Class Projects

Blog Post 2: Handheld Devices

Karen  Bromley is an educator who is using technology to enhance her own personal knowledge  as well as designing new classroom procedures for expanding education.  In her article she discussed the educational and well as personal knowledge that can be achieved by using a smart phone as an educational tool.  She was reading the book Kakapo’s Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery. The book was fascinating and left her wanting more information.  She picked up her cell phone and started researching the topic. As she was researching, she realized that by using a smartphone, she was able to meet and fulfil common core state standard requirements and that she could have her students complete this same task when reading.  Three of the standards that are met through the use of a smart phone are increase vocabulary knowledge, increase comprehension and identify skills using technology and media.  The ability to increase vocabulary was accomplished by using the smart phone to look up words that were not located in the glossary of the book.  There were some words that Karen did not know the meanings, but by using online dictionaries, she was able to locate the correct usage and meanings that correlated with the story.  She was also able to increase her comprehension as she located the meanings of the terms in the book which led to a more complete understanding of the text in the book. Karen was able to interpret what the author was conveying to the audience and she found definitions and examples to help clarify her questions. She was able to use different websites to locate information and she had to evaluate the materials found just like she had taught her students to do when they are researching topics in the internet.  Karen was able to take her experience using her smartphone and turn it into a positive experience as she processed the steps that she could teach her students to use to further enhance their reading skills in the classroom.

I would use smartphones in the library as an extra way for students to research informational topics.  What a great idea to have the students bring their smartphones to school and have them use them to search for relevant websites for their research topics.  My school district has a no cell phone policy in elementary schools, however with permission they are allowed to bring them to school, or have them out of their backpacks.  This could work out as an incentive program that they would be able to bring their cell phones to the library for “research”.  I would also like to set up some QR codes that have book reviews that students could scan using their devices and read or watch a review.  We have eBooks and audiobooks in our library, so I am already working with the teachers and my principal to adapt our handheld device policy so that they can listen to or read books on their personal devices at school as well as at home.

References

Bromley, K. (2012). Using smartphones to supplement classroom reading. Reading Teacher, 66(4), 340-344. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01130

Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weakness

What are my weaknesses and strengths in using technology in the school library? There are five main statements that the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) use in the assessment of teachers using technology in school. They are to instruct and inspire student, to create digital learning experiences, model the technology, promote and teach digital responsibility and take professional development classes to continue to gain knowledge and skills (ISTE, 2008). I think that I am striving to meet these standards as I instruct my students in the library. There are two main weak points in my use of technology.  They are lack of time and lack of funding. The elementary school setting in Utah is set up as a prep time schedule, where the students attend the library for thirty minutes each week.  Teachers are not required to stay with their students.  This would be a fabulous time for me to collaborate and work together with each teacher to better serve the needs of the students. The students take ten to fifteen minutes to check in and check out books and then fifteen minutes to teach the lesson.  Sometimes, it takes longer than that to get the computers all up and running.  I am excited for next year’s schedule, because we are losing half of our student enrollment to a new school.  This will allow me a few free hours in my schedule that I can plan to work together with classroom teachers, so that the students can receive more technology training.  There is always a lack of funding, so I have to get creative in using the devices and services that we have access to in the school.  We have three computer labs and have just this year acquired four portable apple iPad labs.  I am going to use these next year to teach the online catalog and Pioneer Utah library sites.  I only have eighteen computers in my library, so students have to double up when we are completing an assignment.

My strengths consist of I am not afraid to try new things, I am not afraid to make a mistake and I am not afraid to ask someone for help or guidance. I am the first library in my district to purchase and use the Follett Catalist Digital App for audiobooks.  It has been a trial and error project, but it is now running smoothly and the students and parents love having this extra service.  I have just added eBooks and I introduced the Follett Bookshelf program and students are already checking out and reading books online. I make errors and open wrong windows or have technology problems, but my students see that I am able to solve the issue and sometimes it is one of my students who assist in resolving the problem.  This is great future training for problem solving and troubleshooting. I also am not afraid to ask teachers, parents, students and vendor companies for assistance if I am struggling with a certain program or app.  I don’t know the answers to all of the technological problems that could occur, but I know that with help and guidance from others I will be successful.

As an educator, I plan to use my technology strengths to help my students become better prepared to enter the workforce or continue with their educational pursuits. I want them to be able to have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the world. I know that I can always use more professional development classes and training so that I can keep informed of all of the new tools and programs that are being introduced into the technological world. It is important to be informed and also trained so that I can train my students and teachers how to use new technology in the library, classroom and the world.

References

International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE Standards Teachers. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf