Final Reflection

I must admit that I was a bit intimidated when I began this class and had some doubts about my ability. We are now at the final countdown of this course and I am so overwhelmed with the amount of information and insight I have gained.  This course gave me the confidence to try things that I hadn’t thought to try and do things I haven’t done before.  The knowledge I gained since January has been vast and has given me the self-assurance to speak to others passionately and convincingly about educational technology.

Reflecting back on the semester I must say that was most excited about gaining understanding about blog readers.  Keeping up with blogs was something I shied away from because it was impossible to keep up with them, but blog readers allowed someone who was new to blogging to stay up to date.  I spoke to a few administrators about blogging and blog readers and I was asked to deliver professional development about my knowledge to help other teachers and professionals.  I also enjoyed doing screencasts and was able to deliver a professional development for my campus about using tweet deck for twitter chats my district hosts.  I can honestly say that there wasn’t any technology that I didn’t enjoy using. 

There were a few however that weren’t my favorite.  One of those being creating infographics and the other was the comic creators.  I’m not sure why these types of technology were difficult for me but I know that since it is a weakness then it is something I must continue to use.  I did discover through these assignments that the more I worked with these technologies the easier it became and that different interfaces were easier for me to interact with than others.  Some tools seemed easier for users depending on the ability level of the user. 

It is difficult for me to choose one tool that I feel will most benefit students. So, I’ll choose two, the first is podcasts and the other is the comics and cartoon creators.  As an elementary teacher of young students these two tools can be used across all grade levels at varying degrees based on the ability level of the user.  I feel any technology tool that can be used across all grade levels is most beneficial to students.

At times my excitement about educational technology is overwhelming for others who don’t always share my excitement.  I must remember when addressing teachers and staff members who roll their eyes at me when I talk about technology integration that I was once there.  When I began this journey into graduate school I found myself in tears with all the changes that I did not know about and how fast-paced everything moved.  It is very important for me to remember those feelings as I try to implement technology to my future colleagues in my role as librarian.  I will share my story with those I have the privilege to share technology integration with and hopefully they see that I have been where they are, and that allows them to trust me on the journey.  

Media (is) the message?

In my opinion, the medium is not the message.  I see that there is a correlation between the medium and the message but I feel that the medium in which the content is delivered does not determine if students will learn or not.  To this point, I feel that students will automatically be more interested if their learning occurs on an iPad, computer, or video game.  Engagement seems to be a huge factor for students in today’s fast-paced world and technology engages our students.  When it comes to technology we need to plan content with the end in mind. 

The role the librarian plays is huge.  Librarians are the center of the school and learning environment.  Librarians must be available to help roll out professional development that will help students and teachers become digital literate in an ever-changing technology environment. Librarians must have the knowledge that will increase student achievement and must know what technology will best suit learners. 

At this point I feel that districts have great ideas and want technology in the hands of students, but are not exactly sure what that entails.  Students merely having technology in their hands does not mean that they are learning anything.  If districts are wanting technology to be used to teach and learn then I feel that their starting point is with the teachers.  Teaching teachers how to teach using technology is vitally important for success in technology to enhance learning.  Some districts are finding that having technology in classrooms with teachers that aren’t sure what to do with it is ineffective. 

For librarians to support this vision we need to learn about as much technology as possible and stay current.  Librarians will need to develop strong professional development pieces to deliver to teachers and show them how they can implement the technology into the classroom.  Librarians will need to be flexible and relatable for teachers to trust the process of change that implementing technology will bring. 

The largest block I see that will hinder the adoption of technology is teacher attitude.  If teachers are not on board with technology use, then inevitably it will fail.  Ensuring teachers are well equipped to teach using technology will ensure success of technology in education.  Another block to adoption of technology will be budget constraints that are placed on school districts.  When money becomes an issue then technology implementation could fall by the wayside.  

