Videos and QR Codes in the Library

That usually catches your attention. I explored several YouTube channels this week. That was fun. But I have to warn you that is a time consuming endeavor. Before you know, you have been watching videos for hours. Let alone annoying your family with songs and sounds of the library. Here are a few I explored.

The Norman High School Library

I felt this video was the most helpful:
Lets Get Started Video
This video is helpful in instructing students how to use the website. The librarian goes as far as giving the students a reason to log on with their g mail accounts. The video is short enough not to bore the students but packs in the information they need to get started. I especially like the classroom tab. Teachers can post assignments that allows the librarian to better assist the students. This is collaboration at its best.

I felt this is the video the students would like best:
Tiger visits the Library
This is a cute video. I think the students will like this video because their friends are participating. The tiger is cute and represents the school. The information he is sharing is presented in a fun way that they can relate. This takes school spirit and combines it with information.

The Unquiet Library

I felt this video was the most helpful:
Creative Commons Licensing
This is the most helpful in my opinion. Students need to understand copyright and why the rules exist. As technology use increases we must create responsible digital citizens. This is an non intimidating way to share with students how to properly use and share information. This is a quick video that sparks the thought process on the digital rights of others.

I felt this is the video the students would like best:
Media 21 Cohort Celebration Video
I think the students will like this one much for the same reason stated above. Allowing students to be in the video provides ownership. When students are given ownership engagement follows. This generation enjoys seeing themselves on screen. They are the part of the digital divide that jumps right in with technology. This highlights the kids and their strengths.

Pikesville High School Library

I felt this video was the most helpful:

Snapshot of The Panthers Library This video shares all the resources in the library. The video encourages students to come and learn. Expectations are set while creating a fun warm and welcoming environment. This video is helpful for students who are not sure what the library has to offer. It may also help remind those who forget.

I felt this is the video the students would like best:

Wii Like to Party

This video shows the fun aspect of the library. Again, the video provides ownership to the students. It is fun looking for your friends and laughing at how you look. The video is full of kids having a great time. Who would not enjoy watching this. The video is colorful and entertaining.

Bonnie Branch Middle School

I felt like this video was the most helpful:

Google Contact List I liked this video as more schools are using google drive for student work. While the information seems simple it can be overwhelming. I like the idea the librarian is available to help everyone including the teachers. This video can apply to everyone in the building.

I felt this is the video the students would like best:

Bring Them Back There are so many great videos on this channel. I had a difficult time picking my favorite or the one I thought kids would like the best. I know I will be showing this at the end of the year in my library. The tune is familiar and funny. Kids love a good parody. I think this is awesome. The students will actually listen to the words. The message is tied to something the kids know.

Youtube is a great place to share information. While I would not give unlimited rights, there are some great channels to share. Be careful when students are on youtube as inappropriate material does exist. I would use videos to introduce the students to the library and notify the community of happenings in the library. I also think tutorial videos could be helpful for teachers and students when using technology.

I also used Animoto (www,animoto.com) to create a book trailer. This was an awesome experience. I did not want to stop. The only downfall is the cost if you do not want the watermarks on the video. Otherwise, I would recommend this to everyone. This is a fun way to share ideas with visuals. This could be used for a ear in review, to cover books by a specific author, and special projects about any topic.

QR codes are another great resource for the library. Most of you have seen these around for awhile. You may not have known what they were used for. Well now you do. These are simple links that take you to a specific place on the web. Basically, you scan the QR code with your phone and then the url attached to this code will appear on your phone. This eliminates the need to type in a web address. These are fun, handy and convenient. I have included one for you to practice. I used QR stuff (www.qrstuff.com) to create a free QR code.This code will take you to the book trailer for The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine Applegate. One of my all time favorite books.

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.

Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.

The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events.

Scan this code to see the trailer (an advertisement may appear but the trailer will load):

The One and Only Ivan

If you would like to see a video on the real Ivan click here: The Real Ivan.

