date when new content is published. I have seen teachers utilize their YouTube account to upload content tutorials for parents and students to access at home. It is also a great way to build and support a sense of community by uploading videos of school events and student work.
The biggest instructional benefits for YouTube include the ability for students to create tutorials for other students. In most recent updates, videos can even be made compatible for use with Google Cardboard, allowing students to experience them in virtual reality and 360 interactive views. Below are some great examples of great videos I found on library channels.
Channel: Calypso Gilstrap
I found the following video to be most helpful to students as they are guided through using the library website.
I felt the below video would be best liked by students because of its practical application to assignments they may be working on. Videos like this can help make digital projects be less overwhelming.
Channel: The Unquiet Library
This helpful video shows students how to upload their work into Slideshare. With the increase in digital classroom communities, this seems like an invaluable resource to help students become accustomed with online work submission.
The featuring of a fellow classmate and her published writing is sure to cause this video to be one of the most liked by students.
Channel: Pikesville HS Library
This video would very likely be counted among the most helpful as it walks students through how to obtain financial aid for college.
This video features how the Wii Party in the library will be fun for students, and as such would probably be most liked.
Channel: BBS Media
This video would be helpful for students as it walks them through digital resources.
With many students featured in this video, it is sure to have been a student favorite.
Animoto
Animoto is an edtech tool that allows for video creation. Students can customize their videos with different backgrounds, music, photos, videos, and text. Educators are even able to create a free account. Once they have received a code from Animoto, they are able to create student accounts and track videos the students make. There are lots of options available without even needing to upgrade to a paid account.
The Animoto blog is also linked and contains helpful tutorials for users to familiarize themselves with the site and how it works. Students could use this tool in the library to create book trailers or even news videos or commercials. Animoto could serve as a wonderful tool for summative learning assessment of a unit.
I enjoyed exploring Animoto and could definitely envision myself using this tool again in the middle school library. The most challenging aspect for me was the character limit on the slides including text. Below is a book trailer I made using Animoto.
Publisher's Synopsis: Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
QR Codes
Quick Response, or QR, codes are machine readable codes that house URL information. They are scannable and are used to provide quick access to information. The vast majority of digital devices have an app that can be downloaded to read these codes. Free sites are available for users to create their own codes.
Check out my QR code below to take you to my Fish in a Tree book trailer:
QR codes can be used in the library in a variety of ways to enhance and support learning. We have utilized QR codes all over our building to give easy access to teacher websites, promote the library website, and promote school wide events. The codes then get posted in ares of the school that are highly trafficked by parents.
I have also used these when designing a scavenger hunt for my students. They can easily use the QR code rather than spend time trying to type in a web address. It is also a great tool for students to use when citing sources to provide a link for where they obtained their information.
Another great use for QR codes may include support for students struggling in reading or writing. They would be able to quickly access needed content for a given activity or assignment. I have also seen QR codes used similar to how I used them above, but for students to provide a link to an online product or project they have completed and are ready to publish or showcase.
The possibilities with QR codes are endless!
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Learning Through Social Connection: Instagram, Flipagram, & Screencastomatic
We have previously chatted about other forms of social media, but today I'd like to visit a few more.
Instagram
Instagram has proven to be both helpful and fun, both in my personal and professional life. Its a great way to share photos and brief captions. I can see some instances when Instagram could be used as a tool to promote learning through the use of photos for writing prompts or sharing of ideas. But I feel the greatest value in Instagram in the classroom is to create a stronger sense of community and promote all of the great things students are doing. Below you can see one example of how I have used Instagram to connect with my community by showcasing my students' talents outside of the classroom. Supporting the talents of my kiddos has always been important to me for it creates a strong relationship, and where there is great relationship there can be great learning!
Here is another example of how I have promoted student work and the things happening in my classroom through the use of Instagram. My students published a book, and this was their book release celebration.
Flipagram - Vigo Video
Of the three programs I explored today, Flipagram was my least favorite. Though I had heard of it before, I had not previously downloaded it. I quickly realized that the Flipagram app is not actually social media, but it appears as though it's replacement is Vigo Video. Flipagram can be used to create videos, but not share them. In my Vigo Video account, I uploaded a video of my students demonstrating Punctuation Ballet. This was a multi-sensory movement activity to help them remember how to correctly use quotation marks.
Screencastomatic
I have previously used Screencastify, and Screencastomatic is a very similar product. The below video demo of ideas for using Padlet is a little stilted, but you get the gist of how this product could be used to support learning of students or staff. I need a little more practice, and I would highly suggest the use of an outline or script before beginning a recording. This is a program that could be used to create tutorials for students and/or staff, or be used by students to demonstrate learning or create tutorials for one another.
