602 Course Reflections

I just uploaded my final 602 project to Blackboard and I feel so relieved to be finished with the course!  As I said in my previous post, this last project was tough, but also enjoyable.  I think I did a good job and I'm happy with the result.  Is it perfect?  Of course not!  But I poured my heart and soul in it and that's what matters.

I didn't have too many expectations at the beginning of the course because I didn't really know what it was going to be about.  The first few weeks were tough as I struggled to work with the new tools and make sure I was adequately participating in the discussion forum and commenting on other people's blogs.  After a while, that all became second nature and I found that I enjoyed reading others blogs and seeing what they did with the same tools that I was working with.

I tend to learn new things quickly and this class was no exception.  I felt like I learned how to use various tools quickly and was able to put together some nice products.  I have learned so much about all of the things that are available to us as teachers (and librarians).  I had never heard of most of these tools and I'm super excited to incorporate some of them into to my classes next school year.  I'm also going to be sharing what I learned with others in my department.  This is some really useful stuff!

While frustrating at times, overall this has been an enjoyable experience.  Though I am looking forward to a few weeks of real summer with no classes!

Final Project!!

Making this final project presentation was difficult, but I actually somewhat enjoyed it.  Once I got inspiration for how I wanted it to look, that set the ball rolling and it wasn't too tough from there.  My inspiration came from the "books" picture I found on creative commons.  It was a very simple stack of books with a black background and I really liked the look. So I strived to continue that "look" throughout my presentation.

For the font, I went with one of the suggestions from Garr Reynold's book. On page 40, he has a list of reliable typefaces for presentations.  I chose Rockwell because I liked the look of that the most when I typed them all into PowerPoint.

To figure out how I wanted the overall presentation to look, again I went to our textbook and looked at the many examples in Chapter 10.  I knew that images were super important and that text should be minimal.  I don't think mine looks nearly as good as any of these in the book, but I am happy with my result. I put it below to share.  It doesn't have as much meaning without my speaker notes, but I do think you get the gist of what I was going for by just looking through my slides.

Morsey 602 Final Project from meganmorsey

Blogs

Lots of library and teaching are available to read.  I already follow Free Technology 4 Teachers on Pinterest. I've gotten lots of great ideas for incorporating technology from the pins they add.

One blog I'd like to follow is The Unquiet Librarian.  As I was reading through the blog, her first post was on growing learning communities and makerspaces.   Right after was inquiry based science.  She is definitely up to date with current topics in teaching and libraries.  I like the simple design of her blog and the colors she chose.  Her blog includes regular posts, but also has links to presentations and publications.  It's informative and entertaining.

AASL Best Websites 2014

Each year, AASL puts together a list of the best websites for teaching and learning. They have to be free and user-friendly. Here are my top 3 from this list.

1. Powtoon - http://www.powtoon.com/ This free website allows you to make a short, animated presentation. Several free templates are available for use. They claim that it's as easy to use as PowerPoint, so if you can do PowerPoint, you can do Powtoon! In the classroom, use Powtoon to announce an assignment. Show the video in class or put it on your class website for students to view at home. One of our classmates in 602 made a super cute video a couple weeks ago that did exactly that.

2. The Why Files - http://whyfiles.org/ The Why Files explains and expands upon current news stories. The content is primarily science based, but is also great for social studies. This is a great way to get students to go more in depth on topics they read about. Talking about current events and science discoveries helps keep students engaged. I like that national science standards and lessons are also included on the site.

3. Thinglink - https://www.thinglink.com/ This free website allows you to make your digital images come to life. You upload an image and then add links to it. Use this with a picture of the library. Add links to the catalog, the library website, or any other information for students. In the classroom, let students take images for a project and add video and web information that goes more in depth. See below for the quick, personal Thinglink I made. It took me less than 15 minutes. Just hover your mouse over the picture and you'll see the icons to click for more info.
 

Group Project Fun!

Tuesday afternoon, we got together as a group to do an unknown project using recycled materials.  My group was myself, Annie Samsky, Jenny Shapiro, and Ashleigh Jedlowski. Here is our final project presentation:

QR Codes and Augmented Reality

The I-Nigma (http://www.i-nigma.com/CreateBarcodes.html) and QR Code Monkey (http://www.qrcode-monkey.com/)  sites both are very simple to use to create QR codes for use online or on print material.  On both, you simply enter the url of the site you would like to link to, hit create, and then download the QR code as a .png file.  From there, you can put the file anywhere you like.