QR codes have many application in the library and classroom. This is a great way to do scavenger hunts for genres in the library. I could also place QR codes on books to direct students to print descriptions of the books or trailers just like above. I really like the idea of using QR codes to link to padlet (an online bulletin board) and databases. The students could just scan the QR code and immediately be direct to the card catalog as well. QR codes will save time directing students to websites versus trying to get them to type in a url correctly.

I loved these applications. In fact, I hope to post these on my school website. I will be posting my QR code with some youtube videos. I would highly recommend using both of these tools to communicate and create an interactive library.

References

Bbmsmedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos 

Bring Them Back Overdue Library Book Parody. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jo1RLPoD6s 

Calypso Gilstrap. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos
Creative Commons Licensing: What Is It & Why Should I Care. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8zSYqvAJuI
Getting Started with the NHS Library Website. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjpxzgZQkZM&feature=youtu.be

HOW TO GROW YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98SmBiyEXEs 

Media 21 Cohort 2011-2012 Celebration Video. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-dtUzK7LSw

The One and Only Ivan. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2015, from http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/One-Only-Ivan/ 

Pikesvillehslibrary. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

Snapshot of The Panthers Librar. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zat-1kHF5sY 

Staff List In Google Contacts. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DYXe-FhQW0 

The Unquiet Library. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos 

Tiger Visits The Norman High Library. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4 

Wii Like to Party @ The Panthers Library. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ysT9BZVTG4 

  

Libraries of the Future……Are You Ready?

The Next Library and the People Who Will Use It. (2014, November 13). Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/11/13/the-next-library-and-the-people-who-will-use-it/

The Daring Librarian: Who Needs a Librarian When You Have Google? (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2015.

Free Image on Pixabay - Shelf, Books, Library, Reading. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2015.

Swiss Army Librarian » Hi, I’m Google. And I’m a Librarian. :: Brian Herzog. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2015.

Pew Research Center is a great resource for libraries. In 2014 a study was done to gain insight on the public library of the future. Lee Rainie was involved with the research and shared the findings at the 2014 AZLA/MPLA Annual Conference.

This research addresses three areas of concern: the library as a place, the library as a connector of people and the library as an information resource. While some of these are common practices of the library today, the mode of delivery will surely change.

What do people think of public libraries?  Do people appreciate public libraries? Well let’s look a little deeper. According to Rainie, 91% say libraries are important to the community and 76% say they are important to them and their families. That is a big high five to libraries. The community sees the value. More importantly, what is the value actually worth? Well here the numbers reflect a different perspective. Participants were asked if the library were closed what impact would that have. A significant number, 63%, said there would be an impact to the community. However, on 29% felt there would be an impact on themselves or their family. This sparks more interest in my mind.

More questions reveal more statistics. So these questions relate to how the consumers feel about the library services. Interestingly enough patrons still connect the library with reading. About 77% strongly felt the public library was important to promote literacy and a love of reading. Some 72% strongly felt it was important for the free access to materials and resources. When asked about improving the quality of life only 69% strongly felt the library did that for them. Lastly, 48% of people strongly felt libraries provide services that unique and hard to find elsewhere. On a positive note, only 11% of people strongly felt that libraries are not keeping up with technology. Sadly, 22% of people strongly agree that people do not need public libraries as they can find information on their own. Surprisingly when asked how confident people are in the library to the community, the library ranks among other areas of interest, it ranks the highest at 63%. The military falls into second place with a 39% of importance. The police rank at 25%.  These are alarming numbers.

Librarians are still people. And people like librarians. When surveyed 98% of library visitors say interactions are very positive. Some 81% say librarians are very helpful. And 50% visitors say they received help from a librarian.

In keeping up with technology, libraries have rebranded as technology centers or hubs. However, 80% of Americans say borrowing books is still very important. Another 80% say reference librarians are very important. While 77% say free access to computers and the internet is very important. About 76% say quiet study spaces are important.

