Module 1 Task

1. As the school librarian I was usually the most techno-literate person in the school, but since I’m no longer actually working—I retired for health reasons—my biggest concern is that I don’t know much about all the new apps for portable and mobile devices that have become more popular since I retired. I still want to benefit other librarians and students, so I’m hoping to find a vehicle/tool with which to do this through new library lessons that use the new apps in support of classroom learning.

2. The two most relevant reasons for me to use technology are to increase student engagement, thereby increasing student achievement, and to prepare students for their future in school or career where technology skills will be a necessity.
Too often students aren’t given good assignment direction when they need to use library resources, so they struggle; I want to develop brief, scaffolded lessons to give students easy strategies for using this new technology with their library resources.
Library-related assignments are typically longer projects that relate to the “real world” so it’s critical that my lessons give the students a library experience that promotes creativity and prepares them to use those real world technology tools they’ll encounter later on.

3. I’m drawn to Tim’s use of eduCanon. I try to create as many short instructional videos for library lessons as possible, so students can refer to them whenever they need a refresher, and I also use a number of infographics and graphic organizers for library lessons. A flipped learning tool would provide an online location to store these documents, especially since I no longer have a specific library Website to use.
I’m also interested in Denise’s use of Evernote. So much of library use is about taking notes from resources so giving students guidelines for an online “note-taking” tool will be valuable for library lessons.

4. As a school librarian I’ve followed those tips for implementing technology on desktop and laptop computers, but since I retired before mobile tools were much used, I need to find video tutorials to learn about each tool before I can determine its best use.
Since I’m retired, I will also need to find an audience to do test runs with the apps I’m wanting to integrate into lessons. I do have 2 teachers at my former school—an ESL and a SpEd—whose students had often been my “guinea pigs” for new technology, and I’m sure they would be delighted to have me stop by in the fall to work with their kids on some new tools.

5. I believe learning to better use Twitter and Google+ will allow me to publish my lessons to a wider audience, and learning about the “chat” tools will enable me to remotely collaborate with both teachers and students.

6. In addition to the tools I’ve already mentioned, the 2 categories of tools most interest me and that might best serve my needs are Live Streaming for interacting with students directly and Screencasting which can help me better introduce the new tools I’m learning about to others.

One thought on “Module 1 Task

  1. First of all, I am so sorry for the events recently in your Dallas! So sad for all the families of the police and other victims around the country.

    Secondly, I’m a retired middle school language arts teacher, for the same reasons as you. I thought I could teach until I was seventy, but that’s not working out.

    Thirdly, you do have a wealth of knowledge and strategies to share with other librarians. Twitter and Google Plus are my favorites, and will also be my way of working with other middle school teachers.

    I wish you the best and am glad to know and learn with you.

    Sheri

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