Final Reflection

Final Reflection

What is my reflection about this course?  I feel as happy as the day I went to explore Yellowstone!  At first, I was extremely nervous and afraid to explore. But As I traveled through this course I felt like a new adventure awaited me and pushed me to take the challenge on learning about all the digital technology tools.  With every step that I took I learned about something new, something I had never been exposed to.  I was not a technology savvy person and felt really challenged taking this course.  I hadn’t even heard of many of the websites and apps that I have now been introduced to. I have learned so much that now, I can say I understand enough to demonstrate how to use these tools in different ways that can help enhance students learning and assist teachers with teaching creatively within the curriculum in all subjects.  I have really enjoyed this course and feel very grateful because I have accomplished it! 

Which ones were most exciting?

 

I really enjoyed using the comic strip the most. I got to work with different comic strips such as ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComic. When I saw how simple it was to use, I immediately found many ways it could benefit students learning any subject.  Not only would they benefit but also truly engage them in creating their stories on a computer and enjoy themselves at the same time. Students get excited when they get to use something new.  In addition, this really facilitates their thinking skills and creativity which gets them to writing without hesitation. Comic strips can be used for beginners to advanced learners. They can be used to express a message, identify characters, settings, and plot. They can also be used to retell sequence of events and many other things.  Cartoon comics can be a powerful teaching tool that can be used for any subject.

Which ones were most difficult? 

The most difficult in my opinion was the infographic.  I just had a hard time trying to figure out how to work with it and how to design it to make it interesting and appealing.  But the most difficulty I experienced with it, was trying to make the images fit in the right places.  Despite all the challenges, I learned the basics on how to create infographics and with practice I know I can get better at it.

Which one (in my opinion) will most benefit students?

I feel that Screencast-o-matic would be a great benefit to students because I could introduce any technology through this wonderful tool such as, step by step process on how to access technology, how to create comic strips, infographics, or introduce any other new technology tools which in return, would keep everyone up to date with the new technology.  The thought of getting to see everything done visually through a computer screen just can’t get any easier.  Not only can it benefit students but it can be of great use for librarians to introduce new technology to teachers so that they can use in their classrooms as well.  I also feel that Comic strips can be very beneficial for students. Comic strips can be used to teach any subject, engage students, and are very fun to learn with.

I am very excited to have been exposed to all these great technology tools because now I have the opportunity to be able to introduce them to my future library students and teachers. I feel confident and am now able to use these tools within the curriculum and in lessons that can help students and teachers with the use of digital technology tools. But most of all, help those that are not technology savvy to use the technology available, which in return can help enhance students learning and assist teachers with teaching creatively within the curriculum in all subjects. 

Podcasts

What is a podcast?  A podcast is an audio recording that can be listened to on the internet. It can be automatically downloaded to a computer.  Podcasts can be on just about anything and are becoming very popular. I created accounts to the following podcasts websites.


Soundcloud is an audio distribution platform online that allows people to record, upload, and share their sound creations.  There are three subscription levels.  With the free subscription you get a limit of 120 minutes of uploaded audio and it lets you know how much space you've used and how much you have left.  For a fee you can get the pro or pro unlimited accounts for more upload hours.  It is very user friendly and very simple to upload audio. I really liked working with Soundcloud the best. Below is a podcast I created using Soundcloud to introduce the Little Free Library.




https://soundcloud.com/user-943251251/little-free-library










Another podcasting service that is easy to use is Podomatic. It offers a free basic account but also has pro accounts with extra features for a fee.  It allows for you to record an audio or video and place it online. It is user friendly and easy to work with.  It allows you to share and embed your link to your podcast.  The only problem is that it is only free for a month and after the month you will be billed a monthly fee.

PodBean is another podcasting service that offers a free package and also pro accounts. It allows you to upload, publish, manage, and promote your podcasts in a quick and simple way.  You can get unlimited bandwidth and storage for a fee.  It is available for all your technical needs 24/7. 

Cartoons and Comics

Cartoons and comics are a fun way to learn, read, and feel entertained.  Cartoon and Comics are becoming more and more popular than before. Students need to be engaged in learning so why not do it with a comic strip?  Below are a few websites for creating comic strips and some recommendations.


ToonDoo


ToonDoo is a free website that allows you to create fun and entertaining comic strips and cartoons. Once you log in, it is very easy to work with. It is very student friendly. When creating a comic strip, it first provides you with a variety of layout options to choose from. Once you choose your layout, it provides you with many tools that allow you to edit your comic as you are creating it. There are many options available, such as choosing different characters, backgrounds, and items that you can click and drag to the layout. It also gives you options such as creating your own characters, enlarging or shrinking items, rotating and flipping the pictures being added, and it gives you a variety of of other tools available to continue creating your comic strip. Once you are done you can publish it, keep it private, share it with others, and allow others to edit it. It also lets you read other users comics. I really enjoyed creating my comic strip through ToonDoo. Students would easily be able to use it without any problems. I would use this with my students.

