Visual... Digital... Instantaneous... Connection... Creative.... Inspirational
These are the adjectives that describe our current society. When working with students, it is imperative to translate thoughts and ideas into a language they understand. That requires using the same tools and learning from them. Two apps I have learned to use are Instagram and Vine.
Instagram allows users to upload pictures and short video, add simple visual effects, and share it with followers. I learned about this tool about a year ago from teens I work with at church.They love sharing selfies, pics of their daily lives, and other oddities that cross their path. I have enjoyed sharing what students can do, what is new in my class library, and what students have created. As an adult the best way to do this, for privacy and safety of students, is to create a private account that is accessible only to approved followers.
Vine is an app that allows users to create 6 second videos. They loop when they are viewed. It is a great tool to share motion or several still action photos. I see this tool being used by a lot of adults to share books and silly moments. Due to the short video loop is it not good for sharing ideas that require background information to understand. The students I work with have migrated away from Vine in recent months in favor of other picture and video sharing apps. I still like Vine's "moving photo" feel. It's almost like those pictures in the Harry Potter movies.
With these two tools, librarians and teachers can share moments and snippets of time that reflect important values in their learning environment. AND, they are fun to use. Students' creativity can drive a lot of how these and other apps can enhance their learning experiences.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Books, Libraries, and the Changing Digital Landscape
Zickuhr, K. Books, libraries, and the changing digital landscape, Pew Internet & American Life Project, October 12, 2013, http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/12/books-libraries-and-the-changing-digital-landscape/ , April 21, 2014. 43 pgs
Using quantitative phone surveys and qualitative online questionnaires Kathryn Zickuhr presents an eye opening presentation regarding the current trends in how libraries are changing in regards to the ever increasing digital world. After presenting a variety of statistics regarding patron's usage of digital sources, from online news sources to e-readers, it is concluded that libraries are still well used, but their constituents are changing their preferences of how to obtain information. It is suggested that libraries consider fewer traditional modes, such as paper books and periodicals. According to the presentation, they should focus on convenience and connections in "digital literacies" of social media, apps, and websites.
I found many interesting statistical details within this presentation that lead me to agree with the findings of the researcher. First of all, the way respondents receive their daily news is shifting. Online and Digital news sources have skyrocketed in the recent past while traditional newspaper, radio, and TV platforms have plummeted. It shows that users are turning to digital sources for their most essential and daily uses. Another statistic I found interesting is that while e-book reading is increasing, a majority of respondents still feel that reading a print book is more effective with children or when sharing with others. I find this to be true in my classroom. E-books have a smaller size and are harder to share with a group. Even though they are digital natives, children still like to sit with paper books and flip pages, admire pictures, and run their fingers over words as they decode the text. The tactile processing seems to be necessary from an observational standpoint.
The presentation concluded with information that shows that while libraries are still used a majority of the time for book browsing and information seeking, they must begin adapting to a new generation of users that are more comfortable with screens and keyboards than the Dewey Decimal system. A majority of respondents shared that they would be likely to use online research services, library apps, and tech try out programs if they were offered. These are some ideas that librarians could use to bring new technologies into a traditional system.
The presentation can be found at this link:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/12/books-libraries-and-the-changing-digital-landscape/
Pew Research total: 43/150 Total to date: 123/150 pages
Using quantitative phone surveys and qualitative online questionnaires Kathryn Zickuhr presents an eye opening presentation regarding the current trends in how libraries are changing in regards to the ever increasing digital world. After presenting a variety of statistics regarding patron's usage of digital sources, from online news sources to e-readers, it is concluded that libraries are still well used, but their constituents are changing their preferences of how to obtain information. It is suggested that libraries consider fewer traditional modes, such as paper books and periodicals. According to the presentation, they should focus on convenience and connections in "digital literacies" of social media, apps, and websites.
I found many interesting statistical details within this presentation that lead me to agree with the findings of the researcher. First of all, the way respondents receive their daily news is shifting. Online and Digital news sources have skyrocketed in the recent past while traditional newspaper, radio, and TV platforms have plummeted. It shows that users are turning to digital sources for their most essential and daily uses. Another statistic I found interesting is that while e-book reading is increasing, a majority of respondents still feel that reading a print book is more effective with children or when sharing with others. I find this to be true in my classroom. E-books have a smaller size and are harder to share with a group. Even though they are digital natives, children still like to sit with paper books and flip pages, admire pictures, and run their fingers over words as they decode the text. The tactile processing seems to be necessary from an observational standpoint.
