Instagram and Vine

I had a little difficulty getting Instagram and Vine due to the model, amount of gb, age, and condition of my smartphone. I also had to have my teenage son assist with finding and downloading both of these sites. Due to the large amount of space that Vine requires, he even had to remove a few apps off my phone before Vine would properly download. I enjoyed both of these sites and look forward to exploring them further.

Instagram: Today when using Instagram, I toke pictures off of my smartbook. Is was easy to do. I was prompted to enter a caption, so I made each one of them short. This would be a good way to share pictures of assignments, project, and other things that happen in a classroom or library. I feel that students of many ages would be able to utilize this site and Vine.

Vine: As mentioned above, I had some difficulty downloading Vine. However, once I had the help of my teenage son I was able to get Vine downloaded. Be sure to download Vine when you have extra time because it took over an hour to download on my outdated smartphone. This site provides a variety of ways in which the user can share their 7 second video piece. Below you will find a link to both of the Vine videos that I created. I found both of these sites to be easy and fast to use. I look forward to having more time in the near future to explore both of these sites more so that I can become more familiar with them as an mother, educator, and future librarian.

https://vine.co/v/iWLYj1Fm1WM

https://vine.co/v/iWL22wWHK6v

Screencast-o-matic and Jing

I am not sure if these two sites are meant for me. I had much difficulty with both of them. However, I seemed to have more difficulty with Jing. When using Jing, I had to rerecord my Jing multiple times because I accidentlly clicked the X instead of the square. After the 12th time of recording, I finally got my Jing saved. However, I saved my Jing to my computer because it wouldn't let me post it on screen-o-matic or youtube. The site stated that there were no accounts for the email given. This I found odd because I had just created and used my screen-o-matic account the night before with the very same email I was trying to load the video to screen-o-matic with. The Jing video was not compatible with the programs that I presently had on my computer, so it would not let reopen it. I had to download two programs in order to open the Jing video. However, the Jing video had glitches so it had to be fixed. I had not saved the background image that I created to my computer before creating the video. Therefore,I had to open my saved recording and use the image to rerecorded Jing. Once I recompleted my second recording of my Jing over the same content, I was able to get a link which will not load on the blog (user must copy, cut, and paste link in Jing section of this blog). I will try both of these sites on another day when I am not so sick and tired from illness.

Screen-o-matic: I like how screen-o-matic is simple to use (until I had to save or publish) and doesn't have any icons that say in your way until they are closed like Jing did. Below you will see a screenshot of my screen-o-matic because I am unable to load it due to the video being saved in my documents.

Jing: The home page of this site includes a brief introduction video about Jing and how it can be used. I didn't have time to explore much before I started to create on Jing. However, when I started to create my image (I believe they called it a capture), I was unsure of what all was available or how to save. This site allowed me to create an image or video, so I used a screen clip from thinkcentral Go Math video and then used Jing to a three colored rectangles to type the steps into. Next I used the image and added my how to instructions as a video. Below is the link to my Jing video that I had to post (publish to) screencast. http://screencast.com/t/CeIk1YwAd Please copy, cut and paste link to view video. Sorry for any inconvenience.

The elementary school where I teacher is blessed with a large library which includes a computer lab, guided reading collection room, teacher workroom, technology storage, and whole group meeting area. I have created a floor plan and added typed in labels for each area of the main area of the library. I added the typed in labels because I was unable to load the images of the library that I took on my cell phone because my phone doesn't always work correctly (and it is wanting to misbehave). Therefore, I was unable to add Telligami's to my location spots on the floor plan. I am really looking forward to further explore thinglink.com to see what other wonderful things this site is capable of.

Final Reflection

When exploring and using all of the required technology assigned in my Library Science course this semester I encountered several that I would use in my classroom now or in a school library in the future. However, I found a few that I would not utilize at all due to my personal preference or experience with the technology. Technology that I explored and liked:

Facebook- I believe that it is very information to communicate about books, school or library or public events (related to school or library), and more. This is a great way to communicate with parents, older students, and public due to the large number of people who use this site. However, one must monitor others post to be sure that they are appropriate for all ages that my view the Library Facebook page.

Pixton (online comic maker)- This site contains colorful characters and background, multiple font types, easy to access unfinished comic, and is easy to use. This would be great to use in a classroom to help introduce a lesson, as writing prompt, and for student activities or projects. As a library, you could use this site as an advertisement, reminder, or brief note on library newsletter or website.

Podcast- This site can be used for listening center, to give lesson when you have a substitute, student activities or projects, and homework lessons or instructions.

