https://www.smore.com/c4y96
Check it out!! Great resources!!!
Friday, February 26, 2016
WWII History Resources
Here is a great collection of VA-US History SOL resources, curated by an amazing LIBS group at ODU, which I am privileged to be a part of.
https://www.smore.com/c4y96
Check it out!! Great resources!!!
https://www.smore.com/c4y96
Check it out!! Great resources!!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Final Presentation
Our final project this semester is a 45 minute slide presentation on some of the tools we've been learning about, and how they can connect to the curriculum. Here's a link to my presentation:
Here is another link to the script for the presentation:
Here is another link to the script for the presentation:
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Best Websites for Teachers and Librarians
This week I've been exploring a number of Websites. Here are three that I really like:
Booktrack Classroom https://www.booktrackclassroom.com/content/intro
Booktrack classroom allows users to add soundtracks to books. The site has a small existing library of books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Cinderella that users choose to read. While reading online, users listen to an accompanying soundtrack, chosen specifically for their book. A small arrow at the side of the text moves from line to line. Users can adjust the reading speed to match their own.
Booktrack also allows users to create their own booktracks in two different ways.
First, they can choose books from booktrack's existing library and add their own soundtrack. Once they are finished, their booktrack can be saved and shared. The second option is a really great one for classroom use. Students can use their own stories or text, add sound and music, and create booktracks for their own work. This would be great for short stories and poetry that students have written. After booktracks are created, it is time to publish them. A copyright is chosen for each booktrack, and it can be shared with an unlisted option, or shared to a bookshelf or text library.
Booktrack allows teacher to create booktrack classrooms. Teachers can have multiple classrooms, each having their own booktrack library of books. Booktrack is a great option for making reading and creative writing fun and engaging in the classroom or library. Booktrack does not work well with internet explorer. It did well with Firefox for me.
Knowmania http://www.knowmia.com/
Knowmania is another great website, for teachers, librarians, and students. It is basically a video lesson library with over 30,000 lessons to choose from. I like this site, because I'm always on the lookout for additional materials and unique perspectives to supplement my lessons. Our district used to have a subscription to Discovery Education, which was great for videos, but that was cancelled, and I miss it dearly, so this is a great find! The videos are short. The few that I viewed were between 3 and 11 minutes long. I did a search on a couple of topics for elementary grades. "Adding fractions" resulted in 15 video lessons. Another search for "writing a topic sentence" resulted in two videos to choose from.
I also did a search for some of the topics I teach. "Writing a resume" only resulted in one video, and a search for "advertising" led me to a short TED talk.
Teachers can have students independently view brief videos through this site, as part of their lesson. They can also upload their own great lessons to the site, to share with others.
Flipquiz http://flipquiz.me/
If you've ever used a Jeopardy style review game in the classroom, you know how much work it is to get your game board ready. Flipquiz offers a great, free solution for all of your game board creation frustration.
Flipquiz allows you to create a review game with different categories, where points can be earned for correct answers. Each question can have several answer choices, and even show the answer, if desired. Actual quizzes can be created with Flipquiz as well. You can choose to use existing games, created by other users, or start from scratch and create your own. When you save your Flipquiz, it will be available for years to come.
Teachers can purchase a Pro account, if desired, that allows ten teams to play the game at the same time, and keeps score for each team. Flipquiz is great for lesson and test review, and for quizzes on any topic. Students can also use Flipquiz to create their own quizzes, for a grade.
Booktrack Classroom https://www.booktrackclassroom.com/content/intro
Booktrack classroom allows users to add soundtracks to books. The site has a small existing library of books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Cinderella that users choose to read. While reading online, users listen to an accompanying soundtrack, chosen specifically for their book. A small arrow at the side of the text moves from line to line. Users can adjust the reading speed to match their own.
Booktrack also allows users to create their own booktracks in two different ways.
First, they can choose books from booktrack's existing library and add their own soundtrack. Once they are finished, their booktrack can be saved and shared. The second option is a really great one for classroom use. Students can use their own stories or text, add sound and music, and create booktracks for their own work. This would be great for short stories and poetry that students have written. After booktracks are created, it is time to publish them. A copyright is chosen for each booktrack, and it can be shared with an unlisted option, or shared to a bookshelf or text library.
Booktrack allows teacher to create booktrack classrooms. Teachers can have multiple classrooms, each having their own booktrack library of books. Booktrack is a great option for making reading and creative writing fun and engaging in the classroom or library. Booktrack does not work well with internet explorer. It did well with Firefox for me.
Knowmania http://www.knowmia.com/
Knowmania is another great website, for teachers, librarians, and students. It is basically a video lesson library with over 30,000 lessons to choose from. I like this site, because I'm always on the lookout for additional materials and unique perspectives to supplement my lessons. Our district used to have a subscription to Discovery Education, which was great for videos, but that was cancelled, and I miss it dearly, so this is a great find! The videos are short. The few that I viewed were between 3 and 11 minutes long. I did a search on a couple of topics for elementary grades. "Adding fractions" resulted in 15 video lessons. Another search for "writing a topic sentence" resulted in two videos to choose from.
I also did a search for some of the topics I teach. "Writing a resume" only resulted in one video, and a search for "advertising" led me to a short TED talk.
Teachers can have students independently view brief videos through this site, as part of their lesson. They can also upload their own great lessons to the site, to share with others.
Flipquiz http://flipquiz.me/
If you've ever used a Jeopardy style review game in the classroom, you know how much work it is to get your game board ready. Flipquiz offers a great, free solution for all of your game board creation frustration.
Flipquiz allows you to create a review game with different categories, where points can be earned for correct answers. Each question can have several answer choices, and even show the answer, if desired. Actual quizzes can be created with Flipquiz as well. You can choose to use existing games, created by other users, or start from scratch and create your own. When you save your Flipquiz, it will be available for years to come.
Teachers can purchase a Pro account, if desired, that allows ten teams to play the game at the same time, and keeps score for each team. Flipquiz is great for lesson and test review, and for quizzes on any topic. Students can also use Flipquiz to create their own quizzes, for a grade.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Who Should I Follow?
As a library science student, I am finding that information abounds, on just about any topic. I want to keep up with the latest in technology and best practices, and learn how the best teacher-librarians are impacting student learning within their spheres of influence. I want to follow in the footsteps of the best teacher librarians out there, and I have certainly found one. I am most impressed with teacher librarian, Shannon McClintock Miller, and her popular blog, The Library Voice. You can find her blog at this link:
http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/
In addition to being a teacher-librarian, Shannon is also a technology integration specialist. She does presentations all around the nation, promoting best practices for incorporating technology into the curriculum and the classroom, for increased student learning. The Library Voice is full of links to and information about a wide variety of tech tools. Shannon even shares some of her presentation slides for her readers. I'm extremely happy to have found this blog, and to have such a good teacher-librarian role model to follow.
http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/
In addition to being a teacher-librarian, Shannon is also a technology integration specialist. She does presentations all around the nation, promoting best practices for incorporating technology into the curriculum and the classroom, for increased student learning. The Library Voice is full of links to and information about a wide variety of tech tools. Shannon even shares some of her presentation slides for her readers. I'm extremely happy to have found this blog, and to have such a good teacher-librarian role model to follow.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Presentation Tools
Move over PowerPoint! There are some new players on the presentation field.
This week I had the opportunity to check out some web based presentation tools, and I have a couple of favorites to share with you.
Emaze https://www.emaze.com/ is a new type of presentation tool that incorporates 3D effects. It combines your standard display slide with amazing templates that can zoom (like Prezi) into various parts of a gallery, or a building. One template even has a set of hands that flip your slides as they are presented. The templates make building a presentation easy. Simply find one that fits your style and needs, and plug in your information. The fact that it is web based means that you can store your presentation in the cloud. Of course it also means that you have to have internet access to present. All in all I was quite impressed with Emaze. It can really make your presentation stand out in the PowerPoint dominated world.
How have I been a teacher for 4 years, and never known about Blendspace? https://www.blendspace.com/ This is an awesome tool! I'm so used to getting my computer ready for a lesson by opening 4 or five internet tabs, and a couple of documents, so I can switch back and forth between them as I teach. Blendspace eliminates the need for all of that prep on a daily basis. I can simply create a Blendspace presentation that incorporates all of the components I would normally use, like Youtube videos, websites, documents and slides with notes. This one presentation can take care of my entire lesson. It's a brilliant concept. The only drawback I can see is the necessary internet access. My current classroom has good days and bad days for internet access, and with Blendspace, I would be out of luck if I couldn't go online. I definitely plan to try out Blendspace in the classroom, but I won't delete my PowerPoint backups just yet!
This week I had the opportunity to check out some web based presentation tools, and I have a couple of favorites to share with you.