Podcasts

Podcasts for teaching and learning is a new concept to me.  While researching ways to use podcasts in the classroom or library I came across many great ideas.  Here are a few ideas for using podcasts in the classroom or library:

• To tell stories
• Share and comment on recent events
• Persuade listeners to act or a to take a stance on a topic
• As a tool for teaching students to use spoken language
• Promote the library
• Sharing school news
• Book reviews or trailers
• To teach others about a library skill
• How-to’s for library procedures
• Flipped library lessons

Podcasts can be a excellent way to get information to students, staff, or parents.  The process of creating a podcast is simple and can be easily taught to students.  There are a few things that can make pod-casting difficult if it is not planned.

• Must have microphone for audio
• Should have a script or topic to discuss
• Must know how to edit and it can be time consuming
• May need to download additional software for some programs

The podcast player I chose to use was Podomatic.  Podomatic used a step by step system for the easiest uploading possible.  Their interface was simple and easy to use.  Podomatic allows the user to create a podcast that can be shared or embedded.  Users can also use the listen feature.  The listen tab allows users to listen to trending or featured podcasts. 

I will continue to use Podomatic for future use.   I made a podcast about the sunflower life cycle, a topic we are studying in my Kinder class.   Enjoy!

Comics and Cartoons

This comic was created using makebeliefscomix.com and for the first-time user it was very easy to use and navigate.  When it came to saving that was a bit more difficult.  On this site, users can only print or email final copies of their comics.  To save for future editing this site recommends that your computer have a graphic program to be able to edit later. There was enough variety to make the comics interesting and creative.  I feel that students would be able to pick up the skills necessary to create something great on this site.

This comic was created at toondoo.com, I found this site easy to navigate as well. For this site, you need to create an account and the user can save and edit their comics. Toondoo allows its users to make books and comics.  The save options were a bit trickier, the user must download the finished toondoo and there is no share or embed options.  The comic maker was simple to create and use.  Students would definitely be able to use this comic maker. It had many options for layouts, character, settings, and props.

This comic was created at pixton.com.  The comics were easy to create at this site too.  This site had better options for saving created comics.  This site allows the user to download, print and save it to the site to edit at later date.  Pixton comics can be embedded into blogs or another media which is very user friendly.  I don’t feel that students would have difficulty using this comic maker either.  Pixton has many layouts to choose from.  You can make comic strips, story boards, character maps, mind maps, timelines and it allows you to create a photo story. 

Suggestions for using comics and cartoons in the classroom or library:

•        Character Building
•        Vocabulary
•        Writing Autobiographies
•        Collaboration between students for projects
•        Creative writing
•        Comic Diaries
•        Classroom theme tie-ins
•        Create instruction manuals
•        Research
•        Converting Stories
•        Reflection Tool

For me I would choose Pixton as my comic maker because I liked the layout options for educational use.  It seems to me to offer more variety in the creating department for example, the character maps for character studies and timelines for chronological order.

Resources:

S. Hendy, Elearning Educator, Art and Multimedia Teacher at Education Queensland Follow. (2009, October 13). Tap Into The World Of Comics. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/shend5/tap-into-the-world-of-comics

How to Play with MakeBeliefsComix.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 01, 2017, from http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/How-to-Play/Educators/

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

YouTube

YouTube is a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch online videos. You can even create and upload your own videos to share with others. Originally created in 2005, YouTube is now one of the most popular sites on the Web, with visitors watching around 6 billion hours of video every month. When using videos in the classroom students retain more information, understand concepts more rapidly and are more enthusiastic about what they are learning. Connections across content areas are made more quickly.  When students create videos the content is rapidly understood and students take ownership of their learning.

