Comics in the Classroom

Comics in the classroom, and I don't mean the funny stand up guy, are a powerful and useful tool. Whether students are creating stories or highlighting vocabulary, the comic format provides a visual tool that motivates and differentiates the product for each learner. Many high quality online comic generators are available.

MakeBeliefs Comix

This is an online generator that requires no registration. It allows you to print and/or email your comic to any email address. It allows for simple 2, 3, or 4 panel strips. By clicking on preloaded images, you simply create the comic of your choice. It is easy to use and fun to play with. Some drawbacks are the lack of customizable characters and the inability to change many features. For a quick use, easy intro to the world of making comics with students, this is a hit. If you want to be more detailed and have specific needs, it might not be the creator for you.  I made a simple strip highlighting the day of a teacher.

I was able to turn it into an image file by using Skitch because it was not able to be saved online in anyway.

ToonDoo

This is a highly interactive site to create comics. There is a large library of images and backgrounds to use. The images are able to be changed as well. Facial expressions, postures, and activities are all switchable in various characters. There is also the ability to draw and create your own images. There are places to doodle and ways to share what you make in a gallery or by emailing it to any address of your choice. It is complicated when trying to figure out how add items to the gallery and manipulate the images. It is doable once you figure it out though. I made a 3 panel comic about the first day of school and had a lot of fun playing with the different character choices. I tried to save the comic in a gallery, but haven't quite figured it out yet. I used Skitch to capture the picture and left the interface in so that you could see how easy it is to navigate.

This site is rather complicated for young learners, but would be a huge hit with older elementary and middle school students. It requires registration and log in. An educator introducing students to ToonDoo will need to take some time explaining how to get to certain areas and how to share their work.

Pixton

This site is set up for classroom use. The initial screen wants teachers to set up their class access. You can give assignments and create an entire environment for students to interact with.

When creating comics, there are five categories to choose from Quickie (simple, preloaded background, 3 panel strip) to Freestyle (any size, shape, layout, number of panels). They are in progressing levels of complication and always have the option to create your own format. There are how to videos to help get you started.

When your comic is created, it is sent to your email address. In this image, I included the heading to show how it is laid out. It is in editing mode because I couldn't find the presentation mode.

This tool would be great for secondary level students. It is highly user friendly and has many options. It is rather complicated to manipulate as a newbie to the site, but I think it would get much easier with use because it seems very intuitive. This is the most integrated and complex site I reviewed. It provides amazing opportunities for students to share their learning, create new content, and interact with an exciting medium.

As a third grade ELAR teacher, I can immediately see how comics can be used to enrich students' understanding of story elements. I also can see me using the comic format to give students options for products in many areas like vocabulary, nonfiction summarizing, and social stories. While motivating and fun to create, students are challenged to use higher order thinking skills to create quality artifacts. I've encouraged reading graphic novels and comic books for years and can't wait to see how they like making their own.

There is a winner.. in Book Communities

Let's face it. We all like a winner. And there is a clear winner in the group of online book communities I recently investigated. I'll share my thoughts in ascending order, saving the best for last.

Library Thing

Oh Library Thing, what can I say? I didn't like you very much. You weren't very user friendly, didn't give good recommendations, and your interface left me bored. You were very wordy and kind of hard to figure out. Your homepage was OK. You had places to connect with other readers, but they didn't reach out and grab my attention. It was easy to find reviews from other readers, but it all seemed a little forced. I don't think students would enjoy using this site due to the lack of visually focused interface and interactivity. The older style discussion boards are out of date and, while interesting, not appealing to those under 40. Yes, I will count it against you that you don't have anything blinking or flashing or trying to get my attention. Sorry Library Thing. You are a "Crusty Classic" we shouldn't have to read just because our parents thought you were worthy.

Booklikes

Booklikes, you had me confused for a minute, but I figured you out. You are a book community, and a blog all rolled into one. You are multi-purposed and interesting. Your blogging tools are easy to use and you offer an easy way to follow others in a blog roll. Posts are easy to create and include all types of media.

Then I click a button and you are an online book community and reading organizer. My books are easy to see and organize onto shelves. You offer deals through Amazon.com and have discussion rooms to share information and thoughts with other Booklikers.

