5391 Final Reflection

For this final blog post assignment I will reflect on my experiences with the technology I encountered in this course (5391). The technology aspect of this course was very fun and interesting to work with and experience. The only thing I found challenging was the amount of time we spent on each module. If I was given the choice again, I would of chosen to take the longer version of this course instead.

The technology that most excited me was Pixton. I loved working with it and the ideas for its use in social studies and civics is tantalizing.

I wouldn’t say any of the technology was difficult to use, again, time constraints is what did me in.

I believe all this tech can help students greatly so there isn't one application/site more beneficial than others. Used correctly, all the technology that we had a chance to work with can provide great benefits to an otherwise stale curriculum. 

Podcasts

In this blog post assignment, I am to discuss the use of Podcasts and there use in the classroom. I tried several of the links for tips on how to use them in the classroom, but they didn’t work so I decided to brainstorm myself. The best idea I could come up with was peer-to-peer tutoring. Students are presented with written material which they have to convert to a podcast and share with their peers. I am sure there are many other classroom applications, but I feel like this would be a great starting point. I added my sample podcast below. 

As far as usability, it was incredibly easy to use. I settled with PodOmatic, but I could have easily used Soundcloud or Audioboo as they were are incredibly simple to use. I added my sample podcast below. 

Cartoons & Comics

In this blog assignment post, I will review three comic strip making websites: ToonDoo, Pixton, MakeBeliefsComix.

ToonDoo

ToonDoo was a little hard to understand. It was not difficult, but definately time-consuming without a proper tutorial. The variety of drawings and text available was adequate though not understanding the mechanics of it made it difficult to create.

http://www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=11684801

Pixton

Based on a quick comparison of ToonDoo and Pixton, I found Pixton to be a lot more user friendly. It also has a lot more variety as far as what you can add and the characters available. This app was very fun to use, and I'd recommend it even to use just for leisure. The saving part was a deal breaker, I had to upgrade if I wanted to save so I had to embed it instead. 

(Preview only)
https://www.pixton.com/schools/comic/aibj8qge

Makebeliefscomix

Out of all three comic-strip makers, I found Makebelifscomix to be the easiest and fastest to use. It also was the most limited in what it had available however. The comic was easy to create and even easier to save.

Sharing Comics with Teachers-colleagues

I think a general presentation on these sites would suffice to get teachers interested in what they have to offer. Instead of showing teachers how they can use them, I'd instead provide them links on how some teachers have used them in the past. I think this way they can have first-hand examples of how best to utilize these tools.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

     For this blog post assignment, I will review YouTube video, QR codes, and create a sample book trailer. First, I will be looking at four school library YouTube channels, and choosing two videos from each Channel. My choices will be based on: 1) which is the most helpful for students. 2) Which is the video that the students would like the best?Then, I will create a book trailer and embed a QR code to it.

YouTube

The NHS Library

1). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezObVKkqOo

This video would be most helpful to students because EBSCOHost is a vital research tool in college.

2). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4

Student would like this video because it is funny and entertaining.

The Unquiet Library

1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix5d6dKES2o

All videos were helpful, but I chose this one because it provided useful information that might not be common knowledge to students such as protecting your identity

2.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hym3RIwcrA

I think students would like this video because it is helpful, and very concise. It allows the student to do further research if necessary without boring the viewer.

Pikesville High School Library

1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esKCAk_t6v0

This is a long video, but very helpful to graduating seniors.

2). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ysT9BZVTG4

I feel students would like this video best because it shows the library in a different light. Some students might not be aware that the library can be a place of fun.

BBMSMedia

1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdrCb_hHuDI

Students would benefit from this how-to video on citations because there is always questions on citations, and this video answers many of them. It shows shortcuts as well.

2.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MZ9xVfhokY

This is the video students would probably most enjoy because all students love parodies. 

Book Trailer

The book trailer I created was for the book, Birds, Birds, Birds by the National Wildlife Federation. It is an activity book that teaches secondary school students about birds. The book is filled with a variety information on birds, from their evolutionary history to their geographic location. The book also comes with puzzles and drawings to help teach students about birds in a fun way.

Synopsis:  

How do birds affect our lives - and how do we affect theirs? What is like to fly? Twenty-five environmentally-conscious indoor and outdoor activities fir the bill for a young bird watchers. Watch youngsters take flight into the captivating world of our feathered friends as they learn about migration patterns, habitats, eggs, family life, feathers, and much more. Birds, Birds, Birds supplies all the guidance and inspiration teachers and other group leaders need to steer youngsters into hands-on learning and fun. 

Birds, birds, birds ! (1992). Washington: National Wildlife Federation.

Scan the QR code to check out my trailer.