Here are videos from school libraries:

Norman High School

Most Helpful:

https://youtu.be/BezObVKkqOo

Students Would Like:

https://youtu.be/NeUhXLvFAi4

The Unquiet Library

Most Helpful:

https://youtu.be/PRhEc-SJcHo

Students Would Like:

https://youtu.be/qJHgdX6cfpg

Pikesville High School Library

Most Helpful:

https://youtu.be/Q3MuhcD2y_c

Students Would Like:

https://youtu.be/cTqy_KdeAPc

BB Middle School Library

Most Helpful:

https://youtu.be/WvEsD79830k

Students Would Like:

https://youtu.be/EH3KPGuZv-0

Here are some ways that videos can be used in the library:

•      Instructional Videos
•      Book Promotion
•      School or Library Event Promotion
•      Show how to Research Databases
•      Showcase student created and led projects

Animoto

Animoto is a cloud-based system video maker that allows the user to make videos with using text, pictures, and videos.  Because it is cloud-based it is easily accessible anywhere.  The videos are customizable with a wide variety of video style options.  Best of all it is super simple to use.  Another great thing is that it has an educator option which allows the educator access to 50 free student accounts as long as they sign up using their email address from school.  I created a book trailer using Animoto for the book Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett. 

Publisher Synopsis:

When Bo spots what he thinks is a "rip-roarin', rootin'-tootin', shiny red armadillo," he knows what he has to do. Follow that armadillo! Bo leaves his mother and three brothers behind and takes off for a two-stepping, bronco-bucking adventure. Jan Brett turns her considerable talents toward the Texas countryside in this amusing story of an armadillo on his own.

You can watch the book trailer here or scan the code below:

A QR Code (it stands for "Quick Response") is a mobile phone readable bar code that can store website URL's, plain text, phone numbers, email addresses and pretty much any other alphanumeric data. 

QR codes can be used in the library for:

•     Scavenger Hunts
•     Book Trailers
•     Promotional materials
•     Tour of Library
•     Presentation of material
•     Book information
•     Video Presentations
•     Author Information
•     Contests
•     Online reading
•     Maps

Sources

(n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/

Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/video1.html

Brett, J. (n.d.). Armadillo Rodeo. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196957.Armadillo_Rodeo

QR Codes. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=QR_Codes

Scan Me! QR Codes in the School Library. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://eduscapes.com/sessions/qrcodes/

Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipagram

Screencast

For this assignment, I used Screencast-o-matic.  I created a screencast for fifth grade students who were going to be using Mackinvia for researching their biomes.  I found Screencast-o-matic very user friendly and easy to access. As a librarian, this program would be great for being able to make videos for staff, students and parents.  For teachers, this program would make it easy to show them how to access programs or new technology the videos could be sent to them or put onto the library website for access later. This program would be great for making videos for students about how to use the online catalog, online databases, or how to access the accelerated reader program.  Videos for parents about how to access the online catalog or their child’s grades could also be done with this program.  Students could also use this to highlight their learning to others or to teach their peers about a topic.

Instagram

I’ve always thought of Instagram as just another social media site and was not interested until I read about the great ways to use Instagram in the classroom.  I easily set up Instagram on my phone using my Facebook information and then I could connect to people to follow.  I liked the idea of setting up an Instagram account for the classroom or library use.  Some ways to use it for classroom use would be to track student reading or writing progress throughout the school year, fieldtrip pictures, and to highlight students in your classroom.  For library use librarians, could use Instagram to highlight authors and books new to the library or for a scavenger hunt through the biography section and post book reviews made by students.

Texas Public School Week

A post shared by Tracy Sanchez Martinez (@tracymartinez1330) on Mar 10, 2017 at 3:37pm PST

Flipagram

Flipagram is completely new to me and hadn’t thought of it as a learning tool.  Once I began to play with it I loved using it.  I created a flipgram using some photos I had taken of my students during Texas Public Schools week last week.  It was super fun and engaging.  I added music and captions to the flipagram, then I could share it using Instagram and Facebook, it was quick and easy.  Using Flipagram for the classroom or library would be easy and fun.  A few ideas to for using this program would be for retelling a story, recording steps in a process or experiment, and as a reflective document for activities that occurred during the week or day.  This could be shared on a blog or website for parents or administrators to access. 

