Reflections On This Class

Well, I did a bit of reflecting in one of the previous posts below, but let me take a moment and really think about where I was and where I am now since I've taken this course LIBS 602.  Let me just admit something right now and get it out in the open:  technology intimidates me sometimes!  Yep, there ya' go I admit it.  I have always been afraid of trying new technology things because usually when I do I either get flustered with it and confused OR I download something that puts some sort of junk on my computer that I can't get off!  So at the beginning of this course, I was very nervous when I heard about some of the things we were going to be doing and there were honestly some nights when I would work on stuff and get so upset that I'd be a bundle of nerves and tears, but after taking a break from it and getting myself together, I would go back and labor through it and give myself "pep talks" saying things like "You can do this Susan, just try!"  Sometimes I would get through a project, feel REALLY good about it and then I'd start looking at everyone else's work and feel like mine was pitiful and very basic.  LOL!  But you know what?  I was learning and growing and facing some major technology fears here people, so YES, I had something to be proud of too!  And thank goodness there were some really great friends in this cohort that would answer my questions and help me out because we have one amazing group of people who take the time to support and cheer each other along!  And, like I said in my post below, this experience has not only opened my eyes to some amazing technology tools, but it has taught me to have greater empathy for my students who struggle in MY class.  Now I can realize how they feel and I can be their cheerleader like my friends in this group have been there for me (along with my amazing professor, Dr. Kimmel!).  It really makes a difference to have others helping you along when you feel frustrated and you're trying so hard to learn!  And look at where I am now!  I can blog, make presentations, posters, flyers, etc. and it feels pretty darn good to know that I am progressing and actually LEARNING some technology!

Lucy Librarian

Here's a picture I just found on my camera from the Makerspace activity we did at ODU a few weeks ago.  We were given 2 bulbs, 2 D batteries, and aluminum foil.  We then had to use recycled stuff to create something that would use electricity and then make hook up the electrical circuit with a switch.  My amazingly creative and FUN group decided to make an Operation Game around the theme of Libraryland so we constructed "Lucy Librarian!"  OMG we laughed so hard while making this thing and even got a "shock" when we made a short circuit that gave us a little jolt!  LOL!  In the end, we had a really fun experience with makerspaces that showed us first-hand how great these little learning experiences can be in our libraries (and classrooms).  I loved it!

Future Librarian??????

I was working on posting my last entry and Piper jumped up here beside me. I snapped a quick pic and got my presentation in the background. Looks like Piper wants to be a future librarian! LOL!

Conference Presentation

This week we had to go back and review all of the technology tools we have played around with this semester (there were a LOT) and pick four that we could present at a conference. I picked Blogger, PixieClip, BigHugeLabs, and Canva. I really enjoyed learning about these technology tools that I can use with my students this year! I am not as "tech savvy" as some of my colleagues so it takes me a little longer to get the hang of things. This semester has definitely been a challenge for me because sometimes I get frustrated with technology things that I don't understand at first, especially when others are just flying along getting it and making super cool things and I'm sitting in my livingroom in tears because I just don't get it. I've had to learn to kind of play with something and then take a break from it and come back later to try again. I think a LOT of the time I just put too much pressure on myself to get understand things immediately and then I get easily frustrated with myself when I don't. So, this semester I've had to have more patience with myself! I have most definitely learned a LOT about these tools and the many others that we have tried out and played around with. For example, I had NO earthly idea what a QR code was and now I not only know what they are, but I've made a few of my own! How cool is THAT????? I didn't even know that you could create a Power Point presentation and upload it to SlideShare so that you can share the URL! I think this class has also taught me to have more empathy for my students who struggle in MY classes and to realize how they feel when I'm teaching something and they don't get it as easily as their classmates. Lesson learned!!! Overall, I've really enjoyed this class and I feel so much better about myself because I've grown so much, learned a lot, and realized that I can be creative when using technology. I feel like I have some new skills in my toolkit that I can use in Math and Science to give my students another outlet for showing what THEY know! So..........with all of that said, here is the URL to my PowerPoint presentation featuring my "Cool Tools To Make Your Heart Skip A Beat:" http://www.slideshare.net/susanpappleton/cool-tools-to-make-your-heart-skp

Cool Tools To Make Your Heart Skip A Beat new and edited from Susan Appleton

Staying Current

One of our other assignments was to look at some blogs of librarians who stay current and updated on the latest technology and library movements.  After looking over a number of them, the one that really stood out to me and spoke to my heart as a future librarian was Shannon McClintock Miller's blog called "The Library Voice" because as I was reading her blog she had one entry where she had helped a young girl start her own blog so she could share her own creative "voice" and have an outlet for things that she wanted to express.  I think a lot of our students have this need because they feel like no one listens to them or values their opinion.  I thought about how I could work blogging into my classroom this year and also later when I become a librarian.  She also had a post about makerspaces and was encouraging other librarians/teachers to share how they have set up makerspaces in their libraries/classrooms.  This is something that I have become VERY interested in through my coursework.  I like the way Ms. Miller has a blog where she shares ideas and also encourages others to comment and share too.  It is a very "common learning" space for all to feel welcome in expressing and sharing ideas.  I really enjoyed it!

www.figment.com

Here is my third choice of favorites from the 2014 AASL's Top Websites.  I fell in LOVE with this website because I absolutely LOVE Writing!!!!!  I have kept a journal since I was in 5th-grade (I'm on journal #16 now!) so when I opened up this website and discovered that this one gives students a chance to publish their writings, I was mesmerized.  Students can go in and look up topics that are being written about and join the list of published authors as they create their own original work.  How EXCITING that is to have  a forum to share your writing with others!  This website also has contests and the one that I looked at for July gives them a prompt and they are to create something using 750 words or less.  Such a creative outlet for the students in the classroom who truly enjoy the art of creative writing and are looking for an authentic way to put their work out there for others to read.  I read five published works ABOUT journal writing and really enjoyed them!  I love this website!!!!!!
www.figment.com

www.canva.com

Here is another website that I played around with from the 2014 AASL Best Websites.  It is called Canva and you can EASILY design posters, flyers, etc. and add either your own pictures or pictures that they have (most of them cost $1.00 each).  I had a ball designing a poster for our school's Open House.  We are the Gibson Bulldogs so I used a bulldog picture that we have in stock and uploaded it and then chose free text features to type the information about the date and the time.  I chose the template of a cell phone since I know how much our students LOVE cell phones.  I did all of this in about 10 minutes, so it's VERY simple and fun to use!  Students would LOVE to use this to create posters and other graphics for concepts and skills they are learning in the classroom.  Here's my creation:

www.canva.com