The presentation concluded with information that shows that while libraries are still used a majority of the time for book browsing and information seeking, they must begin adapting to a new generation of users that are more comfortable with screens and keyboards than the Dewey Decimal system. A majority of respondents shared that they would be likely to use online research services, library apps, and tech try out programs if they were offered. These are some ideas that librarians could use to bring new technologies into a traditional system.
The presentation can be found at this link:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/12/books-libraries-and-the-changing-digital-landscape/
Pew Research total: 43/150 Total to date: 123/150 pages
Friday, April 18, 2014
Why Newspapers are Going Broke
We live in the information age. How people get their news, share their news, and view their news has changed dramatically in the last decade. With the increase of numerous digital forms of information curation, it's no wonder the newspaper industry is left scrambling for the crumbs. Users now demand personalization, real time news, and easy to navigate tools.
We are also a mobile society. Consumers demand to know things on the go. The following is a brief review of some popular phone apps that will bring the news to you.
Very easy to install and set up; asks for minimal information and learns what you like to read about; wide array of stories to choose from; easy navigation between top stories and specific lists.
Takes the place of Google currents; provides a wide range of articles; does not personalize streams of information; searches will bring back items for purchase, like magazines, and sends user to other webpages; acts like an old fashioned newspaper in organization
Flipboard
Named for its flip-like motion as you swipe through pages; allows user to customize the news feed with a limited number of categories; adds personal Twitter and Facebook feeds to news stream; requires a log in for personalization
I like the easy to use and interesting format of Flipboard the best. The screen movement engages me and keeps me looking for more articles.
When you are ready for the full experiences of what information curation can do, it's time to look into some different sites on your computer.
The definitive online newspaper! This is a favorite for morning reading. Maybe it's the format that reminds me of my childhood eating breakfast around the table, reading the comics while Dad perused the front page. Easy to set up, good variety of sources for articles; a great way to find new information in your topic of choice; has a widget that allows for quick additions while you are surfing the web
Very connected to social media; seems to be the most customizable by linking the articles your Twitter friends tweet; less newspapery and more list oriented; hard to find the original site due to the domain name being getprismatic.com instead of just prismatic; makes information a sharable commodity; layout is a not flashy or overly active
My favorite computer based tool is Scoop.it. This is a fast, easy way to keep up with information that you would like to share and remember for later.
With all this information swirling around my head, I wonder how people who don't read well, quickly, or accurately can manage the barrage of stuff to know. I found myself becoming a headline junkie and a non-close reader. There are many applications to education for these tools. I can't wait to explore them in more detail.
We are also a mobile society. Consumers demand to know things on the go. The following is a brief review of some popular phone apps that will bring the news to you.
Zite
Very easy to install and set up; asks for minimal information and learns what you like to read about; wide array of stories to choose from; easy navigation between top stories and specific lists.
Google Play Newstand
Takes the place of Google currents; provides a wide range of articles; does not personalize streams of information; searches will bring back items for purchase, like magazines, and sends user to other webpages; acts like an old fashioned newspaper in organization
Named for its flip-like motion as you swipe through pages; allows user to customize the news feed with a limited number of categories; adds personal Twitter and Facebook feeds to news stream; requires a log in for personalization
I like the easy to use and interesting format of Flipboard the best. The screen movement engages me and keeps me looking for more articles.
When you are ready for the full experiences of what information curation can do, it's time to look into some different sites on your computer.
Scoop.it
Highly graphic; meant to be shared and can be used to promote your brand; easy to find articles and navigate through topics; easy to share to social media sites; I like other people's sites more than my own, so there is certainly a learning curve on how to make it work best for you; Must pay to upgrade to get full usability; has a handy widget that can stay on your favorites bar for easy scoopingPaper.li
The definitive online newspaper! This is a favorite for morning reading. Maybe it's the format that reminds me of my childhood eating breakfast around the table, reading the comics while Dad perused the front page. Easy to set up, good variety of sources for articles; a great way to find new information in your topic of choice; has a widget that allows for quick additions while you are surfing the web
Prismatic
Very connected to social media; seems to be the most customizable by linking the articles your Twitter friends tweet; less newspapery and more list oriented; hard to find the original site due to the domain name being getprismatic.com instead of just prismatic; makes information a sharable commodity; layout is a not flashy or overly active
My favorite computer based tool is Scoop.it. This is a fast, easy way to keep up with information that you would like to share and remember for later.