View on Flipagram

My Choice

If I had to pick just one I would for use in the classroom or library, it would have to be Flipagram.  I loved the endless uses for the classroom and the ease at which it was to create.  Anything that is easy for me to use and create, I know will be a breeze for my Kindergarten students to pick up and use.  

ICT, M. P. (1970, January 01). Making the most of Flipagram in the classroom! Retrieved March 10, 2017, from http://mrparkinsonict.blogspot.com/2015/03/making-most-of-flipagram-in-classroom.html

Hannah Hudson on August 7, 2014 Facebook Pinterest Twitter. (2016, August 18). 10 Surprising Ways to Use Instagram in the Classroom. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from https://www.weareteachers.com/10-surprising-ways-to-use-instagram-in-the-classroom-2/

Message Design and Infographics

For this assignment we were required to create an infographic and to be honest I dislike creating infographics.  I did all the video watching and podcast listening that was required and I still was dreading this assignment.  It wasn’t until I began to dabble in each of the infographic creators that I saw the light. 

Easelly https://www.easel.ly/ was the first infographic I played with and at first glance I didn’t care for it too much.  Then when I began creating I found that the templates were simple to use and manipulate.  I found that to be plus for easelly since I am a beginner at creating infographics.  If I were to introduce infographics to a beginner this would be the tool, I would use because it is easier to navigate than the others in my opinion.  If I were more of an expert at creating infographics, then I probably would not choose easelly because there weren’t a lot of options if you don’t have the “pro” paid version.  If you don’t have the paid version, then the templates are limited and there were not many options to add objects into the infographic.   This would be my first choice in creating and teaching others to create an infographic until I got better at this skill.

Here is what I created with Easelly:

The next infographic creator I dabbled with was Picktochart, https://piktochart.com/.  At first glance it looks amazing to use and there were lots to create with.  Picktochart has different modes to create in, for example, the user can make an infographic, a presentation or a printable document.  This feature I liked a lot.  The user can choose to start from a blank document or choose a premade template.  It is diverse depending on the purpose of the user.  The reason it was not my favorite again I am a beginner and a hesitant maker of infographics and I felt that I was too much for me.  Too many choices and I found it difficult to find what I was looking for at times while I was creating.  I feel like this type of creator would be best suited for someone with more experience creating infographics not beginner like me.

Here is what I created with Picktochart:

The last infographic creator I experimented with was Infogram, http://infogr.am. I found this very easy to use if you have data ready to input. This site offered a tutorial video for getting started and had decent options for free templates.  The user can start with a design or data choice.  I liked that it had a teams tool to facilitate collaboration. This tool allowed the user to make charts and infographics with others which is great for classroom collaboration. As a future librarian this tool would be great to help generate charts and graphs to present data to administers or parents.  One downside I found was that I could not download this chart to my computer with purchasing an updated version, so I just took screenshot of what I had created.  It did allow the user the share through social media sites or embed this is a website and email to others. Overall this creator is great and one that I plan to use in the future.  

Here is what I created with Infogram:

Blogs and Blog Readers

Blog readers are the next best thing since sliced bread.  I don’t know how I ever existed without this knowledge.  I am so very excited about blog readers that I am wanting to find a way that I can tell every educator I know about them.  I have always wanted to get into blogging by reading and following other bloggers but found it very tedious to do so by visiting each one separately.  For me that is too much work and way to time consuming.  If I had information about blog readers years ago I feel like I would have been way better versed in the up and coming trends in education.   Blog readers are a great way to stay on top of the newest trends. Feed readers allow the user to keep all their favorite blog posts and bloggers in one place. 

I chose to use the Feedly app for my blog reader. 