One way I would use QR codes in the library would be during open house for parent and student information.  The QR code would link to the library website that has all the necessary information for students using the library in the upcoming school year. Another way I would use QR codes is for links to book trailers. Book trailers are a fun way to introduce books to students in a very engaging way.

Another QR code site allows you to put an audio message with it.  Check out mine below:

My first experience with augmented reality was watching the short TEDtalk video linked on blackboard.  I was blown away. This new technology is so neat and my head is spinning with the implications of what it can do.  I downloaded the Aurasma app on my iPhone and then went online to find sites that had “auras” to use.  I found a site that had a math worksheet where when you hovered over it with the app, a tutorial came on.  I thought that was a great idea for use in the classroom.

In the library, one way I would use augmented reality is similar to what I would do with QR codes, but using a book cover to link to the book trailer video.  Or maybe it would have a video of the book author reading a chapter of the book, or doing an interview about the book. It could also be used to help students figure things out.  In a high school library, many students are in and out and can’t necessarily get individual assistance on how to find something, such as a reference book.  With Aurasma, the student could gain access to a video tutorial of how to find what they need.

Video iPhone Apps

Since I have an iPhone, I downloaded the suggested video apps to give them a try.  Sock puppets is a silly app where you choose a sock puppet to animate.  You get to pick the background and props, then you record your message. The sock puppet says your message in a silly voice.  I'm not sure what the practical applications would be for this app, but it's definitely fun!  My daughters especially enjoyed using it.

Tellagami allows you to create a character and give it your voice. The final product can be shared via social media sites, or even by text.  It would be fun if all students had access to this technology.  It would be an awesome way to do an "exit ticket."  Instead of writing something down, they could record their answers to my questions or tell me what they learned and then post it to a class Facebook page!

Videolicious is like a slideshow with a recorded message.  The free version is limited to one minute, with one sound bite and 10 supporting shots.  Again, if all students could use this, they could do a quick presentation of a topic or it would be a fun way to do a "get to know you" activity at the beginning of the year.

Video Tools

PixiClip (www.pixiclip.com) reminds me of the video tutorials on Khan Academy.  As such, it would be awesome for making video tutorials to post on your class website or blog.  I could see using this to prepare review material for the SOL, or for any unit.  Instead of just going through a boring presentation, you could use PixiClip for the same topic, but in video format instead. According to Garr Reynolds, "videos can provide a welcome change of pace in a presentation."  Maybe part of the lesson could be with Powerpoint, but then a video created on PixiClip could be added to change the pace and keep students awake and engaged.

Jing.com is similar to what I already do with my SMART Notebook software on my school laptop.  I can record everything that I do, including audio, and then save it to play later.  It would be nice to add a video of myself also like the screencast that Dr. Kimmel does.  Again, I would use this to post tutorials on my class website.  Making a screencast that shows everything I did during direct instruction would be so helpful for students who were absent that day.

Animoto.com is a free video source that allows you to use your own photos to create an engaging video.  The personal side of this site would be great to use to make videos of a new baby, a party, or a wedding.  In the classroom or library, I could see using this as a creative way to showcase student work.  You could take photos of all of the student work and then creative a video to post on the classroom website.  Or the video could be shown in class as an end of year celebration.

I was playing around with the video creation tools on Animoto.com and made this short video of photos from a beach vacation our family took. It was quick and easy.  It's too bad you are limited to 30 seconds without paying. Music is automatically added, which is nice because I think it helps to create an emotional connection to the video.  Achieving emotional connection through video is recommended by Garr Reynolds in his book, Presentation Zen Design.



Outer Banks Vacation

School Library Websites

I did a google search looking for examples of school library websites using Weebly.  I’m planning to use Weebly myself, so I thought those would be the best examples to choose.  I’ve found that I prefer fairly simple, streamlined websites that have a title or a welcome at the top, and links to pages on a horizontal bar just below the title. 

One example I liked was this website: http://gmslibrarywebsite.weebly.com/.  It is simple and uncluttered. According to Reynolds (2014), using one or two fonts with different colors and sizes is a way to create harmony and add emphasis (p. 43). I believe this website has achieved this harmony. The main page highlights the current event going on at the time, which is the summer reading challenge.  Below that, there are quick links, such as the library catalog.  I think it’s useful to have a catalog link very visibly to website visitors, since many people coming to the site are looking for books.  That’s one thing that’s always bothered about my own high school’s website.  You have to click not-that-visible tab to get to the catalog.  Another thing I like on the GMS library website is that it highlights a new book on the front page.  Also, it lists pertinent info like the library hours.

