Saturday, November 29, 2014
GLMA Membership
Over the break, my membership card to Georgia Library Media Association came in the mail. I chose this organization because it is local - and it offered a student rate. Choosing a local organization rather than a national one was important to me because I am more likely to interact with other local members through conferences, EdCamps or various connections than I am with large, distant national groups. I look forward to seeing how I can become better connected with other Library Media Specialists in Georgia.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Media Center Visit: Centennial HS
Centennial High School renovated their media center for the future. It has potential to adapt and remain flexible for the revolving door of students over the next several years. The media specialist is aware that she does need to remain flexible because students' interests and needs will change as technology and education expectations change.
During the day, I observed the media specialist mentor the Reading Bowl participants. She said this club is mostly made up of ninth graders, yet they showed their sense of responsibility in preparing for the event by reading multiple books at a time and practicing through a pretend Q&A event.
The media specialist remarked that Tuesdays are often less eventful, except in the early morning. At the start of the school day, students will come into the media center, or learning commons as they call it, to return or check out books, socialize, complete homework, pick up lunch passes, or turn in graduation dues. For a span of about 30 minutes, easily 100 or so students floated in and out of the area. Fortunately, the media specialist has her media clerk so that they both were able to run around and assist people. I struggle enough with about 10 people as I prepare for class, middle school Crew, and other library duties. Watching this showed me how much the media center is necessary and a safe haven for students.
During the day, I observed the media specialist mentor the Reading Bowl participants. She said this club is mostly made up of ninth graders, yet they showed their sense of responsibility in preparing for the event by reading multiple books at a time and practicing through a pretend Q&A event.
The media specialist remarked that Tuesdays are often less eventful, except in the early morning. At the start of the school day, students will come into the media center, or learning commons as they call it, to return or check out books, socialize, complete homework, pick up lunch passes, or turn in graduation dues. For a span of about 30 minutes, easily 100 or so students floated in and out of the area. Fortunately, the media specialist has her media clerk so that they both were able to run around and assist people. I struggle enough with about 10 people as I prepare for class, middle school Crew, and other library duties. Watching this showed me how much the media center is necessary and a safe haven for students.
Media Center Visit: Holcomb Bridge MS
I visited Holcomb Bridge Middle School again this week as a chance to see more of what the media specialist does during her day-to-day activities. She does not teach technology classes, but throughout the day teachers came in with their classes to work on projects. During these class times, I also helped the students to use PhotoStory to create a presentation about a selected country. The 6th grade social studies teacher said that they were starting this project as part of a grade for their final. It is meant to replace them simply writing an essay about a topic.
I have used PhotoStory before so I was able to help the students during the day. Although they were usually it as basically another form of PowerPoint, this program has the capability to make a voiceover photo film. I used this program in grad school to talk about a library I visited. I was able to not only upload photos, but also add my voice in the background and even some music and credits. This program could be a useful stepping stone to more advanced video editing programs or tools.
During the school day I also had the opportunity to talk with the parent volunteers, an area I struggle to build up in my own library. The volunteer I talked to actually has a child now in high school, yet she enjoys volunteering at Holcomb Bridge because there is often more to do. Our conversation gave me ideas as to how I can recruit more volunteers. For instance, she said that she enjoyed helping label books or changing student data in Destiny as it makes her feel accomplished. These activities are tasks I would love to have volunteers help complete. I will need to plan more in advance for these tasks to be available, but if volunteers feel like they are accomplishing something, then maybe they will be more inclined to be a repeat volunteer.
I have used PhotoStory before so I was able to help the students during the day. Although they were usually it as basically another form of PowerPoint, this program has the capability to make a voiceover photo film. I used this program in grad school to talk about a library I visited. I was able to not only upload photos, but also add my voice in the background and even some music and credits. This program could be a useful stepping stone to more advanced video editing programs or tools.
During the school day I also had the opportunity to talk with the parent volunteers, an area I struggle to build up in my own library. The volunteer I talked to actually has a child now in high school, yet she enjoys volunteering at Holcomb Bridge because there is often more to do. Our conversation gave me ideas as to how I can recruit more volunteers. For instance, she said that she enjoyed helping label books or changing student data in Destiny as it makes her feel accomplished. These activities are tasks I would love to have volunteers help complete. I will need to plan more in advance for these tasks to be available, but if volunteers feel like they are accomplishing something, then maybe they will be more inclined to be a repeat volunteer.
Day of Code
In about 2 weeks, my school will participate in its first Georgia Day of Code event. The middle school principal heard about this event when a STEM person came to visit our school a few weeks ago. As the media specialist, I have been asked to initiate this event and plan activities for both elementary and middle schools. In order to do so, I will need to become more familiar with coding. Through Twitter and conferences, I have gathered that this is a hot topic now as computer science becomes a skill and field of study young people should know. Fortunately, people like Khan Academy or www.code.org have cheat sheets and tips for me to browse.
Since it is short notice, my main goal will be to simply raise awareness for coding. I hope to do this through short activities that teachers, specifically science or math teachers, can use during the designated day(s). Some sites do have interesting activities, such as creating your own Angry Birds game. If students find enjoyment in the lessons, perhaps we could extend this to technology class or teachers might try it next semester for your Expeditionary Learning showcases.