I like the way your page is organized and it was fairly easy to figure out how to use. I'm not sure how useful it would be for students, however. It seems very easy to venture into any area, and I didn't find much control over where students could travel. I liked the look of you, but it was a bit much to manage.  You are a quality mismash of things I like that don't come together as effectively as I'd like to see. You have purpose and value, but just aren't right for me, much like a self help book that doesn't meet my needs. 

Biblionasium

Now we are getting to the good stuff. Biblionasium is a librarian's dream. No, I really think librarians dream about stuff like this and the god of books inspires someone with enough techy know how to make it happen.  This book community is created for librarians and students and teachers to interact with each other. Shared reviews, titles, ability to create different groups, and teacher/librarian oversight all add to the joy that is this place.

It is very elementary in style, so a middle grade or high school teacher might have a hard time selling this interface as "cool", but it would still be able to handle the content. The lack of outside interactivity is a safety protocol that is important for younger students to be able to interact safely in a book community.

The book organization piece of this community looks good and is easily customized for each group. Chosen titles are easy to identify and neatly organized. 

This community was easy to learn how to manipulate and is full of options that make it ideal for growing a community of readers. This is the Choose Your Own Adventure of book communities.

Shelfari

This is a wonderful community. I love the look, the feel, the recommendations, just to gush a bit. There are so many places to interact with other readers and interesting groups to follow and join. The shelf looks great and is easy to apply to other websites. The widget will put your shelf on any website you wish. Students can get recommendations and view reviews. 

There are so many great things about Shelfari. It's super easy to add books. It looks great when you rate and favorite titles. The interface is very intuitive and the connectivity is amazing. The only thing that kept this place from being my favorite was that there is only one viewable shelf. You can organize it in different ways, but I could never find a way to differentiate between elementary, middle grade, and YA books. If I could have found a way to do that, provide different shelves for different interests or levels, this would have won out in the great book community battle. I will most certainly recommend this site to my third grade students and add the shelf widget to my class website. Shelfari is the Newberry or Caldecott Honor book; a wonderful thing that just barely missed the big award.

Goodreads

And that leaves us with the winner, Goodreads! This is probably not a surprise.

Goodreads is the big daddy of all book communities. It is massive in size and options. It promotes connectivity and content without being pushy or goofy.  It was easy to learn how to navigate and gives a lot of great options for use. All in all, it is the best of all worlds. This community can be used by adults and students alike. While I won't recommend it to my third grade students, it is a wonderful tool for older students with more ability to interact on the internet.

So, there you have it. In the quest for finding the best book community, Goodreads has won, hands down due to its scope, connectivity, and ability to manipulate the elements. It is the Ambassador for Literature in the reading community. 

Podcasts

Podcasts are quite a useful tool for the classroom and library. There are so many ways to use this amazing medium. They are easy to create, unique for many students, and add an element of surprise to the unsuspecting listener.

As a classroom teacher, it is wonderful to let students create their own podcasts. They get to talk about an assigned topic or read fluently and share it with others. Activities like Reading Idol, campaigning,and dramatic readings encourage students to create their own podcasts to share with others. Teachers can record lessons and assignment explanations in their own voice so students can go back and listen over and over as needed or get caught up if they were absent.

In the library, librarians can add a voice to upcoming announcements, start contests with Name that Book snippets, and record procedures to help non or struggling readers know the expectations. There is no end to the creative and engaging ways a thoughtful librarian could utilize this tool. Some ideas Tony Vincent suggests in his 2008 article  "Podcasting for Students and Teachers" include book reviews, classroom news, class discussions, interviews, and curricular content.

I created the following podcast in about 10 minutes. I outlined the ideas I wanted to cover, logged on to Soundcloud, used the help menu to refresh my memory about how to record, and recorded my audio. It was that simple. I lucked out and did it in one take.



See? It didn't turn out too bad. The kids loved it in class and now want to make their own podcasts to share their book reviews and opinions. I'm not sad that they have a new tool to use to share the content they are learning on a regular basis.

Webbing/Mindmapping

Mindmapping is a graphic representation of information. It provides a visual structure to attach information to so that readers can quickly and easily access key points. Online mindmap creation tools have been around for a while and the following review of some of the more popular ones will help you see what some of your options are. I used the same information from an article about information ethics to create each map. My goal was to show what each tool has to offer and how quickly and easily mindmaps can be used to share information. I spent about 20 minutes learning how to use each site through their help offerings and about 20 minutes on each map.