Of all the forms of social media I spent time exploring today, I see the most educational value in Screencastomatic. It is flexible and can be used to share a variety of information in a variety of ways. I still Instagram as a great way for connecting as a learning community. But when evaluating based on the potential for educational contribution, Screencastomatic presents the largest variety of uses.
Instagram has proven to be both helpful and fun, both in my personal and professional life. Its a great way to share photos and brief captions. I can see some instances when Instagram could be used as a tool to promote learning through the use of photos for writing prompts or sharing of ideas. But I feel the greatest value in Instagram in the classroom is to create a stronger sense of community and promote all of the great things students are doing. Below you can see one example of how I have used Instagram to connect with my community by showcasing my students' talents outside of the classroom. Supporting the talents of my kiddos has always been important to me for it creates a strong relationship, and where there is great relationship there can be great learning!
Here is another example of how I have promoted student work and the things happening in my classroom through the use of Instagram. My students published a book, and this was their book release celebration.
Flipagram - Vigo Video
Of the three programs I explored today, Flipagram was my least favorite. Though I had heard of it before, I had not previously downloaded it. I quickly realized that the Flipagram app is not actually social media, but it appears as though it's replacement is Vigo Video. Flipagram can be used to create videos, but not share them. In my Vigo Video account, I uploaded a video of my students demonstrating Punctuation Ballet. This was a multi-sensory movement activity to help them remember how to correctly use quotation marks.
Screencastomatic
I have previously used Screencastify, and Screencastomatic is a very similar product. The below video demo of ideas for using Padlet is a little stilted, but you get the gist of how this product could be used to support learning of students or staff. I need a little more practice, and I would highly suggest the use of an outline or script before beginning a recording. This is a program that could be used to create tutorials for students and/or staff, or be used by students to demonstrate learning or create tutorials for one another.
Of all the forms of social media I spent time exploring today, I see the most educational value in Screencastomatic. It is flexible and can be used to share a variety of information in a variety of ways. I still Instagram as a great way for connecting as a learning community. But when evaluating based on the potential for educational contribution, Screencastomatic presents the largest variety of uses.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Graphics and Info and Data, Oh My!
In a digital age where we are almost constantly bombarded with information, presenting materials in a visually friendly format has become increasingly popular. Infographics abound as a way to condense information and make it more easily and quickly consumed by the reader. There are now multiple resources available to aid in the creation of infographics, so today we will visit just a few of them.
easel.ly - Easelly offers both free and paid versions of the program. I only have experience with the free version, but it appears the paid version would grant the user access to a greater number of templates, individual graphics (for use on the templates), and fonts. However with the free version there are still innumerable possibilities for what can be created. The user has a choice of using already formatted backgrounds/templates or beginning with a completely blank slate. For those more experienced with the creation of visuals, the paid version would come in handy here. When creating from a blank slate there are ten total backgrounds to choose from outside of creating your own original background. The only time I got a little frustrated with easelly was when trying to rearrange smaller graphics or text. It seemed at though it would skip to the next space, jumping over where I actually wanted it to go.
infogr.am - The Infogram project designer had many pros and cons at first glance. The first thing I noticed were the number of options, but I also immediately took note that there were no options for beginning with a totally blank slate. I knew I wanted to toy around with developing an infograhpic, but I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go initially, so the lack of a blank choice felt restrictive to me. However the templates that are offered by Infogram would be highly valuable for anyone working on projects for publication on a social media platform. The layouts offered on this site have specific formats to fit Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. There is even an option to design an email header. I could definitely see the benefits these tools would offer from a business standpoint.
Piktochart - At first glance I wasn't as impressed with Piktochart. There are eight templates to choose from in the free version, or you can begin with a blank one. Within the blank templates the user does have the flexibility to pick one that closely resembles the article or information being presented. From there it is customize-able so that it will match the information or article being presented. It was user friendly with text and graphics that were easily moved and resized. Piktochart is the program I used to create the graphic presented below due to the ease of matching a ready made template to the article I read. Overall, I preferred the visual organization and user friendly mechanisms of Piktochart over the other two programs I experimented with.
All of the above programs offer a variety of strengths and weaknesses, and any could easily be utilized by teachers or students. Which one you may choose would essentially boil down to the specific project you are working on coupled with your personal preference on the site tools, templates, and visual organization.
easel.ly - Easelly offers both free and paid versions of the program. I only have experience with the free version, but it appears the paid version would grant the user access to a greater number of templates, individual graphics (for use on the templates), and fonts. However with the free version there are still innumerable possibilities for what can be created. The user has a choice of using already formatted backgrounds/templates or beginning with a completely blank slate. For those more experienced with the creation of visuals, the paid version would come in handy here. When creating from a blank slate there are ten total backgrounds to choose from outside of creating your own original background. The only time I got a little frustrated with easelly was when trying to rearrange smaller graphics or text. It seemed at though it would skip to the next space, jumping over where I actually wanted it to go.
infogr.am - The Infogram project designer had many pros and cons at first glance. The first thing I noticed were the number of options, but I also immediately took note that there were no options for beginning with a totally blank slate. I knew I wanted to toy around with developing an infograhpic, but I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go initially, so the lack of a blank choice felt restrictive to me. However the templates that are offered by Infogram would be highly valuable for anyone working on projects for publication on a social media platform. The layouts offered on this site have specific formats to fit Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. There is even an option to design an email header. I could definitely see the benefits these tools would offer from a business standpoint.