Goodreads- I have used this site before to locate book reviews. I never really explored it until we had to this semester. Though it will work well for me as a teacher and library, but I feel it wouldn't be a good fit for most elementary students.

Biblionasium- As an teacher/educator, I like how I can use this with my students at school or home. I set up my students each with a login and password.

Technology that I explored and disliked and/or had issues with: SKITCH- I was not use to this site and didn't become familiar with it. I was unsure how to use SKITCH to draw, type, or point out things on my screenshots (even after exploring the site). Shelfari- I disliked this site from the beginning when it required the user to use an amazon.com account to login. Another disadvantage of this site is that is asks the user(s) to input much of the books information. The site didn't include much of the information about each book, but provided an area for information to be added by the user(s).

Technology that can be used in my personal classroom: 1. Pixton 2. Podcast

Technology that I can utilize in library: 1. Facebook 2. Youtube videos 3. Biblionasium 4. Podcast 5. Pixton

Note: All images included in this blog are from google.com

Online Book Communities

For this I was unsure how to use SKITCH to draw, type, or point out things on my screenshots. Therefore, I have included screenshots of parts of my book shelves on the following book community websites: Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, Booklist, and Biblionasium.

First, I enjoyed exploring and using Goodreads to create a book shelf. This website was basic and easy to use. The book title, short 1 to 3 sentence summary, book information (ISBN, number of pages, where to purchase, and more), other book titles related to subject/awards/author, and reviews. The home page of this website is kind of plain (maybe a little boring), but my books area made up for the background and site colors by including book cover, title, author, and more. The only disadvantage that I found with this site was that it needed to be made more children friendly so that it could be used in school classrooms or libraries to help students keep a log of what they have already read, are reading, or would like to read in the future.

Second, I explored and used the website LibraryThing. An advantage was that the site offered five different book shelf format styles. One disadvantage of this site is that the book cover shows during the search, but not when placed into the book shelf area. However, the book cover reappears when the user clicks on the your books area. When entering multiple book titles in a row this could become confusing to young or new users. Another disadvantage, for users who are required to have a certain number of books on their book shelf, is that the user must enter books and count or click on their book shelf area regularly to get the total number of books they have already entered.

Last, I explored and used Shelfari. I thought negatively of this site from the start due to being required to use amazon.com login. I don't mind creating login accounts for useful websites, but I don't have an amazon.com login so I have to use and edit my husband's amazon account to be able to use this site. Another disadvantage is that the site requests that the user input several pieces of information about the book that that they have selected to shelf. Like the other sites I have explored, this site asks if you have read the book yet. However, the user is also asked the date completed, personal book review, share on Facebook or Twitter, and add character description (or other information about the book). Shelfari has the following information areas available for each of the books: 1. simple synopsis 2. character synopsis 3. setting/location 4. first sentence 5. table of contents 6. glossary 7. series and lists 8. author and contributors 9. first edition 10. awards 11. classification 12. notes to parents. However, many of the books don't have this information completed. One of the advantages is that when the user checks I plan to read, reading now, or I've read Shelfari creates a basic reading timeline. Another advantage of Shelfari is that the user can create a reading goal for the year, "Your goal is to read ____ books in 2015."

Booklists was basic and contained a plain white background. This has been the trend with all of the online book communities that I have explored and used. Personally I would like to see more color on these sites while making them easier to use and include all necessary book information. On Booklists, I was unable to find the book Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell. I believe that an online book community should be up-to-date and contain a majority of the books available to general public. Like LibraryThing and Shelfari, I will most likely not be using Booklists again. However, the next online book community (Biblionasium) that I explored and used was wonderful.

After exploring Biblionasium I began to prepare using it in my classroom with my second graders. As a teacher, I believe that Biblionasium is the best of the online book communities that I explored in the past few days. This site is easy to use and children friendly. The site provides an area to create groups of readers/students which includes the child's reading level. A teacher can assign reading challenges, set up reading lists, and print the recorded reading progress. Students are able to log on at home to record any book titles read outside of school. Parents are also able to log on to check their child's reading records. This particular online book community still had the white background, but there was a touch more color added. One disadvantage is that the user is unable to find, read, and record a book on just one site. I think that Biblionasium would be one more step above the other online book communities if there was an area where the user could purchase and read the online copy of a book. However, this site is colorful, user friendly (even for children), and contains several wonderful book titles that can be placed on the user's shelf.

Elementary School Libraries on Facebook

I find the use of technology, such as Facebook, to be a necessity in today's society. Therefore, when I looked at different elementary school libraries on Facebook, I saw more advantages than disadvantages.