This event will mark another chance to be a leader and program administrator. Whatever does not work this year, we can try to improve for the following year should we pursue it again.
Since it is short notice, my main goal will be to simply raise awareness for coding. I hope to do this through short activities that teachers, specifically science or math teachers, can use during the designated day(s). Some sites do have interesting activities, such as creating your own Angry Birds game. If students find enjoyment in the lessons, perhaps we could extend this to technology class or teachers might try it next semester for your Expeditionary Learning showcases.
This event will mark another chance to be a leader and program administrator. Whatever does not work this year, we can try to improve for the following year should we pursue it again.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Engage, Enhance and Extend Learning
Keren-Kolb, L. (2013). Engage, Enhance, and Extend Learning!. Learning & Leading With Technology, 40(7), 20-27.
I recently reread this article after reading it a few years ago for a class. The 3 E's are easy enough to remember, but I have always kept the thought in the back of my mind about how I am actually bringing them into learning or technology integration. In fact, I would like to share this article with teachers and staff. I don't doubt that they have to think about the 3 E's when planning lessons based on the CCGPS, yet I wonder if they have ever thought about how it applies to technology? Additionally, as a school that incorporates Expeditionary Learning principles, how do the 3 E's apply to real life application and characteristics?
I think we can sometimes easily fall into the trap of just using technology to engage students' interest without really challenging their learning. Expeditionary Learning often stresses real life application of knowledge and life skills. While computer literacy skills could arguably be included in this list, it should go beyond that. Knowing how to use technology could lead to opportunities to use it to create websites about community service, videos that bring awareness to an issue, etc.
I recently reread this article after reading it a few years ago for a class. The 3 E's are easy enough to remember, but I have always kept the thought in the back of my mind about how I am actually bringing them into learning or technology integration. In fact, I would like to share this article with teachers and staff. I don't doubt that they have to think about the 3 E's when planning lessons based on the CCGPS, yet I wonder if they have ever thought about how it applies to technology? Additionally, as a school that incorporates Expeditionary Learning principles, how do the 3 E's apply to real life application and characteristics?
I think we can sometimes easily fall into the trap of just using technology to engage students' interest without really challenging their learning. Expeditionary Learning often stresses real life application of knowledge and life skills. While computer literacy skills could arguably be included in this list, it should go beyond that. Knowing how to use technology could lead to opportunities to use it to create websites about community service, videos that bring awareness to an issue, etc.
Instructional Technology Committee
The middle school principal recently selected a couple of faculty members, myself included, to be part of the new technology committee. Our goal is to better integrate technology usage into the school. Currently, about half of middle school has brought in their BYOD forms and devices to use throughout the school day as teachers see fit. Fourth and fifth graders are slowly rolling into this inclusion. The school is looking for ways to purchase more technology for the school, but both middle school and elementary administration see BYOD as a step to extend the learning beyond textbooks or standard learning methods.
My role in this committee is that of the leader and planner in how to take it further. More specifically, I will have to figure out how to gain teachers' support in using technology. I think most teachers will welcome the opportunity bring in technology on a more frequent basis, it is fundamental that they are comfortable with using it themselves. For example, if science teachers want to use an app about the Earth, they will need to know what apps work for all kinds of devices, or examples of products they could create with the use of app. My personal goal is that I can encourage teachers to collaborate with me more frequently with their lessons. I would like to know more about what they're doing within the classroom so that when they come to me for help, I'll have a better idea of where to search for resources.
My role in this committee is that of the leader and planner in how to take it further. More specifically, I will have to figure out how to gain teachers' support in using technology. I think most teachers will welcome the opportunity bring in technology on a more frequent basis, it is fundamental that they are comfortable with using it themselves. For example, if science teachers want to use an app about the Earth, they will need to know what apps work for all kinds of devices, or examples of products they could create with the use of app. My personal goal is that I can encourage teachers to collaborate with me more frequently with their lessons. I would like to know more about what they're doing within the classroom so that when they come to me for help, I'll have a better idea of where to search for resources.
Build with Chrome
While at the GaETC conference, I briefly heard mention of www.buildwithchrome.com . It sounded like an interesting concept - build things with LEGOs! I introduced it to fourth and fifth graders with rousing enthusiasm, but administration might need better clarification as to why it would be a useful link.
Build with Chrome lets users create anything from the imagination with the ability to publish it to the world if the user has a Google+ account. Since we are trying to incorporate use of Chromebooks, I could see this being used with a STEM approach in mind if each student is able to save or publish their work through their school-created gmail account. For example, this site could be used for all elements of the STEM philosophy. Students could plan blueprints to design architecture related to a lesson or for end of the semester showcase. If teachers show an interest in this site, it is important that I collaborate with them or provide ideas in how to use it as part of a lesson to enhance learning.
Build with Chrome lets users create anything from the imagination with the ability to publish it to the world if the user has a Google+ account. Since we are trying to incorporate use of Chromebooks, I could see this being used with a STEM approach in mind if each student is able to save or publish their work through their school-created gmail account. For example, this site could be used for all elements of the STEM philosophy. Students could plan blueprints to design architecture related to a lesson or for end of the semester showcase. If teachers show an interest in this site, it is important that I collaborate with them or provide ideas in how to use it as part of a lesson to enhance learning.
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