Final Reflection

This has been a fast semester!  It seemed like I was always busy learning new technology and coming up with neat activities to use all the new things I learned.

My experience with the new technology was not always smooth.  At the beginning of the semester, I had a lot of trouble with Blackboard on my new computer.  I learned that SHSU has an amazing technology team that can send Go To Assist and troubleshoot your computer remotely.  It turns out that I had something blocking Blackboard and the SHSU IT staff fixed it for me.

Computer problems aside, I did learn a lot about new applications and how to overcome my fear of trying new things.  I have never been much of a blogger. I have had Tumblr for a few years but  I really don't treat it as a blog like this one.  I just put fun stuff on there that I find other places.  I think Blogger is a splendid way to turn in work.  I would like to see it used it in the classroom, but our administration will remove the blocks first.

My favorite activity this semester was making comics.  My little boy loved it too!  We made some amusing comics together.  This kind of application would be very useful in the classroom.  Justin told me stories about the cartoons that he created on ComicBook!, which was his favorite.  It could easily be used as a springboard to writing.

The most difficult thing I did was create a screencast.  I worked and worked with the Sreenr app, and never got it to work.  I was frustrated with that, and I think I spent WAY too much time on it.  The other screencast apps I tried worked great.  I think knowing how to use Screencast-O-Matic will be very valuable as a librarian.  I can create lots of screencasts on research topics that the students can access as then need them.

I have learned so much about what is out there to make learning more interesting and fun for our students.  This has been a great class.  I learned so much so quickly! I think I will need to practice with some of these a lot more so I don't forget them.  Good thing I have my blog to refresh my memory!

What Kind of Library User are You?

As I was looking at the Pew Research Internet Project, I found a fun quiz.  What kind of Library User are You?  I couldn't resist - so I took the quiz! 

It asked questions like if I have visited a library, is one close, and general feelings about the public library.

This is what I found out.

I am an "Information Omnivore".  Interesting....

My level of library engagement was high and I am like 20% of the population.

I wanted to find out more about this research so I looked at the complete report. 

The quiz divided people into three major groups with two or three subgroups.  Here is a brief description of the groups.

High engagement

Library Lovers and Information Omnivores are people who value and utilize public libraries most.  They say that libraries play a major role in their own lives and in the lives of their families and think libraries improve their communities.  They are avid readers and think libraries encourage literacy and a love of reading.

Medium engagement

The Solid Center is the largest group. They mostly view libraries positively, but report their library use has declined in the past five years. They are one of the least likely groups to use library websites and say their library’s closing would have a major impact on their community. 

The Print Traditionalists read an average of 13 books in the past 12 months, and tend to value the traditional services libraries perform. They appreciate the role of libraries in communities. They feel that if the local library closed it would have a major impact on the community.

Low engagement:

The Not for Me group is made up of respondents who have used public libraries at some point in their lives, though few have done so recently. More than half say they know “not much” or “nothing at all” about the library services in their  area.

The Young and Restless group is relatively small and contains more young people than most other groups.   Many of them are relatively new to their communities.  Only 15% of its members say they know where the local library is.  Most of this group do have positive views of libraries overall though.

The Rooted and Roadblocked are longtime residents of their communities, but may face many potential hurdles in their lives.  It is the oldest group.  They have used libraries at some point in their lives, but only a third went in last 12 months.

Non-engagement (have never personally used a public library):

 Distant Admirers and Off the Grid have lower rates of library use and lack of familiarity with libraries.

The broad themes and major findings are:

·       30% of Americans are highly engaged with public libraries and 39% are in the medium engagement categories.

• Life stage and special circumstances are linked to increased library use and higher engagement with information.

I found this quiz fun and informative.  If you would like to take it, here is the link http://www.pewinternet.org/quiz/library-typology/

Have fun!

Zickuhr, K., Purcell, K., & Rainie, L. (2014, March 14). From Distant Admirers to Library Lovers - and Beyond. Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/03/PIP-Library-Typology-Report_031314.pdf

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Teens and Technology

I was looking at Pew Research Internet Project today and found an interesting presentation about teens and technology. This is from a presentation that Amanda Lenhart used when she spoke to a group of students at George Washington University.  In it she talks about how teens are using the internet, social media, and mobile phones in their daily lives.

This is a short overview of the presentation.  I think it is important for us to know what social media teens are using.  It is not just Facebook and Twitter anymore.