With all this information swirling around my head, I wonder how people who don't read well, quickly, or accurately can manage the barrage of stuff to know. I found myself becoming a headline junkie and a non-close reader. There are many applications to education for these tools. I can't wait to explore them in more detail.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Screencasting - not for the faint of heart
Personalized homemade videos that are easy to create, upload and access??? It seems like a dream, right? Well, we do live in a dream world. There are several options out there to use and it is possible to create, upload, and use your own homemade screencasts in a variety of ways.
Screencasts have many uses in education. They are shots of your computer screen with your own personal audio overlaid. It allows for anyone to see what you are doing on the computer screen. My professors have shown me that they are invaluable for giving directions with examples. Inspired by them, I have plans to create screencasts this summer to explain class procedures and different instructional topics for my students next year. In case I can't be there in person, they can have the video me, which is almost as good. Screencasts are a way to make the vast online world feel close, personal and helpful.
How do you make a screencast, you might wonder. To start, you find a tool that is cheap, easy, and flexible to your needs. I was told Screenr and Screencastomatic are the places to go to find what I was looking for.
My first attempt with a Screenr was a resounding FAIL! I could never get it to find the right Java elements to run. It sounds like a 21st century cop out, I know. But I literally tried 4 different machines and they all were not able to use the program. I installed, reinstalled, Googled fixes, sought tech help from those much more techy than I, and finally gave up. Screenr might be amazing, but I will never know. I am a fan of coffee of all kinds, but this Java thing was my nemesis for this activity.
I did a little research and saw that screenr only allows 5 min videos. There is no need to create an account, though, so it might work with students. Assuming you can get it to load in the first place.
Luckily, Screenr is not the only screencasting tool that is online. Screencastomatic is a winner all the way around. It's easy to learn, easy to use, and doesn't have some ill fated love affair with a random version of Java. Check out my screencast on teaching the research process in public schools.
You have 15 minutes of recording time, which is the most of any of the casters I looked into. But really, unless it's a blockbuster movie or Netflix series, no one watches stuff for more than 15 minutes anyway. Students would love the ease of use and simple embedding and sharing options.
I also created a Jing account. It was fast and easy. The elements were similar to Screencastomatic, and it was easy to record and save to my computer as a .swf file. Jing automatically saves the link and has it ready for pasting. It will allow the user tocreate a button that allows for an embed code that would send it directly to the webpage, but it was a little complicated for a novice blogger like myself. The fact that that option has to be created is a turn off for this user. For the sake of ease, I just included the link today.
http://screencast.com/t/6Zx9HIKAilF
This is a super short screencast to show visitors to the school webpage how to find teacher websites. According to the TechSmith (makers of Jing) website, Jing will do up to 5 minutes of recording. I don't see students using this in a school setting due to the need for an account.
Screencasting is a great tool that librarians would be wise to learn. Whatever tool is used, the ability to leave video instructions, lessons, information, or anything you can imagine allows for users to access information anytime and from any computer. Ease of information access is the key to the future.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Word Nerd Joy!
The internet is chock full if fun and interesting ways to indulge your hobbies. When you are a bona fide Word Nerd, there is no end to the fun you can have and havoc you can create with a visit to just a few sites.
Wordle was my first venture into word cloud pictures. I was directed here at a teacher inservice several years ago and have used it off and on ever since with my classes. It is easy to type or paste text and then create word pictures. The site allows you to set parameters for size, color, font, page orientation, and almost any other detail you can imagine. Then, it creates a picture which you can publish, or randomize within the set parameters to get a different look. There are a few tricks you have to learn as you go about how to get words to group together. There is also no easy way to download your creation directly to your own computer. But it doesn't require log in and you can print what you make. That makes it perfect for using with young students who just want to practice their spelling or older students who are interested in creating word pictures of any type of information.
In this word picture, I entered my website and Wordle pulled directly from the site to create a word cloud with the most common words enlarged.