Do patrons really know what a library has to offer? A low 22% say they know all or most of the services. While only 46% say they know some of the services. A whopping 31% say they do not know much or nothing at all about the services the library offers. As few as 50% of Americans age 16 and up have visited a library in the last 12 months. The website use is even smaller with as low 30% using that feature.

The research goes on to identify types of people and how they use the library. Only 30% of the population are highly engaged in the library. Of that 10% are actual library lovers. The characteristics of this group are mostly women with high education who face economic challenges. They are heavy book readers and prefer to borrow in lieu of purchase. However, they do visit bookstores. Approximately 20% are information omnivores. These are high income earners who are seeking information. The next group has a medium engagement with the library. The first group is called the solid center making up 30% of this group. They are mostly male and use both technology and books. The print traditionalists make up the last of this group with 9%. These are the people who still want the book. The low engagement group is next. There is a 4% that says the library is not for them. This tends to be an older group that did not complete a high school education. They are not reading nor using technology. The distant admirers make up 10% of this group. This group knows someone who uses the library and typically have lower levels of education. Lastly, there is the off the grid at 4%. These people are just disconnected with society as a whole. They are older and tend to have low incomes.

Now that we have all this information, what do we do. We need to coordinate public libraries and school libraries. Offer early literacy programs that are free. Create a space that is suited for its purpose. Separate spaces and make spaces more comfortable. Lastly, offer a broader selection of e-books. Make the library more interactive much like a museum. Have more library services online. Keep up with technology so things are automated and do not waste the patron’s time. Make better use of the space. The library does not need to physically house everything. Patrons want reading rooms, tech centers, meeting rooms and cultural events.

Internet and smartphone use is up. Internet use is up to 87% of people are now using the internet compared to just 19 years ago when it was only 14%. Dial-up is almost non existent. Less than 10% of users have dial-up while 70% of users have broadband. In just 14 short years, cell phone usage has gone from 53% to 90% usage. A surprising 61% of all adults are on social media. The internet is common place. Eventually, the internet will be much like electricity. The internet will be a daily part of everyone’s life. The positives include enhanced health, convenience, productivity, safety, and useful information. The downside will be privacy challenges, over-hyped expectations, tech complexity, lagging human adaptation to new realities.

Good news: Reading is alive and well. People are still reading. A large 81% of Individuals 16 years and older are reading. Thirteen is the average number of books read in past 12 months.

There are still areas that libraries need to address:

                Non tech users still need help

                Pre-school programs

                After school programs

                English as a second language programs

                Life long learning opportunities

                Local media – community events

                Assistance for small businesses

                Encourage more discovery

Libraries are continuing to help in these areas:

                Tech experts

                Master teachers in age of lifelong learning

                Visionaries for knowledge

                Experts in sens-making

                Curators of material       

                Monitors of algorithms

                Modelers of lifelong learning

How libraries have evolved:

                Physical space is different and sensored

                Artifacts are connected to data-rich artifacts

                Nodes for “system of system” with databases and media

                Test beds – maker masters

                Community information and media steward – server farms

Libraries as a Community Resource:

                Trusted institution and privacy watchdog

                Advocates for free and open

                Advocates for closing digital divides

                Data and collection repositories

                Entrepreneur enablers

                Civic specialists and gap fillers

All in all, libraries must change with the needs of society. This migration takes time. Libraries exist to service patron and their needs. If the patrons need e-books that is what the library should provide. I am always amazed at how many people are discounting librarians. Many are shocked that a librarian holds a Masters Degree or higher just to hold the position. Twenty five years ago information was slow to find and limited. Librarians were held in high regard. Today information is vast and at our fingertips. There is so much information, a person could be overwhelmed with just one key word search. Today, with more information and technology librarians should be at the top of the list as valuable educators. Instead of eliminating the position of librarians we should be promoting the position. This information provides us data to validate the need for librarians. Patrons believe the library is important and they will use them. We may have to change the way the library is used; however, we still need librarians driving the information bus. After all, librarians are the finders of all information. I will leave you with a couple of thoughts to ponder…….