Teens and Computers

 

In this survey, 95%  of  teens  use  the  internet, 93%  of  teens  have  a  computer  or  access to  one, 71% say  the  computer they  use  most  often  is  shared  with family members, and 23%  of  teens  have  a  tablet  computer.

Many teens are using the internet on mobile devices.

• 78%  of  teens  have  a  cell  phone.
• 74% teens are “mobile  internet  users”  who access  the internet  on mobile  devices.  
• 37%  of  all  U.S.  teens  own  smartphones.

Texting  dominates  teens’  general  communication  choices.  

• 75%  of  all  teens  text.    

58%  of  all  teens  have downloaded  apps  to  their  cell phone  or  tablet  computer.

Teens  are using Facebook or Twitter, but are also using Instagram, YouTube, and Tumblr.  They like Snapchat and other ephemeral apps because they don't become part of the curated information about them online.

Social privacy is important to teens, and they devote a lot of time and energy to managing their network.

 

 

Lenhart, Amanda. "Teens & Technology." Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. N.p., 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 22 June 2014. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/25/teens-technology-understanding-the-digital-landscape/>.

 

 

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Screencasts

I have done some experimenting with screencasts.  I think this will work in the library.  I can envision setting this video up so that students can access it when they have questions.  The first one was made with Screencast-O-Matic.  It explains how to research using our EBSCOhost website.  I think I will be using this one this year in the library.

I do have to apologize.  Everything I uploaded seemed to come in HUGE!



I worked and worked to get make a video using Screenr.  I uninstalled Java, reinstalled Java and did everything I could think of to get it to work.  I still ended up with this...



I made a video using Explain a Website about our SHS Library site.

 

 

 

 

I created this video about using Overdrive on Jing.

 



As you can see, I have had some fun experimenting. There are lots of options when making a Screencast. I do have to say that the easiest one to use is Screencast-O-Matic.

Instagram and Vine

Hi Everyone,

I have some new ideas for us to use in our classrooms and library.
I started off with Vine.  Vine is a neat tool because you have to pack a lot of information into a short period of time.  Vine videos are limited to six seconds, so you have to plan ahead.  I think this is a great tool to use in the classroom.  Here is a cool idea for using Vine.  Have your students make a how-to video!  Students will have to plan out exactly what they want to do before they start taping.  I think it will be a different way to increase writing skills.
Here is my Vine.  We had to do ours in two videos.
This is Justin.  This summer he learned how to make his own breakfast.







Another neat tool that many of the students area already familiar with using is Instagram.  Here is an idea for using it in your classroom.  Have students take some Instagram photos at home to tell something about themselves the first week of school.  I chose to tell about my gardening hobby.
Here are my Instagram photos.  You can have them start out by adding captions to the photos and then later they can write narratives about them.


My Daylillies are in bloom I'm trying to grow something new. These are called cow horn chilies. And some healthy zucchini!

Online Book Communities

I have been investigating online book communities.  Online book communities are like social networking sites for book lovers. On all but Biblionasium you can connect with people who have similar tastes in books.  These communities are also great to use when you are looking for something new to read. 

Today I am going to review five of these communities - Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/), Booklikes (http://booklikes.com/), Library Thing (https://www.librarything.com/), Shelfari (http://www.shelfari.com/) and Biblionasuim (https://www.biblionasium.com). 

 I have been using Goodreads for about a year now, so I am most familiar with it.  Here is a screenshot of my profile.

 

I use Goodreads to organize the books I have read, are currently reading, intend to read and the books that are my favorites on my four shelves.  I can easily add shelves if I want to get more detailed in my organization. Goodreads allows me to connect with my friends through Facebook and Twitter.  I can also connect it to my Amazon account and add books through that.  There are discussion boards and trivia games that are sometimes fun.  The thing I like best is that I can read book reviews from people like me and see if the book I'm interested in reading is really something for me.  I like the way the book covers are displayed.  It is easy for me to go in and review books and move them from one shelf to another.

 

Here is a screen shot of my Booklikes profile. 

 

Booklikes looks a lot like a blog to me.  It opens to a dashboard that has postings from various people.  The reviews and blog entries that are on my dashboard are not connected to the kinds of books I put in, so they may or may not be of interest to me.  I did not find this site as easy to use as Goodreads.  I could not upload my favorite books and I ended up searching for each one individually.  One book that I wanted to add was not in the database, so I was out of luck on that one. 

 

My profile of Library Thing.