Spicynodes

This tool was pretty easy to use and learn how to manipulate. I like the rotating motion as I look at the images. The information is easy to see and a few clicks brings all the details back to life. Students would like the ability to easily upload images and video to compliment their work. You can attach weblinks, pictures, and change colors to make your mind map look like you want it to look.

 Popplet

 
 This application was easy and fun to use. It was very easy to manipulate the shape and arrangement of the information. Uploading pictures was a breeze. There were a lot of options to make the final product look like I wanted it to. I could change color, shape of boxes, and location of boxes. Students would love to use this because it is intuitive and the process is easy to figure out. The was my favorite tool to map with because it is easy to use and creates a pretty product with low frustration.

Wisemapping

This is my least favorite of the three mind mapping tools I used. It was cumbersome to manipulate and didn't give many options. I had a hard time changing the look of the map and got frustrated when the different nodes tried attaching in the wrong places. Editing the text wasn't even very easy. Students would hate this because it seems very "old school" There was no place to easily upload pictures. The use of emoticon icons is very out of date for publication tools. You could share with other wisemap users but I didn't find a way to share it online. If it was there, it wasn't easy to find.


The information in this blog came from :
Bell, M. (1998). Kiss and Information Ethics. TAET Journal, Spring, 1998.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

Videos and libraries go together like

peas and carrots,

batman and robin,

peanut butter and jelly.

Librarians have figured out that good video enhances the information supplying experience AND makes everyone’s job easier.

The following school libraries have produced some quality tools and helps for their students.

At Norman High School students get help by comparing Google docs vs. word docs . After viewing this presentation students are prepared  to use and navigate the most use software applications.

Libraries also have a lot of fun with video. Students love to see their teachers having fun, as in the video below.

In the Unquiet Library students are supported in their assignments with help from teachers and librarians. In this useful and helpful production students receive guidance and help with their senior project.

In the school they get to see their librarian around and among the “people” as she shares the library with students at lunch.

The Pikesville HS Library serves the needs of its students by giving information about course selections and how to get financial aid in future schooling efforts.  In this video, students can view a presentation on financial aid that was at an evening event.

The students here also get organization and support with the following Pimp my Binder episode. With humor and known faces, students get tips on how to be more organized.

Bonnie Branch Middle School provides a review of how to prepare proper citations.

And students can catch a glimpse of friends just having fun in the library.

QR codes are a newer addition to library services.This little scannable visual will enable library users to find more information about anything they are looking for.  Brigham Young University uses QR codes to send patrons on an audio tour of the library and it’s most important elements. Librarians are using them to help patrons go straight to the library catalog to find more relevant documents. Another library links their current events to related information to help users know what special programs are available. Users can be directed to library services like study rooms, making appointments with a research librarian. Other libraries create links to mobile website and twitter pages, contests, popular books to recommend further reading, and video trailers that relate to what patrons need.

I wanted to get my classes excited about a new book that caught my imagination. 

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures is the 2014 Newbery Award winner. According to Amazon:

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Timesbest-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell.

Here is a QR code to take you directly to the book trailer I made for this great new book.

I can see a lot of uses for QR codes in libraries. I'd like to encourage students to look farther than they planned with well placed codes on the shelves that will help with their research and book searches. I'd like to use videos to give information that students need and show what the library can offer them. I think it is important to be as close to the cutting edge as you can get when working with students, so I know that I will  follow, use, and try the latest technologies and formats that will help students with  their educational needs.

Blogging about blogging

Bloggity, Blog, Blog, Blog

I've had a personal family blog for about 5 years. There are about 5 people who ever read it, but it is a fun way to keep my parents updated on the comings and goings of my family since we live half a state away from each other. I found that library blogs are much more interesting than my family blog! There is just so much to see!