Once you get your feet wet with Wordle a true Word Nerd will look for places to play with words that give more opportunity to manipulate the aspects of the picture. Tagxedo allows users to form their word cloud into shapes. Then you can also change the color, font, size, and all other pieces to create a completely customized product. The site allows multiple ways to share your creation. You can also directly save your image in different formats and file sizes.
As you can see, this image, created by pulling from the same website as the Wordle image, has a more polished and together look. It was downloaded to my computer to use again and again.
To use this application with students, they need to know how to navigate a website fairly well and should have an idea of what they want their image to look like when they are finished before they begin. I would recommend this tool for older elementary and older aged students.
My favorite new Word Nerd site is Tagul. This word cloud generator allows for more customization than the other sites and has an easy to use interface. The tabs allow you to track your progress through the image creation. You have a live "view" of what you are creating that updates with every change you make to the font, layout, shape, color, etc. You are also able to save your image in different format or directly link to it on your website.
After creating word clouds of so many random words, it is refreshing to have words that make sense together and form a complete though come together. A new trend in techy Word Nerd circles is the creation of images with quotes. The quotes can be inspirational or silly, but the joy comes in the making of them. Recitethis.com is one such tool. At this site a user is able to choose from a list of quotes or type in their own text. Then they can apply the background of their choice. The images are in a strip along the screen. Once the quote has been made, the user is given several options about how to share their creation. Linking to social media sites, downloading to the computer, or hyperlinking are all options.It can even be emailed to a friend. This is a great way to share golden lines from books, thoughts that make you go "hmmm" and all other manner of short sayings.
Another tool from the Android app store is PicQuotes. This functions similarly to Recitethis, but is on your smartphone. You can use stock quotes or type in your own. You can grab backgrounds from the internet, your SD card, or use one of the ones provided. You can share it in the usual social media ways.
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In both Recitethis and PicQuotes, the user is limited only my his or her imagination and willingness to learn the interface.
Wordle was my first venture into word cloud pictures. I was directed here at a teacher inservice several years ago and have used it off and on ever since with my classes. It is easy to type or paste text and then create word pictures. The site allows you to set parameters for size, color, font, page orientation, and almost any other detail you can imagine. Then, it creates a picture which you can publish, or randomize within the set parameters to get a different look. There are a few tricks you have to learn as you go about how to get words to group together. There is also no easy way to download your creation directly to your own computer. But it doesn't require log in and you can print what you make. That makes it perfect for using with young students who just want to practice their spelling or older students who are interested in creating word pictures of any type of information.
In this word picture, I entered my website and Wordle pulled directly from the site to create a word cloud with the most common words enlarged.
Once you get your feet wet with Wordle a true Word Nerd will look for places to play with words that give more opportunity to manipulate the aspects of the picture. Tagxedo allows users to form their word cloud into shapes. Then you can also change the color, font, size, and all other pieces to create a completely customized product. The site allows multiple ways to share your creation. You can also directly save your image in different formats and file sizes.
To use this application with students, they need to know how to navigate a website fairly well and should have an idea of what they want their image to look like when they are finished before they begin. I would recommend this tool for older elementary and older aged students.
My favorite new Word Nerd site is Tagul. This word cloud generator allows for more customization than the other sites and has an easy to use interface. The tabs allow you to track your progress through the image creation. You have a live "view" of what you are creating that updates with every change you make to the font, layout, shape, color, etc. You are also able to save your image in different format or directly link to it on your website.
After creating word clouds of so many random words, it is refreshing to have words that make sense together and form a complete though come together. A new trend in techy Word Nerd circles is the creation of images with quotes. The quotes can be inspirational or silly, but the joy comes in the making of them. Recitethis.com is one such tool. At this site a user is able to choose from a list of quotes or type in their own text. Then they can apply the background of their choice. The images are in a strip along the screen. Once the quote has been made, the user is given several options about how to share their creation. Linking to social media sites, downloading to the computer, or hyperlinking are all options.It can even be emailed to a friend. This is a great way to share golden lines from books, thoughts that make you go "hmmm" and all other manner of short sayings.
Another tool from the Android app store is PicQuotes. This functions similarly to Recitethis, but is on your smartphone. You can use stock quotes or type in your own. You can grab backgrounds from the internet, your SD card, or use one of the ones provided. You can share it in the usual social media ways.
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