Tools I Am Excited to Use & Share
1. Screencasts: I loved learning about screencasts and found Screen-O-Matic easy to use, share, and it's free! This is something I have really wanted to learn about for a while. I think this is an important tool to use for teaching and sharing with others. Where I think this would be especially useful is with parents. There are so many different online forms and websites we want them to know about, so showing a screencast would be helpful to teach them how. For example, our district has online grades through Skyward. Many times parents have difficulty finding and using the site. I always get several emails at the beginning of the year from parents asking where to find the site and how to use it. If I made a screencast and then emailed it to all parents at the beginning of the year, then they would be informed. As a librarian, I can see so many ways to use this as well, from recordings for teachers on how to use a site or app, to parents, and students. One way to use screencast would be how to use the online library catalog. Or, show students how to use various databases. The screencasts could be placed onto the library website for students and parents to use.
2. Animoto: I have used Animoto in the past and was happy to revisit this great, free website! It is easy to use and create mini-videos to share with others. This would be great for book trailers and reviews, creative writing assignments, or a way for students to share new learning on a variety of subjects. I like the fact that photos and music can be selected from their library, so students do not have to worry about copyright issues. I highly recommend this one for both students and teachers to use.
3. ToonDoo: Students love comics and this site gives them a chance to make their own. It is easy to choose a variety of backgrounds, characters, clipart, and text. ToonDoo is free and students can create and share their comics with others. Students can use their creativity in a variety of ways. Other websites are Pixton and Make Belief Comix. These are also user-friendly cartoon makers that are free. Students would love to use these and I highly recommend this for all grade levels.
4. Twitter: I use Twitter everyday for both personal and professional information. Twitter lets you follow, comment, and interact with people from all over the world. Librarians and teachers can create Twitter chats where students can participate on a variety of topics. Teachers can post questions and students can comment on each question. It's a great way to collaborate with others. This would best be used for high school students. Teachers can interact and collaborate with one another, as well as follow other teachers, librarians, and educational professionals around the world. It's a great way to stay on top of education news.
5. Podcasts: Podcasts can be used in the classroom in a variety of ways, such as listening to a podcast or creating one of their own. There are so many podcasts available for students to listen to covering news, science, literacy, history, and pop-culture. There is a podcast for just about everyone! Here is a list of top podcasts for elementary students Top Podcasts for Kids and Tween/Teens . But, students can also create their own podcasts to share with classmates. Students can create book reviews, storytell, interview others, or report on current events, news, movies, etc. I really like Anchor. It is very easy to use. You can record on a laptop or iPhone, add in music or sounds, and publish easily. I recommend this for middle and high school students.
6. Infographics: I have always enjoyed reading, viewing, and using information and data from an infographic. It was great learning how to do them using the free website Piktochart. It was easy to learn, as well as input data and graphics. There are templetes to use and also tutorials to help learn the features of the website. Another website that is free and easy to use is Infogram. This one also has a variety of templetes, graphics, and features to help create interesting and viasually appealing infographics. Students can create infographics to share data and information they have learned. Librarians can also make inforgraphics to share information with parents and staff. I highly recommend this for students of all ages.
7. Chatterpix: Chatterpix is an app that uses a photo, and then your phone's microphone to tell a short story, retell a book, or share information. It is a great tool to use with younger students and only takes a few minutes to learn and make your first Chatterpix. Highly recommended for K-2 graders.
In my opinion, Animoto, Infographics, Podcasts, Twitter, Chatterpix, and ToonDoo are all benefical for student use.
3. ToonDoo: Students love comics and this site gives them a chance to make their own. It is easy to choose a variety of backgrounds, characters, clipart, and text. ToonDoo is free and students can create and share their comics with others. Students can use their creativity in a variety of ways. Other websites are Pixton and Make Belief Comix. These are also user-friendly cartoon makers that are free. Students would love to use these and I highly recommend this for all grade levels.
4. Twitter: I use Twitter everyday for both personal and professional information. Twitter lets you follow, comment, and interact with people from all over the world. Librarians and teachers can create Twitter chats where students can participate on a variety of topics. Teachers can post questions and students can comment on each question. It's a great way to collaborate with others. This would best be used for high school students. Teachers can interact and collaborate with one another, as well as follow other teachers, librarians, and educational professionals around the world. It's a great way to stay on top of education news.
