Final Reflection
As I reflect on this semester, I am amazed by all of the digital technology tools I have learned. Some of the tools, like Facebook, Twitter, and screencasting I was already familiar with, while other tools were completely new to me. I have enjoyed expanding my technological knowledge and getting to explore new tech tools.
There were several tech tools that excited me the most. Flipagram was completely new to me and it was exciting to see how easily videos could be made using video clips, pictures, and text. Animoto was also exciting for the same reasons. Students will easily be able to make book trailers/recommendations using both of these programs. Making cartoons and comics with ToonDoo and Pixton was also very exciting to me and something that I think would be exciting to students and teachers as well. Graphic novels and comics are all the rage with students right now and what a great way to connect learning to student interests with creating a cartoon/comic. Both websites were easy to use and gave lots of different options.
Making the podcasts and infographics were more of a challenge for me. It was not difficult to actually make the podcasts, the difficulty arose in trying to decide on topics for the podcasts. I think screencasting comes easier for me because the students would be able to see the screen and therefore see what I was trying to explain. With podcasts, it is purely audio, so I had to really think about what I could talk about that did not need a visual example. Infographics were also more challenging than some of the other tech tools. Like with podcasts, physically making the infographic was not the challenge. Piktochart, Easel.ly, and Infogr.am are all simple to use and customize to user's needs. The challenge came in condensing the information into graphics and visuals.
In my opinion, screencasting is the tech tool that is most beneficial to my students and community. With a screencast, I can easily record information for students, teachers, or community members that can be distributed on YouTube, through email, or a link on a digital newsletter. Students can learn how to access the online databases or how to set up a Google doc using a screencast. I have used screencasts all year in my library and the teachers really appreciate being able to show the students a short screencast that explains how to accomplish an online topic.
QR codes came in a close second for most beneficial. As I am in an elementary library setting, I work with Pre-Kindergarten all the way to fifth grade students. Most of those students have a hard time typing in a long, or even short, web address correctly. With QR codes, students can quickly scan the code using the built in QR Reader and have instant access to the website I wanted them to get to. I also love having QR codes around the library that students can scan to review book trailers and recommendations of books.
I am looking forward to the coming school year and getting to implement more of the new tech tools in the library. I know that the students will be excited about getting to use them and hopefully I will inspire teachers to use some of these exciting tools in the classroom.
There were several tech tools that excited me the most. Flipagram was completely new to me and it was exciting to see how easily videos could be made using video clips, pictures, and text. Animoto was also exciting for the same reasons. Students will easily be able to make book trailers/recommendations using both of these programs. Making cartoons and comics with ToonDoo and Pixton was also very exciting to me and something that I think would be exciting to students and teachers as well. Graphic novels and comics are all the rage with students right now and what a great way to connect learning to student interests with creating a cartoon/comic. Both websites were easy to use and gave lots of different options.
Making the podcasts and infographics were more of a challenge for me. It was not difficult to actually make the podcasts, the difficulty arose in trying to decide on topics for the podcasts. I think screencasting comes easier for me because the students would be able to see the screen and therefore see what I was trying to explain. With podcasts, it is purely audio, so I had to really think about what I could talk about that did not need a visual example. Infographics were also more challenging than some of the other tech tools. Like with podcasts, physically making the infographic was not the challenge. Piktochart, Easel.ly, and Infogr.am are all simple to use and customize to user's needs. The challenge came in condensing the information into graphics and visuals.
In my opinion, screencasting is the tech tool that is most beneficial to my students and community. With a screencast, I can easily record information for students, teachers, or community members that can be distributed on YouTube, through email, or a link on a digital newsletter. Students can learn how to access the online databases or how to set up a Google doc using a screencast. I have used screencasts all year in my library and the teachers really appreciate being able to show the students a short screencast that explains how to accomplish an online topic.
QR codes came in a close second for most beneficial. As I am in an elementary library setting, I work with Pre-Kindergarten all the way to fifth grade students. Most of those students have a hard time typing in a long, or even short, web address correctly. With QR codes, students can quickly scan the code using the built in QR Reader and have instant access to the website I wanted them to get to. I also love having QR codes around the library that students can scan to review book trailers and recommendations of books.
I am looking forward to the coming school year and getting to implement more of the new tech tools in the library. I know that the students will be excited about getting to use them and hopefully I will inspire teachers to use some of these exciting tools in the classroom.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI also found the QR code module to be very beneficial. It is true that younger students lack typing skills therefore struggle to type in web addresses. QR codes make accessing information quickly and easily giving them time to focus on the content on not on how to access it. It was surprising to learn the many effective ways QR codes are implemented into library services and classrooms.
I appreciated your final reflection on this course and all of the technology we learned about this semester. I agree with you that connecting students' interest with learning, like with comic strips and cartoons, makes learning more exciting and meaningful. I really enjoy QR codes too. Like you, I too see the benefit in their use with younger students, who aren't as familiar with typing long URLs. I look forward to using all of this new knowledge in my own library.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about QR codes. After learning how easy it is to create a QR code and the many ways that they can be used, I think they are a very beneficial tool. I think the kids would really enjoy being able to access various QR codes throughout the library. It is another way to incorporate technology but in a unique way.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI had the exact struggle with the podcast- not the actual technology of it, but rather the topic and what to say. It was fun to create my first one though. I have listened to them, and was very nervous to try. However, it wasn’t hard at all! I was pleasantly surprised. I think this could be a really cool way for students to show learning and for assessments. Glad you enjoyed the semester!
Courtney Walker
I love the idea of using Screencasts to help with instructions and guides for students and teachers. Podcasting was difficult for me, as well. I had trouble deciding what to create and then I had to get past the sound of my own voice...why is that always so hard!?
ReplyDelete