Emaze https://www.emaze.com/ is a new type of presentation tool that incorporates 3D effects. It combines your standard display slide with amazing templates that can zoom (like Prezi) into various parts of a gallery, or a building. One template even has a set of hands that flip your slides as they are presented. The templates make building a presentation easy. Simply find one that fits your style and needs, and plug in your information. The fact that it is web based means that you can store your presentation in the cloud. Of course it also means that you have to have internet access to present. All in all I was quite impressed with Emaze. It can really make your presentation stand out in the PowerPoint dominated world.
How have I been a teacher for 4 years, and never known about Blendspace? https://www.blendspace.com/ This is an awesome tool! I'm so used to getting my computer ready for a lesson by opening 4 or five internet tabs, and a couple of documents, so I can switch back and forth between them as I teach. Blendspace eliminates the need for all of that prep on a daily basis. I can simply create a Blendspace presentation that incorporates all of the components I would normally use, like Youtube videos, websites, documents and slides with notes. This one presentation can take care of my entire lesson. It's a brilliant concept. The only drawback I can see is the necessary internet access. My current classroom has good days and bad days for internet access, and with Blendspace, I would be out of luck if I couldn't go online. I definitely plan to try out Blendspace in the classroom, but I won't delete my PowerPoint backups just yet!
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Robots,Coding, and 3D Printing
This week we are exploring several technologies, and looking at how they can potentially be used in the classroom and in the library.
Robots
I have always enjoyed seeing robots in the movies, like R2D2 and Wall-e. I have also seen automobile production lines and warehouse picking operations powered with robotics. Robots in the classroom or the library is a new concept for me. I don't have any hands on experience with anything comparable to a robot, so it is a stretch for me to come up with ideas for their use.
I was impressed with the robot videos we viewed. Musio seems to be promising, but is apparently still being developed. Musio seems like it would be great for those who want to learn a new language, but do so privately. It would be useful in foreign language classes, or with ESL students. I like that it is called a "conversation partner" that can interact with kids, as well as allowing them to gain programming skills. I also like the fact that Musio can be programmed with jokes and a sense of humor. A robot that farts is definitely an ice breaker. I can see learning connections with special needs children. Students who are not comfortable interacting with others, could safely interact with Musio, and learn in the process.
Cheery, the robot that helps distract kids during painful moments, is awesome. I love that this robot has movement as well as voice, and can even high five. I can see having robots for teaching robotics, in connection with a library makerspace or special program. I can also see a robot, perhaps named Dewey, who resides at the circulation desk. This robot can help answer questions that students may have. If a student comes up to the circulation desk with a question that Dewey has the answer for, the library staff can say "just ask Dewey!"
Coding
I haven't had very much experience with coding. Back in the olden days, I remember learning DOS, and having to write some simple commands and programs just to perform necessary computer functions. HTML, however, is a new language to me. I've noticed it when embedding objects into this blog, or into my website. In this blog space, I would switch back and forth from compose to html, and would edit the size of the embedded object within the code.
I do like the idea of involving children in simple coding at an early age. Not all children will grow up to be computer programmers, but all children need to learn decision making and problem solving skills. Coding and debugging will give them an opportunity to do both. Coding events are a good way to expose children to fun STEM applications.
I had no idea that there were so many coding related games, toys, and apps available, even starting at the preschool age. Daisy the Dinosaur, Scratch, Jr., and Kodable are all apps that can be loaded onto I-pads in the classroom or in the library, to help children learn to code. Kids are always wanting to play video games. Why not let them, with coding related videos at Code.org. This site seems to have a lot of fun tutorials on coding. One even involves Anna and Elsa, from Frozen.
Another way to bring coding into the library is to plan an Hour of Code event. Your event will help celebrate computer science education week, which is December 7-13. Every child that participates will spend an hour learning to code with fun, stimulating tutorials. Coding is empowering, and it is our job to help empower students. I definitely plan to host this event in my future library.
3-D Printing
I enjoyed playing with Tinkercad during this past week, and designing my own 3D object. Learning to use the online CAD program was challenging, but also rewarding, when my object was complete. I believe that students would enjoy learning this technology, especially when they know that their object can be printed on a 3D printer, when they are complete. Beyond high school, most students will not work with 3 dimensional coordinate systems, or even 3 dimensional measurements, but some will. All students should have the opportunity to be exposed to these technologies.
This week's readings highlighted the fact that before you get a 3-D printer for your library, you need to do plenty of research, and have a plan in place. You need to prepare for your 3D printer before it arrives. Here are some take-a-ways from the readings:
Robots
I have always enjoyed seeing robots in the movies, like R2D2 and Wall-e. I have also seen automobile production lines and warehouse picking operations powered with robotics. Robots in the classroom or the library is a new concept for me. I don't have any hands on experience with anything comparable to a robot, so it is a stretch for me to come up with ideas for their use.