I read through all the information provided in the The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News and More. https://zapier.com/blog/best-rss-feed-reader-apps/ and felt that this would best suit my needs as someone who is just getting started.  I was looking for a free app since I’m a teacher and almost always on a budget and this app was free but has options for a paid account if I were to change my mind.  I was also looking for a feed reader that was easy to use and easy to set up, luckily it was both.  I was able to link my Gmail account to my Freedly account seamlessly and the set up was trouble-free. There were several ways to find blogs, one was to directly enter the blog name or look up a topic of interest. I did both and found what I was looking for and interested in.  I enjoyed how I was able to put together collections that were of the same topic and label it something I would remember. This site was extremely easy to use and navigate and would recommend this to anyone beginning to follow blogs and bloggers. 

Since educational technology is a hot topic for me right now I decided to focus on blogs that related to educational technology.  Not so surprisingly there were a ton of sites to sift through.  But the following are my favorites:

https://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/

This blog is written by Lisa Nielsen and she discussed topics dealing with technology in education, social media in education, and ways to stay connected to parents through technology.

http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/

This blog is written by Gwyneth Jones.  In this blog she writes about varied topics concerning educational technology, books, and censorship.

http://www.edtechroundup.org/

This site is written by Michael Karlin.  The site gives updates on the latest technology news and reviews.  He hosts a link to elementary and secondary lesson plans for technology integration across the curriculum. 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

This site is written by Richard Byrne.  His site shares information about free resources teachers can use in their classrooms.

http://www.edudemic.com/

This site offers guidance on how to use the latest educational apps, important educational updates each week, and compilations of the most useful edtech tools and tips. 

I also began a blog on Tumblr.  Here is the link:

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tcmartinez35

Facebook and Twitter

In this blog post I will be sharing my take on two social media outlets, Facebook and Twitter and how they are used in education.  I am relatively familiar with both social media outlets but not really as a tool for education or education.  I was in meeting this week with library media specialists this week and one of topics discussed was the importance of social media as personal learning community and network.  When I first began using Facebook it was really just to connect with old friends but more and more I have found myself using Facebook to see what other teachers and librarians are doing in their classrooms and libraries. 

So through this assignment I was able to connect with school libraries and explore what is happening in libraries.  From my exploration of libraries on Facebook I found one common theme which was promotion.  They were promoting book contests, fundraisers, school events, club events that happen in the library, and spotlighted books in their libraries.  Some pages had links to articles about reading and books, podcasts, and author pages.  So another topic that was discussed in the meeting I was in this week was for libraries to promote themselves on social media and Facebook seems to be the way to do just that.  An advantage to using Facebook to promote the library is instant documentation for principles and school board members who may be questioning the importance of the library in schools. Another advantage to promoting the library on Facebook is networking.  Librarians connecting with other librarians opens opportunities for sharing and collaboration which is the key to student success.  Some disadvantages to using Facebook could be negative comments and attitudes expressed on the page.  Another disadvantage could be up keep.  If they page is not kept up to date, then it does not serve its purpose which in my opinion is to promote the great things happening in the library.

Twitter was the other social media outlet I explored for this assignment.  I am becoming more familiar with Twitter as I am using it to promote my own classroom happenings. For me Twitter is a personal learning network.  I have connected with people that share my same interests in my classroom and I am learning a great deal about educational technology.  Through my exploration of the educational technology leaders on Twitter I found they tweeted about the latest technology and articles pertaining to educational technology. Exploration also lead me to topics I want to learn more about and wrote down to explore later.  A few of those were The Creativity Project and the See, Think, Wonder routine which I hadn’t heard anything about until my exploration.  In my opinion Twitter helps to connect followers to knowledge they might not otherwise know about. 

Here are a few tweets that caught my interest:

25 awesome apps for teachers, recommended by teachers via the awesome @Edutech20 https://t.co/zbMFTAID7t pic.twitter.com/qn39Y4xzcP

— Gwyneth Jones (@GwynethJones) January 23, 2017

OK, Google's Toontastic 3D for iPad is seriously fun! My (lame) test: https://t.co/0yNEsK3vzI https://t.co/pypqr3owPS

— Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) January 14, 2017