Week 11 - The Final Presentation

The assignment this week was to create a conference proposal using what we have learned this semester.  I chose resources for elementary school.  I had a good time making the presentation and I seriously think that I am going to submit it as a proposal for the VAASL Fall Conference (depending on what the professors think of it, of course!)

I am sad to see this course ending.  This was a class of discovery and I really enjoyed learning about all of the resources that are out there is cyberspace.

I would be remiss if I did not thank my classmates for their advice, suggestions, and comments throughout the summer.  I had a great partner for the video project and a great section of classmates to talk to every week.  I wish you all the best as you embark on your library careers!  

Week 10 - AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning

From the AASL website: http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-websites/2013

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) released a list of the best websites for teaching and learning. I spent some time looking at the sites.  There are some that are amazing for elementary students and libraries.

The first is Wonderopolis.  For some reason, I feel like I have mentioned this website somewhere before, but it is pretty cool.  The purpose of the site is to answer questions.  There is a wonder of the day (today's wonder is "What are Hors D'oeuvres?") that the students can explore.  There is a written description that the students can read or listen to.  There is a tab for more information, including pictures, links, and recipe ideas for this topic.  Another tab has a list of vocabulary words for the topic.  There is even a comprehension quiz.  It can be used in the classroom or library because there is a search feature to match the wonders to common core standards.  The students can explore the site during independent computer time in the classroom or use the site as a research tool in the library.

The next site that I found interesting is 19 Pencils.  It is sort of like Pinterest for teachers.  I was interested to see what it could do.  Unfortunately, the free option is a bit confusing and difficult to use.  I created a classroom page that I can pass on to my parents.  The site says it is an educational resource for educators and the opening page has three very interesting sites, however, the search feature is not limited to educational resources.  It is no easier than searching through Google.  I would prefer to just use Pinterest.  If I could ever figure it out, this site could be used to give parents online resources that they could use at home in an easy place.  The site would be added by the teacher or librarian and would fit the school population and curriculum.

The final site is Garbology.  This is a site to teach kids about where their waste should go.  There are resources and games for parents, teachers, and students.  In the For Teachers section, there are lesson plans, categorized by grade level that are very creative and get the kids thinking and moving.  The For Students section has fact sheets and activities to try at home.  The activities and fact sheets would need to be modified for younger children, but they could still participate.   There is also a section for activities for families.  The main part of the site is a game where students decide where the waste should go.  Once they make a choice, a video pops up to tell them a little more about their choice.  This would be a great resource for a difficult standard to show the students.  It is covered at every grade level and this site is a wonderful resource!

Week 9 - QR Codes

Robin Ashford (2010).  What is This - QR Code. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25095603@N07/5022258350/in/photolist-8DNord-9kxhMz-89QSaE-9B3ewk-8DVR34-djXE2s-crAYbb-7NQjpN-bycK1S-8rjjrC-9KUVs5-8Udtgv-8vvvmu-8vvvpW-8vvvgY-8vssie-8Ugys5-9KSKFg-8DNojw-8L8mqR-8Lbrnw-8L8nwH-9p77om-9uAn2g-8DYfwq-979zCS-976v3v-8UBCqb-9pFrzM-8Lbs9d-8Lbsvq-8L8nSZ-8LbrgU-8Lbsgj-8L8ncr-8LbrP1-8L8n52-7H9AgX-9cSbQu-9cP6GT-9cSbKA-ajshUG-ajshAQ-ajsh6L-ajpuen-9eiM83-8F69Sw-979zLN-7GEhME-bhJYeB-9kH2LP   

This week I have learned all about QR Codes. Now, for full disclosure, I don't have a Smart Phone or anything with an i in front of it that would read a QR code.  So, now you know.  But, I made one that links to this blog.  Now I can hand out business cards or flyers for parents that will send them right back here.

I used the I-Nigma to create this QR code.  It was really, really easy!  I could use this in the library to send kids to a website that tells them all about the time or event for a historical fiction display or to an author's website for an author study display.  I could post instructions through QR codes all around the library.  The possibilities are endless....if only my library had a device to read the codes.

I was even able to make a QR code that would talk.  I did it at QRVoice.  I could use this one to tell the kids little blurbs about books and displays in the library.

I love the idea of linking QR codes to book trailers!  What a great way to get kids excited about books!

Week 8 - Websites, Wikis, and Blogs (oh my!)

This week I got to explore the world of websites, wikis and blogs (oh my!)  {Note - if you are too young to understand the movie reference that I made right there, then please let me know.  I would be happy to introduce you to one of the cinematic greats and the book that goes along with it!}

The internet has been inundated with blogs, wikis, and websites.  Kids think that everything they read on Wikipedia is true.  There is a blog for everything you can think of - food, running, parenting - you name it!  There are even "professional" bloggers.  Websites make the world go round.  Families pick schools based on the school website.  I check websites frequently for information about people and places.

So, what's the difference and which is best for a school library?

WEBSITES are the "traditional" way to post on the web.  While there are "easy" ways to make a website with Google Sites or other website builders, it is still challenging to create a website.  They are useful and can help get the word out about the library, but a website is really a way to distribute information.  There is not much you can do to foster a conversation on a website.

WIKIS are the new kid on the block.  You may have heard of Wikipedia.  These are websites that can be changed by any user.  It's a collaboration, so any registered user can alter the content.  (Hence the reason why teachers and librarians are a little nervous about Wikipedia.  Students believe anything they read on the Internet, but if any registered user can make changes, the content may not be accurate.)  Libraries can use wikis just like websites or blogs.  It is a way to get information out to the users.

BLOGS are my personal favorite.  A blog is a shortened way to say web log.  The owner of the blog can post to the site, adding pictures and narrative or videos or sound to the site.  Anything that has HTML can be added.  There is a little more room for interaction with the users because readers can comment on blog posts.

Let's look a little more closely at  BLOGS.

According to Google, a blog is a web site on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis.  

Pros

• Easy to create
• Easy to maintain
• Works like a website - links can be added
• Allows for two way communication between the blog owner and users

Cons

• It costs money to buy domain space to a blog.  Most blogs have the host in the web address.
• Unless the site is extremely popular, it can be difficult to search for a blog.

Great Examples

• The Daring Librarian - http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/
• This blog is great because it is updated often and has a lot of information about technology for libraries.  The blog is a little busy for me - I prefer clean lines and white space (or blue space or anything that is not covered in print) but this blog has it all.  There is a link to Twitter.  There is a list of most popular blog posts.  Her library blog (http://daringlibrary.edublogs.org/) has some of the same information, but is a little less busy.
• Springston School Library Blog - http://springstonschoollibrary.blogspot.com/
• I love this this one is a blog disguised as a website.  There are headers with information about library procedures, links for reading, web resources, and resources for parents.  The blog is clean and easy to navigate.  Parents and students can use the blog as a 24 hour library.