 

Library Thing was very easy to use.  I was able to upload my Amazon wish list to the site in bulk and then put the books on shelves.  I only have four shelves on this one too.  Moving the books and rating them was easy.  Library Thing website says that you can join the "world's largest book club" on it.  I understand that Library Thing will connect you to people that have cataloged the same books you have and it will also suggest what you might want to read next.  Another neat little feature is the "On This Day" section.   One drawback to this site is that it is free only up to 200 books - then it charges fees.

 Here is Shelfari.

 

Shelfari is by Amazon.com.  When I first logged into site with my Amazon account it took a very long time to load.  I was just about to give up on it and restart it when it finally opened. Since then, I have found myself "waiting on shelfari.com" periodically.  That aside, it was  easy to put the books that I have ordered from Amazon onto my shelf.  It was easy to organize my books and quick to go back and rate them.  To note them as favorites, all I needed to do was click the heart.  I like the way the site displays the book covers on the shelves.  It is makes it easy to find and rate the one I want.  You can connect with friends through Facebook and Twitter and find discussion groups.  Groups are easy to find via tabs under Community.

 This is Biblionasium.

 

Biblionasium is a secure site and the groups are closed.  To add books to the bookshelf, I had to type each title or author in individually.  If I wanted a series, I had to search and add each individual title.  Books are pretty much limited to the elementary and middle grades.  Although, while I was searching for Divergent, the author Diana Gabaldon showed up in the search!  I know she writes adult books, so I clicked on her name to see if she maybe had written a children's book I didn't know about.  No books were found.  On my quest for Divergent, I only found the audio version and no other titles in that series.  It did give me the option to add the titles.  I think this would be a good choice for a classroom teacher to make reading suggestions to students.

 In closing, I like Goodreads best.  Maybe it is because I am most comfortable with it because I have been using it for a while.  I use Goodreads regularly to see what my friends are reading and check reviews of books I am considering purchasing.   I did like Library Thing a lot, but I think it is possible that I will quickly reach 200 books and I don't want to pay for the service.  I did not like Shelfari as much as Goodreads or Library Thing.  I did not like Booklikes at all.  Biblonasium is good for teachers and students to connect, but I don't think it meets my needs.

Comic Books!

Hi Everyone!

I have been trying out some new tools that I am excited to share!  I made comic strips!  I looked at Tellagami, ComicBook!, ToonDoo, Pixton and MakeBeliefsComix.  I will show you my handiwork and give you a little review on each tool.

ToonDoo (www.toondoo.com)

This comic was easy to create in ToonDoo.  I made this one to attach to overdue notices. There are lots and lots of characters, backgrounds, colors and just about anything you would want or need to make fun cartoon messages for your students.  Students will have a good time with this as well.  It is easy enough for even young students to use.  Saving and editing are a breeze as well.  I liked using ToonDoo the best!



Pixton (www.pixton.com)

I thought it would be fun to try a comic strip as a writing prompt.

This comic was created with Pixton.  This program was also easy.  I selected a pre-made strip with the background already in place then chose characters and added dialogue.  You can change the character's expression and gestures so the options are almost limitless as to the cartoons you could create.  Comics are saved on the site and then you email yourself a link to it.  You can also print it, post it to social media sites and download it.  I think older students will enjoy making their own comics on Pixton.



Make Beliefs Comix Online (www.makebeliefscomix.com)

This comic strip was created on Make Beliefs Comix.  One benefit of using this site is that it does not require a log in, but it also won't save any work.  Comics were easy to create, but I did not like that I had to scroll through every single picture to get to the background and props that I wanted.  This might be something that teachers could use with students in the classroom if they intended to print the comic strips.


I bought the ComicBooks! app for my iPad.  I was "working" with it when my son noticed that I was making cartoons.  He thought it was a cool new game and he took it over.


Justin creating comics on ComicBook!






Here is his creation!  Evil Donuts!

This app uses existing pictures on your iPad to make cartoons.  We found some fun ones to experiment with.  Justin loves playing on ComicBook! It was quick to learn and easy to use.  We could also save his creations easily.  It's a keeper!


I also tried out Tellagami on the iPad.  One of the coolest things with this app is that you can use a photo as your background.  I took the iPad outside and made my recording.  If you would like to see it, here is the link:

https://tellagami.com/gami/U0QL4G/

It was fun and easy to do.  The only drawback is that you have to make purchases to change the avatar and get new backgrounds.

Creating comics was fun, and will be useful in the classroom.  I can't wait to show the teachers!