Another good example is this website: http://bhslibrary.weebly.com/.  The main page is uncluttered and has useful information. As you scroll down, the images and links on either side are bilaterally symmetrical, which Reynolds (2014) says be a desirable effect (p. 187). I like the rolling picture bar right under the title.  Again, there is a link to the library’s catalog right there in a visible spot.  Links to the various pages are clear as well.  It has a big section about summer reading to help give students ideas.

After looking at the various tools to create websites, I think I’m going to use Weebly.  It’s fairly intuitive and there are many design options to help get you started. Once I really get working on my website, I may change my mind. I looked at google sites, and while that seems user friendly as well, I thought that the design elements were more limited.  I checked out Wix.com and did not like any of the design choices as they didn’t seem like they would fit well with an educational library site. Other website design services did not seem appropriate for the site I am trying to create. For example, Smore seems better suited for a business or marketing, and school rack seems better suited for a teacher’s class website. 

Reynolds, G. (2014). Presentation Zen Design: A simple visual approach to presenting in today's world. : New Riders.

Audio Tools

Vocaroo.com allows you to simply record a message without downloading any software.  After the message is recorded, you can save it.  The only options however, were to post it online somewhere, such as a social networking site or your blog, or to email it. You cannot download as an audio file.  It is convenient in that you don’t have to sign up for a service.

Audio Pal also allows you to record messages without downloading anything.  On this site, in addition to recording with your microphone, you can to call a number and record the message. Then you get a link to the message in an email.  Again, you don’t get an audio file to download, just a link to embed. I personally would not use this site because you are required to give your email address. I try not to do this unless absolutely necessary because I already get enough junk email!

Voki does require you to create a free account to use.  I created an account to try it out because I thought creating a talking avatar was a neat idea.  I kind of enjoyed creating a little character and giving it a voice.  However, I wish there were more options for customization of the character.  It could be fun to use a talking avatar of you on your classroom blog so the students could see “you” as well as hear you when you upload an audio file.  Once you finish creating your animated talking avatar, you get a link to embed on your website.  You can also post it directly on social media sites such as facebook, twitter, wordpress, and blogger.  Mine is posted below.

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

I explored the other resources in the sandbox and am very intrigued by VoiceThread. I had never heard of it before, but it seems pretty amazing.  It would be most useful for me as online tutoring or to continue class discussions at discontinuous times. I also really like Narrable.  I could use Narrable to make short audio reviews to go along with pictures, PPT slides, or other written material. I could see using this to post review material before the end of course SOL class. I made a one slide PPT on the rock cycle. I used and cited images from the Creative Commons.  I used Narrable to add audio. 

This is a rough cut, so to speak!  I only did it once and did not re-record.  I didn't record directly on Narrable. I used Audacity to record the file and exported it as a mp3 file.  I uploaded the mp3 to Narrable. Enjoy your short rock lesson!!

Podcasts in the Classroom

When I looked at the list of "50 Educational Podcasts You Should Check Out" by Julie DeNeen, I was super excited to see my favorite podcast of all time on the list!  StarTalk Radio, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson (who is brillant and wonderful, by the way), is educational and very entertaining!  He always has a comedian co-host to liven up the show, though Dr. Tyson is funny all by himself.  He has a way of taking really complex material and speaking about it in such a way that anyone can understand.

I have used short segments from StarTalk Radio in my classroom because it perfectly fits into my curriculum. Part of earth science is Astronomy, so many of the topics discussed on the show are relevant to what we do in class.  Every once and a while, they do Cosmic Queries where listeners send in questions to be answered by Dr. Tyson.  More than once while we were doing the astronomy unit, a student would ask a question beyond my knowledge base.  When that happened, I'd stop what I was doing and go to StarTalk's Facebook page to submit the question!  We haven't had one answered yet, but I keep hoping to hear my name as a submitter.

If you've never listened to it, give it a try.  Just click on the link below. I have learned so much from this podcast!

StarTalk Radio

Another version of my Infographic

It was suggested that I try adding a chart or graph to my infographic. I found a great chart showing satisfaction levels of online learners and added it.