By ehv002 | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Pixton

Pixton is another great cartoon and comic strip maker that is free and fun to work with.  To start creating a comic you select create a comic. Then it gives you a layout option to select which includes a comic strip, storyboard, or graphic novel. You then have a choice of selecting from different backgrouds provided. Then it gives you different characters to choose from. The talking bubbles are already provided in the panels as you create your comic strip. Selecting your items allows you to see buttons that relate to what your doing. At first, it was a little difficut to work with beacause there are certain things you need to be aware of when creating your comic strips.  As you will see below in the comic strip I created, the characters are always in the same position.  I realized after I had posted it that there are options to change the position of the characters. I went back and changed the positions of the characters on my comic strip below. By clicking on the character, it then gave me options to choose the characters position.  If you click on the link below my comic strip, you will see the different positions.  The final step was saving it which was pretty easy to do. At the end it allows you to share it in an email, embedd into your site, or  share the link provided at the bottom of your comic strip. To download and print you have to pay a fee. Overall, I really enjoyed woking with Pixton. I believe it is easy enough to use with older students beacause it is a little more difficult.

Please click on the link below to view the different positions of the characters in the comic strip.

https://Pixton.com/ic:niyvo8y6



Make Beliefs Comix


Make Beliefs Comix is also a free website to create fun comic strips.  It does not require you to create an account which is great because you can get started right away.  It provides you with the panels. All you have to do is select your characters, background, objects and words.  It does allow you to type in your own words and choose your choice of talking bubbles. You click on the character, background, or item, then you click on the desired option to edit it such as, delete, bring to front or back, flip, scale or move.  It also gives you the option of choosing panel prompts.  I did find it fun to use but a little more time consuming because I had to explore the buttons to figure out how to work with it and it had a limited amount of characters and backgrounds to choose from. Overall, this was the hardest to use and create a comic strip.
















Creating comic strips with these three websites was very entertaining. Using comic strips in schools can be an engaging part of learning any subject.  I can definitely see the benefits that students can gain through comic strips while writing to express themselves.  I would suggest teachers to use comic strips because they can use them to teach things like sequence of events, create autobiographies, and  engage ESL students in learning through visuals aids.  Out of all the three, I enjoyed working with ToonDoo the best.  It is very easy to use and provides you with alot more options.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

Today educators are becoming more involved in teaching with technology.  Here are a some of videos from different libraries that show how Librarians are using youtube. 


Youtube Channel: Calypso Gilstrap














Youtube Channel: The Unquiet Library















Youtube Channel: Pikesvillehslibrary














Youtube Channel: bbmsmedia

Which is the most helpful for students?  

I feel that the most helpful video for students would be Tiger visits the Norman High Library. It shows a presentation of the library and explore all of the available resources at hand. The Tiger is a fun way to show off the library and a great motivator.

Which is the video that the students would like the best?  

The video I believe the students would like the best is Issues by Julia Michaels Overdue Library Parody.  This video is done in a very attractive and engaging way by using music and inputting words to overdue books.  It  constantly reminds and encourages students to bring back their overdue books and serves as a great motivator to act responsibly when it comes to turning books in on time. 

How you will use videos to promote your library?  

I would use videos to show off the different resources available at the library, promote new technologies, advertise new books, advertise events such as the book fair, and teach students the use of new programs in the library. 

Animoto Book Trailer

Animoto is a great and easy way to communicate anything through video.  It provides a variety of  background styles with music to choose from.  Once you select a background you can upload pictures or videos from your computer.  It also allows you to add text.  When your done adding pictures, videos or text then you can right click and drag your items to place them in any order you choose.  Finally, after saving it you can leave it in Animoto or on Youtube to share and embed onto your blog. Here is a book trailer I created with Animoto. 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Synopsis

Speak                                          

by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.0  ·   Rating details ·  378,603 Ratings  ·  18,694 Reviews

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.

Reference

L. H. (n.d.). Speak. Retrieved November 04, 2017, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/439288.Speak

QR Code-Speak Book Trailer 

Scan QR code to view book trailer

How would you like to start using QR Codes in your library?

QR stands for quick response. QR codes can be scanned and read quickly by cell phones. 

There are many ways a QR code can be used for.  They can be used for book trailers, link to the library website, instructions on how to access the different resources in the library, and for youtube videos advertising the library or events at the library. QR codes can be used for a lot of things, they are fun to use and great for engaging students attention.