Piktochart - At first glance I wasn't as impressed with Piktochart. There are eight templates to choose from in the free version, or you can begin with a blank one. Within the blank templates the user does have the flexibility to pick one that closely resembles the article or information being presented. From there it is customize-able so that it will match the information or article being presented. It was user friendly with text and graphics that were easily moved and resized. Piktochart is the program I used to create the graphic presented below due to the ease of matching a ready made template to the article I read. Overall, I preferred the visual organization and user friendly mechanisms of Piktochart over the other two programs I experimented with.
All of the above programs offer a variety of strengths and weaknesses, and any could easily be utilized by teachers or students. Which one you may choose would essentially boil down to the specific project you are working on coupled with your personal preference on the site tools, templates, and visual organization.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Let's Get Social: The Role of Facebook and Twitter in the School Library
The introduction of social media has completely changed society. I have often thought that I can't imagine how different my school experience would have been had social media come on the scene sooner. With platforms like Facebook and Twitter so prevalent, it's no surprise that schools and school libraries are using them as ways to connect - both with a PLN (professional learning network) and with families and students.
In the world of school libraries on Facebook, this platform is utilized mostly to share upcoming events such as book fair or summer reading programs. This is an easy way to communicate information about library happenings to parents, but it does not appear to be updated quite as frequently or contain many comments/interaction with viewers. If you are looking to interact and connect with the users of your library, your students, Facebook may not be the best way to go. If you're looking for a simple way to share information with families, Facebook is the simplest way to go.
More recently, the Twitter space has really exploded on the education scene. While it is often utilized by students and even parents, the major benefit of connecting on Twitter is to build a PLN. Educators in all roles are able to share ideas and collaborate globally like never before.
One advantage to Twitter is the amount of information that can be shared simply by clicking 'retweet.' Jim Lerman's account (@jimlerman) stood out to me immediately because so many of his Tweets contained helpful, eye catching graphics such as the one below sharing ideas for how to use QR codes in the classroom. There is always an article connected to the graphic, but by even stopping to read over the graphic new ideas can be born.
Another account containing of wealth of ideas is The Daring Librarian, Gwyneth Jones (@gwynethjones). Not only does she share articles linked through her Scoop.It, but she is a practicing librarian sharing pictures and ideas of her ideas in action. Below is a Tweet in which she shared the reading incentive she designed to promote building a community of readers in her school.
Overall it is best to evaluate what you will be using your social media platform for in order to determine which one best meets the needs of you, your library, and the population you serve. Make sure it's something you understand how to use and can commit to updating often. Social networking only works if you are - you guessed it - social! I personally find Twitter to be more useful as an educator because of its quick way to share ideas and simplicity in connecting with and growing a PLN.
In the world of school libraries on Facebook, this platform is utilized mostly to share upcoming events such as book fair or summer reading programs. This is an easy way to communicate information about library happenings to parents, but it does not appear to be updated quite as frequently or contain many comments/interaction with viewers. If you are looking to interact and connect with the users of your library, your students, Facebook may not be the best way to go. If you're looking for a simple way to share information with families, Facebook is the simplest way to go.
More recently, the Twitter space has really exploded on the education scene. While it is often utilized by students and even parents, the major benefit of connecting on Twitter is to build a PLN. Educators in all roles are able to share ideas and collaborate globally like never before.
One advantage to Twitter is the amount of information that can be shared simply by clicking 'retweet.' Jim Lerman's account (@jimlerman) stood out to me immediately because so many of his Tweets contained helpful, eye catching graphics such as the one below sharing ideas for how to use QR codes in the classroom. There is always an article connected to the graphic, but by even stopping to read over the graphic new ideas can be born.
Teachers Guide to Using QR Codes in Instruction via @custard_cottage https://t.co/EQ9GJiNYm2 pic.twitter.com/tfsOrPn1QG— Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) May 31, 2018
Congratulations Top 30 @hcpss_mhms VIP Key Readers! Please stop by and get your key! 🔑Will you borrow more next year? I hope so! ....... #TLChat @hcpsslibmed pic.twitter.com/ecbE20RTEf— Gwyneth Jones (@GwynethJones) June 6, 2018
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