Infographic. Digital Image download. https://magic.piktochart.com/infographics. Piktochart, n. d. <https://magic.piktochart.com/>

Infographics

All over the place lately, people are using infographics to display information about various topics. Marketers use them often to promote products.  I have seen many on Pinterest related to health and fitness. Infographics are a great way to showcase data in a concise and attractive manner. Several tools are available online to create your own infographic.

Venngage.com allows you to use various templates or start from scratch with a blank one.  One of the things I liked most about this site was that there were many different types of templates available.  It was not quite as "cookie-cutter" as some of the others.  With Infogr.am.com, limited designs were available for use.  However, it does have a great chart and graph feature that would be straightforward to use to create whichever type of graph or chart best fits your data.

Two others that I explored did not seem useful for my purposes.  Visual.ly seemed to be primarily for business.  Also, I couldn't figure out where on the site to go to actually create my own.  I searched for "What About Me?", which was suggest by Andrew Johnson in the article on 8 Best Infographic Tools.  However, I wasn't able to find the place to go to create your own.

The tool I ended up using to create my own infographic was piktochart.com.  I liked the free templates that were available.  The only negative I have for this one is that most of the content is only available for the "Pro" or paid users. I wish more of it was free content.  I made an infographic of tips for taking an online class.

Infographic. Digital Image download. https://magic.piktochart.com/infographics. Piktochart, n. d.<https://magic.piktochart.com/>

Image Creating and Editing

So many image tools are available for use, whether you want to use just one photo or several.  I could use these in my classroom for fun activities to accompany whatever topic we’re working on.  I teach earth science at the high school level.  One tool that I really like and think would work great with this age group is the Big Huge Labs (bighugelabs.com).  It allows you to create lots of fun items like magazine covers, motivational posters, and movie posters.  In fact, I like this so much I may have my students do it in class tomorrow!  We are learning about coastal erosion and tomorrow they will be doing a webquest. Since I already have the laptops, once they finish the webquest, I can direct them to Big Huge Labs to create a movie poster based on any topic in earth science.

Another one that I could use in my earth science classroom is Foldplay (foldplay.com). They have a tool where you can make kaleidocycle. Their provided images fit right into the subject matter.  I could see having them make a kaleidocycle of solar system formation when learning the astronomy unit. I made an example using their images.

Kaleidocycle. Digital image.  Http://foldplay.com/kaliedocycle.action. Foldplay, n.d. Web. <http://foldplay.com/>

Other image editing sites allow you take a regular image and add various text and effects to it.  Students could search for a creative commons image on one of the topics in the current unit and add effect or text to it to include as part of a presentation.  Dumpr (dumpr.net) and Tuxpi (tuxpi.com) could be used to do this.

Friday night, I took my daughter to see R5 at the Norva.  We had such a great time!  It’s you’re not familiar, one of the members of R5, Ross Lynch, stars as Austin Moon on the Disney channel series Austin & Ally. We took a bunch of pictures and got this great up close one of Ross Lynch.  I used Tuxpi to modify the photo.  

Introduction

Do you ever look at your life and think, how did I get here? What am I doing?  I do.  Often. Today I find myself embarking on a path that will lead me to my third career as a school librarian.  Many things have led me this direction, but the one key thing that got me to this point is a love of reading and learning.

During high school, I always loved science, so when the time came, I chose to major in geology.  I got a B.S. in geological sciences from Virginia Tech in 1999.  I didn't know what to do with myself after graduation, and to pursue a career in the sciences, I knew that a Master's degree would be essential.  I headed to Florida State and in 2001, finished my M.S. in Geology. While getting my Master's degree, I had the opportunity to teach undergraduate classes, which happened to be my favorite part about grad school.

My first career was mostly by chance.  I didn't know what I wanted to do.  I got a job working as a geologist for a large environmental consulting firm in May 2001 through a connection with one of my professors.  After five years, I earned my Professional Geologist license. There were many wonderful things about that job, and also many things that just did not fit my lifestyle, particularly after having my two beautiful daughters. 

Nine years later, I knew I needed a change.  I thought back to my time in grad school and realized how much I loved teaching.  We moved our family back to Virginia and I got a job teaching high school Earth Science. 

There are many things I love about being in the classroom with the students, but after four years, I'm feeling a pull to do something different, but related.  One of my personal passions is reading, not just fiction, but all kinds of things.  The library seems like the perfect place to be.  I get to teach, learn, and help foster a love of reading and learning in others.