QR code

Lastly, I really liked the purpose of QR codes and how they are used at the library. I still don't know how I would use QR codes exactly, but I am planning on using them for book trailers like I did for this assignment. 

Screencast, Instagram, and Flipagram

For this blog post assignment, I will be reviewing Instagram, Flipagram, and Jing's usability as classroom tools.

Instagram

Like most social media applications nowadays, Instagram is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. In the classroom, Instagram helps bring a world of pictures to the palms of every student with a smartphone or ipad.  If proper security and safety measures are taken such as web filters, this app can be a great addition to the classroom. For my example, I used a recent field trip I went to with senior students at Roma High School. Ideally, this account would be a "class account" view-able only to those with granted access to it, and the picture would be taken by students.

Student Legislative Session 2017

A post shared by Eleazar Resendez (@resendezeleazar) on Nov 16, 2017 at 11:08am PST

Flipagram

After looking over Flipagram, I found myself wondering how Instagram manages to still thrive. Flipagram does the same job than Instagram, yet it has more components. In all honesty I didn't look over both apps sufficiently to call Instagram completely obsolete, however I can say Flipagram has some nice add-ons that I didn't readily see on Instagram. And like Instagram, Flipagram can have an endless amount of uses in the classroom.  For this example, I created a short version of #ReadingSelfies

View on Flipagram

Jing

Jing was the last tool I used, and I found it to be the easiest of the three. Though none of them were particularly difficult to navigate, Jing's limited buttons and icons made its use, seamless. Based on how I used it, I do see how it might have its limits in the classroom. Still, this tool seems great for sending lessons home to homebound students. For my example, I do a simple keyword search for books in the Roma Middle School Library.

Infographics

Infographics

For this blog post, I will critique three top infographic makers: easel.ly, piktochart.com, and infogr.am

     After reviewing the three infographic makers, I ultimately decided to go with piktochart.com for my assignment. Though each one essentially performed the same job, I found piktochart.com to be the easiest to use. Though this might seem a bit unrelated, but it’s worth noting that the tutorial videos on YouTube for piktochart.com were also the most comprehensive of all three. Infogr.am started with an example written in another language which really made me think twice about it.

     Another aspect that made me choose piktochart.com was the variety of editing tools it had. It definitely had more free editing tools than easel.ly. As for infogr.am, I didn’t offer much for free either. Piktochart.com on the other hand, had a lot of free backgrounds and chart styles.

     Here is a very dressed down version of the many things you can do with piktochart.com:

References:

Create and share visual ideas using infographics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from                     https://www.easel.ly/

                            

Create infographics & online charts - Infogram. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from                       https://infogram.com/app/#/edit/84ed3d14-618f-4f79-bcdb-0da4a7508c0c

Duggan, M. (2017, July 11). Online Harassment 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017, from                       http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/07/11/online-harassment-2017/

Get Piktochart on the App Store. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from                                               https://create.piktochart.com/infographic

Resendez, E. (n.d.). Get Piktochart on the App Store. Retrieved November 11, 2017, from                         https://create.piktochart.com/infographic/saved/26027695#

Facebook Pages and Twitter

Facebook Pages for School Library Promotion Review

     After researching the top school library Facebook pages, it seems most of these are used to inform staff, students and the community about upcoming library events as well as contests. Most posts relate to book reviews, and contest details and/or results. All pages were heavy on pictures and videos of students enjoying themselves at the library. I was surprised to see there wasn’t much going on as far as comments or “likes” being posted however.

   

     I believe one of the biggest advantages of these pages is how easily accessible they are. It is available to anyone with a phone and internet access. Accessibility is key in order to reach the largest possible audience.

   
A slight disadvantage to using Facebook has to do with the popularity of the application. As technology keeps developing at an incredibly fast rate, new and refined applications replace old ones. Facebook is being used less and less by the younger generations so school library are at a disadvantage if this is their only mode of promotion.

Twitter Exploration of Ed-Tech Leaders

     After exploring the tweets by ed tech leaders, I’ve come to the conclusion that they all share the same undying passion for education. Their accounts were very distinct, however. Each of the 5 individuals I researched had distinct tweets and links to follow, and even the level of activities within the accounts varied greatly. Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) had more tech related talk, while David Warlick’s (@dwarlick) tweets were mostly videos and pictures of places he travelled on speaking events. Gwyneth Jones (@GwynethJones) and Linda Braun’s (@lbraun2000) accounts are geared more towards highlighting and reviewing books. Jim Lerman’s (@jimlerman) account did a little of everything, but mostly focused on teaching strategies.

     In closing, I feel like each of the 5 individuals researched had a lot to offer in the field of education. Though some pushed the “tech” aspect more than others, each one had something useful to bring to the education table.