The first school library that I looked at on Facebook was Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary School Library. The last post entry was on August 26th. I am unsure to why the page is not up-to-date because I found many useful post entries and over 400 people follow this page. On Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary School Library Facebook page I discovered posts related to school and library events (such as...PTO events, Open House, report card dates, library grants won, book pumpkin contest, book character sidewalk parade, and the school's library poet tree), article links, and inspiring images. The advantage of this site was that teachers, parents, students, and the community members have access to the school and library events. However, the disadvantages of this particular Facebook page were that many people didn't comment on the post entries and the page was not up-to-date.

The second page that I explored was created by the Lumberton Primary School Library. This Facebook page had the library's hours, address, email address of librarian, and website link posted to the left of the screen. The Lumberton Primary School Library Facebook page has been used regularly and is up-to-date for the 228 people who follow it. One of the advantages I noticed was that website recommendations were posted. While one disadvantage was that the post entries related to the school book fair were excessive. The book fair was mentioned in several post entries and in a variety of ways (from pictures of the teachers' wish lists to links and videos). The librarian even posted a copy of the book fair volunteer chart. I did like how the book fair was promoted, but thought it could have been done with several less post entries.

Like Lumberton Primary School Library, Moore Elementary School Library put their address, phone number, and web link to library catalog on the left side of the Facebook page. I really liked how the posts varied from school related to library related. The most recent post entry (posted yesterday) was about how the students at Moore Elementary were featured in the Cy-Fair magazine for collecting art supplies for pediatric cancer patients. Other post entries included: book fair reminders and pictures, librarians' notes, and fun library circulation facts. The disadvantage of this particular Facebook page was that not many of the post entries had comments from other users.

Becker Elementary Library Facebook page has 124 people following and 35 people that posted they have been to this particular library. The hours of operation are posted to the top left side of this Facebook page for the patrons to easily view. This page contained post entries related to the following: book fair, volunteering, donated items, school/library events, articles, and author/illustrator visit. However, this page also didn't have many comments to the post entries.

I feel that when I become a librarian I will use technology to connect with the teachers, parents, students, and community members. If Facebook is still popular, I will create a page for the school library in which I am the librarian. On the Facebook page or other type of technology communication, I will include the library's hours of operation, address, phone number, librarian's email, and link to library catalog system. I will include post entries on a variety of school, library, and community events. To inform the staff, parents, and community about the page, I will send home flyers or email or call.

Online Comic Strips - ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComix

After exploring three different online comic makers - ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComix - I answered the following question: Were the comics easy to create? Where the comics easy to save? Did you have enough variety to make and interesting comic? Would students be able to use it?

ToonDoo: ToonDoo contained a variety of different options to create, such as; ToonDoo Maker (comic strip maker), Book Marker (ToonBook creator), TraitR (character maker), ImagineR (upload), and DoodleR (add drawing touches). I had to complete a simple three step process to get to where I created my comic about nouns (1. One home page, click on ToonDoo Maker - 2. Select your layout size and direction - 3. Begin creating comic). It took me a little while to locate the area where I could click to save the comic that I created. However, once I figured out the location of save, I was able to quickly save the comic. This online comic marker provided a large variety of characters, backgrounds, and more. I was unable to use any characters besides the bears, but it was easy to add and move the characters as needed. I also had difficulty getting the backgrounds to function correctly, but somehow my comic still ended up with a background in the first panel even though I didn't add a background. I believe that with some further exploration of this online comic maker, I would be able to better navigate through the tools provided for creating an online comic. I know that I would not be able to have my current second graders use this, but students in higher grades and teachers of many grades would be able to use it. http://www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=9419534

Pixton: Pixton is the online comic maker that I liked the best because it provided the user with colorful character and backgrounds, multiple font types, easy access to unfinished comic, and is easy to use. The comic was easy to create and I feel that students in second grade and up would be able to easily use this online comic maker to create their own comic(s). Though it was easy to use, the comic link would not link correctly when placed in this blog (and this may be an error on the blog). https://www.pixton.com/ca/comic/2bjimwu6 (sorry, but I am unable to get the link for this comic to embed in this blog post)

MakeBeliefsComix: This online comic marker was extremely easy to use, but I was unable to figure out how to save my completed comic. The options that I was able to find included: printing or emailing the comic. Therefore, I have placed a screen shot of my completed comic below. This online comic maker contained several different little window areas that contained a variety of options such as, cast of characters, words/objects/background, background colors, 8 talk balloons and 8 thought balloons, panel prompts, and panel format choices. However, the user doesn't have the choice of the number of panels that will be included in their comic. All users will use a comic template with three panels.

I could incorporate comics into my teaching by using them as a short lesson introduction, to check story comprehension, introduce or review vocabulary or concept previously taught, and more.