Blog readers are a thriving business with so many options. After looking around a bit I decided I wanted to stick with the Blogger dashboard reader mainly because I have so much invested into the resources I have on it. After 5 years, it would be quite a job to move everything over to one of the newer, more interactive readers. I did sign up for a Blog Lovin' feed, which is easy to navigate and emails me once a day with updates of the blogs I put on it. If given time I would probably make the shift into a more exciting and intricate blog reader. I looked at NewsBlur, but found my eyes blurring at the amount of information coming in. The real time feed made me a bit twitchy because I hate the feeling of being behind. I also looked at Bloglines but didn't like the look of the pages. I didn't dive very deep into the layout because it just looked too boring. I know, I know, and this from the lady who decided to stick with the original Blogger reader. It's not consistent because nothing is more boring that that, right? Well, it's comfortable, I have it set up how I like it, and sometimes change isn't on the menu. The really important thing about blogging is the blogs themselves.



My favorite library blog is Watch.Connect.Read. a blog by a librarian who has the best things to share. Mr. John Schu shares book trailers, lessons he does with his students, book release information, author interviews, and so many other neat things that this soon to be librarian hopes to incorporate into her library world.


My second favorite library blog is The Nerdy Book Club. It's not strictly library stuff. It's more about books and personal experiences and shared stories. It's great reading, inspires my teaching, and connects me with other book nerds, so in my mind, it's perfect as a library blog!


Another great library blog is The Mighty Little Librarian . This is a place full of information about all things library. Survey results from her school about how patrons perceive the library, dewey decimal updates and signage ideas, infographics, and so much more. This blog is updated regularly and is very visually pleasing.

The Adventures of Library Girl is set up in a traditional blog format and shares personal stories along with research to address the needs of many librarians. While not updated daily, it is a wonderful resource for all sorts of library stuff, and you know librarians love stuff! (As long as it is organized.)


The Busy Librarian shares lesson plans and information from an elementary librarian's perspective. Author interviews, book trailers and supplemental information all come together in a neat, appealing package here.


As I was exploring the world of library blogs I found that they are each unique to their community and provide what their readers want to see. Whether the blog is tied directly to a school and is chock full of information about their people and kids and events, or if it is more of an informational clearinghouse for what the blogger loves most in the world of libraries, I found that they are interesting, informative, and a wonderful tool to share with students and fellow educators.

I bet you are wondering about Tumblr. If not, start wondering because I know I wondered about it for quite a while. I had no idea if it was an organizer or a blog site or something else entirely. All I know is that I would see it pop up in the twitter feeds of college students and some celebrities. So I went adventuring and found something that made me step back and blink. It's a blog reader that hosts blogs and connects to other blogs, I think. I set up an account but it is still a work in progress. There is no telling how this will turn out, but I have given it a shot.  So, if you are feeling adventurous, feel free to check out my Book Stuff tumblr at http://mewillingham.tumblr.com/ . The one thing I don't need is another blog to run in addition to my studies, job, family, and social obligations, but life has a funny way of coming out differently than I plan most times.

Library services in the digital age

 Zickuhr, K, Rainie, L. Library services in the digital age, Pew Internet & American Life Project,  January 22, 2013, http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/Library-services/, February 3 2014. 80 pgs.

The infographic above was created to give you a brief glance at the highlights of information that were gleaned from a 2013 report about how patrons use the library and what they expect from the institution. The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that many library patrons are eager to see libraries’ digital services expand, yet also feel that print books remain important in the digital age.(2) Apps for checkout, technology "petting zoos", "Redbox" style lending machines, and "Amazon" style book recommendations would be eagerly accepted according to the study's respondents. I love these ideas for how to expand a library's offerings to its community. As the feel of the library shifts from a quiet, reading only zone to an interactive information playground I am excited about what the future holds.

I was interested to learn that 91% of Americans aged 16 and older consider the library an important part of their community, and that 76% of them think libraries are important to them and their families. However, only 22% say that they know all or most of the services that their library offers. It is clear from the difference in percentages that libraries need to do more to get their services and information into the hands of the public.

The study also noted that ethnicity is a significant factor in how one views the library. African Americans and Hispanics are much more likely to rate the library and its services as very important when compared to their Anglo neighbors. This leads me to believe that libraries should take note of how to better serve these populations.

After reading and considering the data presented within this report, I am confident that libraries will be an important part of the future of our free and learned society. As technologies progress, this institution will continue to provide information, community helps, and entertainment options for all who use its vast and varied resources.

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