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Blah Blah Blog Readers!

Do you have lots of information you want to save and share? Do you get tired of searching for posts on your favorite topic or person? Blog readers are the answer. Blog readers allow you to keep track of all these posts without visiting individual websites. This could be beneficial for students and people in specific industries. As an American History student, just google "blogs American History" add them to your reader and BAM you only log in one place and the information is at your fingertips. Maybe you are in the cosmetics business, google "blogs make up" and BAM you can add all those blogs to your reader. You will have access to all that information with one log on and not have to click or remember individual websites. This is a real time saver. Time is my most valuable commodity and I appreciate every minute a blog reader saves me.

Lets talk about blog readers. There are many to choose from. Here are just a few: Bloglovin’, Feedly, Bloglines, NewsBlur, Digg Reader, and Newsvibe. I spent hours playing on each of these blog readers. Bloglovin was ok and easy to use. However, I did not like the interface. Bloglines was difficult to sign up for and I spent so much time just searching for the correct link. I had the same issues with NewsBlur. Newsvibe just was to plain for me and felt to basic. I did like Digg Reader and Feedly. Both of these were easy to use. I did not like the search feature on Digg Reader so I went with Feedly. I am glad I did. I was quickly able to add 25 blogs within about 30 minutes. I just googled "top library blogs" and picked which ones I liked best. This feeder is easy to navigate and allows you to even create categories for blogs. So whatever you are looking for is categorized and easier to find. Librarians tend to like filing systems.I like the look and feel of feedly. The name also makes sense and implies exactly what it does. I also like the layout of  the blogs as they appear on the news feed. This layout is similar to the original Facebook (yes, I am that old) which makes it easy to follow. I am so excited to have this at my fingertips.There is also an app for your android device. Cha ching we have a winner!

I followed several blogs. Here are some interesting ones. I am immediately drawn to The Book Bug. You can read that blog here: The Book Bug. I am particularly interested in the post about the Book Fair Set up. As a librarian this is something we do twice a year. I am always looking for better ways to display. Displays create a fun and welcoming environment. This also gets the kids excited about reading. Another good one is the Busy Librarian at: The Busy Librarian. This is a blog from an elementary school librarian. The title in itself explains how much a librarian has to do. I am interested in his view especially since he claims to be a gamer. This ties into my hopes to gain a maker space in my library, I love the podcast and images of books. His posts are more about books and that is where I can use some help. His text is simple and he lets the books do the talking. I have a personal connection to the library voice which can be accessed here: The Library Voice. Shannon Miller was one of my first professional development classes. Once she started talking about all the thing the library can be. I was hooked. I especially enjoy how she has a vision beyond the books and really wants the students to have a voice. She is considered one of the best and I see no problem in modeling the best. For me as the librarian, she seems up-to-date on the important things. Announcing Pebble Go in Spanish is important for my school. We service a large Hispanic population. I love the Skype help as well. Her blog is full of technology. And that is where it is at. Another elementary blog worth mentioning is Caleb's Creek Media Matters. You can find that here: Calebs Creek Media Matters.. The blog is not heavy with graphics and loads quickly. The text is in a simple format that is clear. Not much digital clutter here for the reader. I am really impressed with the lessons. She shares how she creates lessons that are cross curriculum. She even provides pictures to aid in understanding. This is so helpful for the visual learner. The last one to share with you is Mr. Library Dude. He can be found here:  Mr. Library Dude. This is a surprise blog. You never know what he may blog about. But I love the first blog he writes. He shares how most people think the library is quiet.. However, that really is not true. So since it is quiet he creates a play list full of fun music. This definitely helps me to remember my library needs to have activity or working noise all the time. While this is a college level blog it is about research. We teach research starting in Kindergarten. Granted this is minimal compared to what college students do; however, we do start the process. More importantly, his blog helps with advocacy for the library and all librarians. I am always looking for new ways to advocate. One post goes on to discuss what librarians do and how our jobs have changed. One of the greatest blog's is that of  Dr.Perry. Check out her blog of sketch notes here: Dr. Perry Sketchnotes. I love the colors and how stimulating the page is. This is a new and upcoming concept we are trying in my library. I want to share this with parents and teachers. Sharing how this conveys a message that doodling is learning. You almost know the story with limited reading. This sparks interest in reading. The best part is a professor is advocating drawing as a learning tool. This is great to share. This is just a few blogs to share that interest me. I am sure you can find plenty that inspire or interest you. I challenge you to learn something new. Go search for your school's blog or another school in your area. Maybe even another school with the same grade levels across the country. You may be surprised at how much information can be right at your fingertips and improve not only your job performance but your life as well. 