I was impressed with the robot videos we viewed. Musio seems to be promising, but is apparently still being developed. Musio seems like it would be great for those who want to learn a new language, but do so privately. It would be useful in foreign language classes, or with ESL students. I like that it is called a "conversation partner" that can interact with kids, as well as allowing them to gain programming skills. I also like the fact that Musio can be programmed with jokes and a sense of humor. A robot that farts is definitely an ice breaker. I can see learning connections with special needs children. Students who are not comfortable interacting with others, could safely interact with Musio, and learn in the process.
Cheery, the robot that helps distract kids during painful moments, is awesome. I love that this robot has movement as well as voice, and can even high five. I can see having robots for teaching robotics, in connection with a library makerspace or special program. I can also see a robot, perhaps named Dewey, who resides at the circulation desk. This robot can help answer questions that students may have. If a student comes up to the circulation desk with a question that Dewey has the answer for, the library staff can say "just ask Dewey!"
Coding
I haven't had very much experience with coding. Back in the olden days, I remember learning DOS, and having to write some simple commands and programs just to perform necessary computer functions. HTML, however, is a new language to me. I've noticed it when embedding objects into this blog, or into my website. In this blog space, I would switch back and forth from compose to html, and would edit the size of the embedded object within the code.
I do like the idea of involving children in simple coding at an early age. Not all children will grow up to be computer programmers, but all children need to learn decision making and problem solving skills. Coding and debugging will give them an opportunity to do both. Coding events are a good way to expose children to fun STEM applications.
I had no idea that there were so many coding related games, toys, and apps available, even starting at the preschool age. Daisy the Dinosaur, Scratch, Jr., and Kodable are all apps that can be loaded onto I-pads in the classroom or in the library, to help children learn to code. Kids are always wanting to play video games. Why not let them, with coding related videos at Code.org. This site seems to have a lot of fun tutorials on coding. One even involves Anna and Elsa, from Frozen.
Another way to bring coding into the library is to plan an Hour of Code event. Your event will help celebrate computer science education week, which is December 7-13. Every child that participates will spend an hour learning to code with fun, stimulating tutorials. Coding is empowering, and it is our job to help empower students. I definitely plan to host this event in my future library.
3-D Printing
I enjoyed playing with Tinkercad during this past week, and designing my own 3D object. Learning to use the online CAD program was challenging, but also rewarding, when my object was complete. I believe that students would enjoy learning this technology, especially when they know that their object can be printed on a 3D printer, when they are complete. Beyond high school, most students will not work with 3 dimensional coordinate systems, or even 3 dimensional measurements, but some will. All students should have the opportunity to be exposed to these technologies.
This week's readings highlighted the fact that before you get a 3-D printer for your library, you need to do plenty of research, and have a plan in place. You need to prepare for your 3D printer before it arrives. Here are some take-a-ways from the readings:
- Decide what the purpose is for getting a 3D printer. What are you going to produce, and who will be producing it? Choose your 3D printer based on your production needs and ease of use. Make sure that the machine you get will be able to bring your designs to life. Obviously, you need to consider your budget as well, but don't let that be your only determinant.
- Once you choose a machine, research the specifications and quirks of that machine. Make sure that you have people in place that can maintain, support, and upgrade the printer, as needed. If not, you may have to choose a different printer. Also, stock up on supplies that you will need for the printer, before it arrives. Don't let your printer be like a new toy on Christmas morning that comes with no batteries, and you can't play with it.
- Introduce the technology before the printer arrives. All of the library staff and other "first users" as well as students, need to get familiar with the cad programs, and how they work. Once you know what you are doing, consider offering Tinkercad classes for students.
- Check out Thingiverse for some ready made designs to use when the machine first arrives.
- Involve students every step of the way. Let them (the tech-savvy students)be the ones to set the printer up and print the first design.
- Put the 3-D printer in a highly visible location. This printer is a novelty, and will attract the most interest where it can be seen by the most students.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Tinkercad and 3D Printing
Our latest project involved making a small 3D cad file online, using Tinkercad. It took a little playing around, but I was able to make a couple of objects and save them. The first was a little keychain. After completing it, I realized that it was a little bit too much like the example, so I tried to get a little more creative. The second file is a gold "all star reader" button. I think this would be a great award for students who exceed their reading goals. I put a hanger on it, so you can put a large ribbon through it, for hanging the award around someone's neck, like you see in the Olympics. Here are my two created objects. I've also included an audio file to introduce the one that I am turning in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)