The Tweeted Times

While browsing through my Twitter account I discovered a noteworthy site called The Tweeted Times.  It's a real-time generated personal newspaper produced from your Twitter account.  The articles are compiled from your tweets along with popular tweets of those you follow.  It's an interesting alternative to paper.il - another curation tool.  The paper is rebuilt every hour and is compiled with the most popular tweets within your account.  You can share the paper on Twitter and Facebook but I have yet to find a code for embedding.  I can clearly see that it would help aggregate the most popular trends within my Twitter account for easy access for myself and my followers.

Here's my latest Tweeted Times
http://tweetedtimes.com/#!/sue_fitz

The Edublog Awards 2013 Finalists

I am honored for my blog to be included in The Edublog Awards 2013 shortlisted finalists.  To be included with this incredible list of "Rock Star" library/librarian blogs is an accomplishment which I must give credit to my faculty, students, and PLN who inspire me to share my library experiences. I love to write about the real life situations within my learning community and I know my students will be extremely excited to learn of the recognition the blog has received.  Without their enthusiasm I would have little to write about and share with my PLN.

I wanted to also thank my Instruction Technology Support Teacher (@teachkiwi) who was the one that nominated the blog.  The collaborative relationship that we have together is incredibly inspiring and I am lucky to work in a district that allows me the freedom to implement a dynamic library program. I am also proud to see other phenomenal Texas librarians included in these Edublog awards. Whether you decide not to vote, vote for one, or vote for many, it’s worth taking a look at the expertise of those on the lists.

For those of you who wish to start or expand your PLN, this is a great resource to use to follow others on Twitter or include in your feeds such as Feedly.  

Click here for the entire list.

Best Library / Librarian Blog 2013 - Edublog Awards

View more lists from Edublogs

Use Google Applications For Education in the Library

I first started using Google Apps in 2008 when we moved 1,000 miles and I wanted to archive 14 years worth of documents from my library.  In 2009 I was in a school that used the Google Apps for Education and realized the power and ease of the applications.  Now in 2013 I am again in a school district that is using Google Apps for Education for both faculty and students.  After asking for ideas on #TXLCHAT and the TLC (Texas Library Connect) listserv I received many great responses of how librarians are using Google Applications for Education (#GAFE) in their libraries. Here's a list.

• I created a sign in form for students visiting the library.  It automatically records the time and date they entered the library.  I included 3 fields-- their name, time of visit (before school, A, B, C lunch, Periods 1-8, or after school, and a reason for their visit.  It eliminated our paper sign-in doc.  It is a great multi-purpose tool--for library usage data and tracking students if needed.   It took about 5 minutes to create and I have it on 2 stations.
• I love Google Forms and use them throughout the year to collect info from my teachers (Channel 1 TVs, number of students they have, just random stuff) that I need a response to, but don't want to have to keep track of a gajillion emails.
• Our kids use Google Docs to share work with teachers (not necessarily directly related to the library, but I do have to show them how to share on a regular basis--even though this is year 3 of Google Apps for us).
• We share documents with our campus a lot. For example, for our Thanksgiving Feast, the sign up is a Google Spreadsheet,  information about when/how to post grades has also been shared with our staff. It helps reduce paper.
• I have wanted to use Google Forms for sign in/sign out (students on passes), but have been unable to get a computer in the spot where I want to do sign-in/out.
• Some of our teachers use Google Forms for discipline. Students have to complete a form when they get in trouble writing down what happened and then that way the teacher has documentation.
• Another great idea is to use Google Forms to let students request books.
• I also have my Google Calendar (just for the library) embedded on my Destiny home page so students can see when their class is coming to  the library. My library aides especially love this.
• We use Google Calendar for our computer lab sign up (a resource calendar has to be created at the district level)--that makes my life SOOO much easier!
• With Google Calendars we also have a staff calendar that has school events and staff birthdays.
• I keep the library schedule in a Google spreadsheet and send the link out to our faculty.
• I have embedded book trailers from YouTube into Google presentations while book talking.  I easily change the trailers between classes as the books become unavailable via check-out.
• I use it with lesson plans and collaborate with other librarians in the district on the same grade level.
• I also use it as a tool for students and faculty to request books.
• I use it for students to fill out if they are having problems with their Google accounts.  I can solve the problem and email the students the solutions.
• I use a Google form for parent volunteers.