Just as a final note, I have created a tumblr page. Check it out here: Library Ledge. Here I am sharing others great post. I especially love the sketch notes by Dr. Karin Perry. Go check this out right away. Lots of fun stuff here!

Reference

Choosing Your New Blog Reader! - Crafty Cupboard. (2013, March 18). Retrieved September 20, 2015. 

Google Reader Who? Feedly Became Top News App On iPhone, iPad & Android This Week; New App Now Awaiting Approval. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015. 

Teens, Technology and Friends

Teens, Technology and Friendships. (2015, August 6). Retrieved September  14, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/

Many parents complain about how much time students spend online. However, they are digital natives and this is what they know. I know adults who do not come out of their comfort zone but expect their children to. Students today do not know what it is like without a world online. My parents use to complain about the "one eyed monster" in the living room. I seem to recall their parents complaining about Elvis. We all made it through those so called innovative times. I am sure our children will make it through as well. Many times I think it is hard for the older generation to understand how these kids think and feel. This has been the same complaint for generations. This is the world in with they grew up much different than their parents, and they do not know any different. I think we should not be so critical of them but encourage them to gain more soft skills. In fact, share our non virtual world with them instead of telling them our way is so much better. Honestly, do you truly believe it was all good? My mom walked to school uphill both ways---that never sounded good to me. I do know we have no idea what kind of a workforce there will be in 20 years. The online relationships may just be preparing them for the job they will have in 2050.  Nonetheless, check out this infograph for more statistical information that just might have you looking at teens, technology, and friends in a whole new light.

I chose Pictochart because I have heard it mentioned as several professional development sessions. I thought I could be more helpful knowing this program. The program was easy to manipulate. I would recommend this program as it is easy to use and a common tool for many people. This program is appropriate for everyone. I can see my Prek teachers adding letters and pictures. I can see High School teachers highlighting important dates and facts. I can even see a marketing executive using this as a selling tool. Everyone could use this and model to a specific need.

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Reference:

Teens, Technology and Friendships. (2015, August 6). Retrieved September  14, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/

Twitter as a Resource

Many people aka parents still struggle with the purpose of social media. Many times that struggle is due to lack of understanding. Technology provides a different form of communication from just 5 years ago and continues to evolve everyday. While an older crowd tends to gravitate to one platform or another, the digital natives are quick to jump in with both feet to try something new. That does not mean this is the rule, this is just a reflection of what I have witnessed in my personal experience. Many of my friends, myself included, tend to create a comfort level with Facebook and become loyal to that media. However, rest assured like the restaurant business, there are many social media sites available. Hence, the importance of understanding many platforms and allowing the digital natives to lead the way. After all, you would not want to eat at the same restaurant every day for every meal. As educators and parents we must determine how to use these sites to connect with those digital natives in a way that not only develops their academic needs but their social needs as well. This group of individuals will never understand hanging out at the roller rink every weekend. Nor do they want to. They socialize via the internet. This is where we need to be. Twitter is a great platform to do just this. Twitter allows the user to follow many individuals in a quick convenient format. Twitter only allows short comments which keeps the attention of the user. At the same time limits the post from becoming a rant. Twitter also allows links and videos that connect you to other resources for more information. The best part of Twitter, I can quickly find what I am looking for, by following the right people, especially links and information to technology. Twitter has a plethora of information on technology and education from individuals with many different backgrounds and education levels. I want to share some of my favorites.

Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) is an educational technologist and speaker. Her profile is fun and exciting. Immediately I saw a cake that looks like a dog. I quickly scroll down and find many interesting tweets. I am not sure I can pick just one. She does shares lots of technology likes like app smashing but my eye is drawn to a video and she describes this video as "teacher opening day faculty meeting. Check out this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGMlPDlY094. I laughed and I teared up. This video shows the fun creative ways teachers work together to change the world. I am forwarding this to my staff on my Monday Motivation email. This reminds us of our primary purpose.

Linda Braun (@lbraun2000) is an educator and librarian and holds many other titles related to education. Many of her tweets seem to be helpful for newbies wanting more information. This is a great profile if you do not know where to start. Her tweets reflect things of interest to students currently. She appears to understand current students and their needs. Her tweets help provide links to make those connections. I must say I am interested in her tweet about YouTube Kids. This is a new app for children that have appropriate content with filters. This gives parents a sense of comfort. This app also has time controls to set specific times on the app. The article can be found at www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2015/02/youtube-kids-google-s-first-app-designed-children.

Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) is a technology leader that describes himself as a teacher. I enjoy how Tony makes things short and sweet. His tweets get straight to the point without overloading with technical terms. Tony seems to be on top of his game when it comes to new trends in technology in the classroom. I am interested in his tweet about Periscope. This is a new form of social media that has not grown at the same level as Facebook. To connect with the students the teacher needs to be ahead of the times. Periscope is a great way to do this. Periscope is new and upcoming. Teachers can post videos for students who missed class or parents that may want help with homework. The possibilities are endless. Parents can also read more about Periscope at www. kontentsolutions.net/blog/periscope. 

Buffy Hamilton (@buffyjhamilton) is a librarian/teacher who is a self proclaimed mover and shaker. Her blog can be found at theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com. Buffy is a true librarian advocate. Many tweets address the needs and expectations of school librarians. As a librarian, I would first look at her tweets to read up on current news. One tweet that intrigued me was an article about being friendly feeling like work. This article is a professional development article that will be useful on those days that are difficult. This article goes on to discuss the emotional aspects of being a librarian. This is interesting especially since most teachers think I have no stress because I read books all day. To access this article click here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02763877.2013.756684#/doi/full/10.1080/02763877.2013.756684.

The Daring Librarian (@GwynethJones) is the queen of quite a lot. Her avatar alone is enough to draw you to the page. She is an out of the box thinker. I am immediately drawn to something I have never heard of before. She tweets about classroom cribs. I never put much thought into the struggle to create a classroom design that matters. Normally, the limited space in the classroom dictates where stations and students must sit. This is teachers helping teachers create more brained-based classrooms. These designs create an environment students will love. Teachers do work hard on creating these learning space and I am sure this site is a great place to show off work. I know many teachers on this site can appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to make a classroom inviting. Check this out at www.classroomcribs.com

Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) list a parent first in his list of job duties. The then goes on to include learner, teacher, leader, author, and many others. His profile is focused on STEM type activities and technology. There is so much to learn in this area. Of course, this includes gaming which is so popular among students today. I was particularly interested in a tweet about disruptors that make learning fun. I truly believe we must entertain the students to get them engaged. This article discusses the use of technology to make this happen. New tools in technology are changing the way we teach. This article discusses problem solving trough games and apps. This is both entertaining and educational for our students. Some of these that are often thought of as bad in turn are developing problem solvers. The article really has great ideas on being exciting technology to the classroom. You too can learn about this technology at www.noodle.com/articles/7-education-disruptors-that-are-making-learning-more-fun.

Twitter is a great way to connect. You can decide who and when you want to connect. The site is considered social media but is so much more. While resources are not housed on the site, people can easily direct you to where you want to go. Connecting with the right people puts resources at your fingertips that otherwise may take hours to find.