5. Podcasts: Podcasts can be used in the classroom in a variety of ways, such as listening to a podcast or creating one of their own. There are so many podcasts available for students to listen to covering news, science, literacy, history, and pop-culture. There is a podcast for just about everyone! Here is a list of top podcasts for elementary students Top Podcasts for Kids and Tween/Teens . But, students can also create their own podcasts to share with classmates. Students can create book reviews, storytell, interview others, or report on current events, news, movies, etc. I really like Anchor. It is very easy to use. You can record on a laptop or iPhone, add in music or sounds, and publish easily. I recommend this for middle and high school students.
6. Infographics: I have always enjoyed reading, viewing, and using information and data from an infographic. It was great learning how to do them using the free website Piktochart. It was easy to learn, as well as input data and graphics. There are templetes to use and also tutorials to help learn the features of the website. Another website that is free and easy to use is Infogram. This one also has a variety of templetes, graphics, and features to help create interesting and viasually appealing infographics. Students can create infographics to share data and information they have learned. Librarians can also make inforgraphics to share information with parents and staff. I highly recommend this for students of all ages.
7. Chatterpix: Chatterpix is an app that uses a photo, and then your phone's microphone to tell a short story, retell a book, or share information. It is a great tool to use with younger students and only takes a few minutes to learn and make your first Chatterpix. Highly recommended for K-2 graders.
In my opinion, Animoto, Infographics, Podcasts, Twitter, Chatterpix, and ToonDoo are all benefical for student use.
Challenges
As with learning anything, there are always challenges. I found the following challenging:
1. Feed readers: Though I think this is really useful, I found it difficult to learn and keep up with. First, it is very time consuming to follow many blogs. Don't get me wrong, I think reading blogs are important and give educators great information. However, we have very limited time in the day. Also, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with several sources of information. I think following one or two blogs is fine, but many of the librarians and educators that have blogs also have Twitter. It is much easier to read Twitter in my opinion.
2. Tumblr: I did not feel like Tumblr was appropriate for students or easy for educators to follow. I found some pretty inappropriate images and content that I myself felt uncomforatable using the site. Again, Twitter or Facebook are two I would recommend instead and find easier to use.
1. Feed readers: Though I think this is really useful, I found it difficult to learn and keep up with. First, it is very time consuming to follow many blogs. Don't get me wrong, I think reading blogs are important and give educators great information. However, we have very limited time in the day. Also, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with several sources of information. I think following one or two blogs is fine, but many of the librarians and educators that have blogs also have Twitter. It is much easier to read Twitter in my opinion.
2. Tumblr: I did not feel like Tumblr was appropriate for students or easy for educators to follow. I found some pretty inappropriate images and content that I myself felt uncomforatable using the site. Again, Twitter or Facebook are two I would recommend instead and find easier to use.
Final Thoughts
Technology is a wonderful thing! As a librarian, it is very important to know a variety of tools to share with students and teachers. Our students need to be well-versed in a variety of technology tools for college and beyond. The earlier they start, the better equiped they will be and more they will learn.
However, there is so much out there to learn and use with students, it can, at times, be a little overwhelming. I recommend starting with two or three apps or websites and learn them well to share and use with students and staff. Once you feel comfortable using a few tools, begin to add one more at a time. It takes time to learn new technology, so be patient with yourself. Summer is a great time to learn new technology tools, as well as following well-known technologists on Twitter or blogs throughout the year to stay abreast on the latest news.
As librarians, it is part of our job to keep up with the changing technology to share with students and staff. Keep learning and sharing for student success!
However, there is so much out there to learn and use with students, it can, at times, be a little overwhelming. I recommend starting with two or three apps or websites and learn them well to share and use with students and staff. Once you feel comfortable using a few tools, begin to add one more at a time. It takes time to learn new technology, so be patient with yourself. Summer is a great time to learn new technology tools, as well as following well-known technologists on Twitter or blogs throughout the year to stay abreast on the latest news.
As librarians, it is part of our job to keep up with the changing technology to share with students and staff. Keep learning and sharing for student success!