Please add other suggestions and ideas.

An Hour of Code

It all started with a group of 7th grade boys stopping in the library during lunch one day inquiring about our Library Technology Club. As I eagerly invited them to stay, I quickly realized I had a group of gamers and coders. They enthusiastically showed me their projects and programming and I knew I would learn much from these young men.

 After sharing this experience with my Instructional Technology Support Teacher, she found this opportunity offered from the Computer Science Education Week and when I presented this to the boys they were extremely excited about the offer. We now have a group of boys signed up for An Hour of Code for December 12th. The word is getting out to students with many others requesting a seat at the event.  My IT Support Teacher designed an awesome NetSchool page for students to access more information on programming and coding.

 This offer as stated on their website, "What's an Hour of Code? It's a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code" and show that anyone can learn the basics to be a maker, a creator, an innovator. We'll provide a variety of self-guided tutorials that anybody can do, on a browser, tablet, or smartphone. We'll even have unplugged tutorials for classrooms without computers. No experience needed." There is also a tutorial video.

I challenge others to join us next week and sign-up for An Hour of Code. If all goes well the opportunity to collaborate might be a possibility. Click here for An Hour of Code sign-up

For an additional article on the event click here.

Texas Lone Star Reading List 2014

This year's committee has selected an awesome group of books to be included on the Texas Lone Star Reading List for 2014. Check out the Pinterest board for the 2014 Texas Lone Star Reading list.

Using ThingLink With W.A.R.P. : The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

As one of the Texas Lone Star 2014 books, I thought this would be an excellent example to demonstrate the use of one of my new favorite sites ThingLink. It is easy to use with a quick tutorial to get started with linking "things" within an image. In this example, by clicking on areas of the image one can access a book trailer, more information on the author, and the Good Reads reviews. This will be a website that I share with my teachers with unlimited possibilities in all curricular areas. With our Google Apps for Education accounts, it will allow student produced resources to be easily linked to any image. The easy share option allows the interactive image to be linked, embedded, or shared through many social media sites. The image can even be a collaborative activity with an the option for others to edit. This will be another awesome site that I will share for some creative student driven assignments.

 

 Many in our district having been enjoying creative lessons using Aurasma . This augmented reality app is awesome but our secondary schools are limited on Apple devices. Thinglink might be an alternative for those using our Dell tablets.

Awesome Google Story Builder Site

I discovered an awesome site called  Google Story Builder through my PLN last week that I wanted to share.  I was so excited about the potential use of the site that I immediately made a quick story and emailed it to my L.A. department chair.  Within a few minutes I receive and email back asking me if I would present this in their next L.A. PLC (department meeting). 

This is an intuitive site that allows up to 10 different participants to build an online story. Music may be added to the story.  Once the story is produced, others may view the story easily through a link.  It’s easy to use, fun, and can be integrated in almost any writing activity.

Short Tutorial Video and Article: http://www.ctrlaltteach.com/google-story-builder/#.UoQr1ZGft4M

I just like this video - https://edshelf.com/tool/google-story-builder

Sue’s story: http://goo.gl/7IrvhE

Uses in the classroom:

• Story starters
• SBBB (Standard Based Bulletin Board) commentaries
• Introductions to lessons
• Retell a story
• Collaborative writing activities
• Write a different point of view
• Embed into presentations
• Discussions between historical figures

Advantages

• Easy and intuitive
• Just link the story
• Fun
• Can be used cross curricular
• Music is built in
• Can be easily screencast
• Can use with a QR code

Disadvantages

• Cannot edit once it’s produced
• Not user friendly with editing
• Cannot hear the music with Apple devices