Technology Training

Technology Training is one of my FAVORITE things to do as a media specialist.  I love learning about new technology and being able to pass the new items on to my fellow staff members.  I am currently at GaETC getting my cup filled up with knowledge.  Yippee!

As much as I love having technology training sessions they still have their ups and downs.  I continually tell my teachers that they are just like their students when it comes time to teach them.  Sometimes they are even worse than the students.  I have many teachers who are as eager as I am about learning something new and trying it out in their classroom.  I love these teachers.  They enjoy being my guinea pigs to see how well something might work before we throughout to the masses.  I have my "special" teachers who need a little help and guidance to move forward and I also have my tantrum teachers who will go kicking and fighting just so they do not have to learn anything more.

I get to have a technology training session once a month during our faculty meetings.  I have created a newsletter called the Wingspan that I handout to the teachers to help them work on the new programs after they have left the session.  I also create an assignment with some of the sessions just so that I can see they have tried it.  Just getting some of them to try something new is a huge accomplishment.  And the extra perk is after they have tried it and realize it might be something good is even better.

I named the newsletter the Wingspan because I asked the teachers "Are you a teacher that opens your wings and takes flight with things that are new or are you a teacher who just sits on your perch, keeps your wings in tight and happy the way things are?"  Those that do not want to change need to rethink their reasoning.  The students require change because of the world they are growing up in.  This generation and the generations to come will be more technology sound and savvy then the ones before them.  Teachers need to learn to keep up with the changes or they might be left behind.

We are using our faculty meetings for the technology trainings and making them a source of PLU credit this year which in turn having assignments makes it more tempting if they see they get a little extra out of it as well.  Many schools I know will do trainings on a volunteer basis where they allow only those who want to learn to come.  That can be good and bad.  Good because you have to start somewhere and others might witness what they are doing and want to learn too, but then comes the bad.  Now that others are wanting to learn you will have to train and train and train because you have left the training time up to the teachers.  You could leave it to the teachers to teach each other as well.  Kind of like a domino effect.

I love teaching technology and love seeing what the teachers can come back to teach me after they have  jumped further into it.  You, as the media specialist, have to find a way that best suits your staff with technology training.  Maybe you have a technique already in place that works well, but what if your school does not have any true format set in place?  I dealt with this in an old school of mine when I was a computer lab manager.  I began to have technology training sessions during the teachers planning periods where they could come if they wanted.  I asked what it was that they wanted or needed to learn about and went from there.  It started out slow, but took off rather quickly after just one or 2 sessions.

Talk to your teachers.  If you are needing a place where to start, ask them what they would like to learn about.  Go out and find technology blogs to learn about new and free things you can pass along!

Take flight!!!!

Video Distribution Unit Blog

What a hot topic!  Are many media centers really incorporating the video distribution into the media and school’s instructional process?  Do they really know how it works? The most controversial media center topic at my school is the video distribution unit alias “The continental divide.” In August, my principal hired a video broadcasting teachers solely for video production; however, unbeknownst to her the needed collaboration with the media specialist.  Our media specialist is divided between two schools; thus, with us only on Tuesday and Thursday. My principal and media specialist has been at the school for two years and were placed there by the district office; thereby, totally disconnected from one another.  Bottom line the video distribution is not operational and certain parties need it up and running. After hearing through the grapevine that I was the guru of the media program, my principal instructed me to see what was wrong with the unit and if it still works. Against my will and desire, on a day when the media specialist was out I checked out the unit and found that all needed equipment is available for airing a production; however, the wiring and connection was the problem. I did share with the media specialist very apologetically my presence in his area and my total disagreement for being forced to get involved. We are fine and have a good working relationship with is important to me.  Besides, being divided between schools, he stated he does not know how it works and not interested in knowing which he shared with the video production teacher who thereby shared it with the principal. Volcano about to erupt! I am not in it.  This topic is a much needed one for my school; thus, the more I learn about it the closer we may all be to reach a degree of contentment.  The distribution unit, channel one, nor cable have been utilized since I left the media center in 2005 by the four media specialist that came after me, a media clerk at that time.  The students at Orenco Elementary and Eisenhower Middle Schools instructional video distribution programs were class acts and gave me ideas to share with  those connected  to the unit. What a great way to engage students, as well as,  introduce video broadcasting.  Students will love it.

Back to my original questions, how many media centers are really using the video distribution unit and do they really know how to operate it.  What I do see is a gap in the media center’s operation of the traditional media specialist compared to the new age instructional technology media specialist.  Educating upcoming media specialists via college classes, webinars, professional development, list serves, and collegiate collaborations are effective avenues in enlighten them on the usefulness and value of the video distribution unit in the instructional progress. Also, it is just fun and the students will assist with the tasks by taking ownership in its daily operations.

 I think it is not that the media specialists are not cable of incorporating the video distribution unit in the media center’s functions; however, it is very time consuming and our to do list never ends. So for those who are willing to embrace it, run the race well?  What is your take on media centers not embracing nor incorporating the video distribution unit in the curriculum when one is available within the center?

Social Networking

Social networking has taken the world by storm.  For some, at times it seems so overwhelming.  You just get to understanding the latest and greatest social media website and BOOM up pops up another one.

I feel one of the greatest assets of social media is the astonishing connection it brings to people near and far.  You are able to locate people you may have lost contact with years ago or maybe you are able to connect with people who share your same dreams or life changing experiences.  For schools, it can connect students with other fellow students not only within their own school, but even all over the world.  Many schools use social media such as Facebook or Twitter for keeping their community abreast of what is going on at the school.  A teacher or administrator will usually manage the account in order to make sure that what is posted is appropriate for its followers.

Our county allows for Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for the different clubs or sports to help keep everyone in the loop, but these types of accounts are not able to be viewed on school grounds via the school wifi.  They are blocked and filtered from our computers.  We have been able to utilize other Web 2.0 sites that share the same aspects, but are more educationally friendly.  A site such as Edmodo is a social networking type site that yet a teacher can have more control over on what is posted on their group site.

Social media comes in so many different types of facets and those many different facets can advance a school and its networking capabilities to such an amazing level if they are used and managed well.  They can be used to help a classroom collaborate further not only amongst themselves, but with other classes in the school or across the world.  Social media can also increase the support of the community just by keeping them aware of what is happening at the school.  Letting the community know what accomplishments the students are achieving strengthens that bond.

I have recently learned about a website called LibraryThing.  It is where readers can make lists of books.  Books they have read and books they would like to read.  Not only can they make lists, but they can share their comments and rate the book.  LibraryThing allows you to join groups or talks with fellow readers who share your same interest in books and their genre.  I have recently introduced this website to my book club where we can come together as a group to share comments on the books we are reading this year.

Education has come such a long way with being able to share lesson plans, guidance, and advice with other teachers all over the world through social media.  One of the most popular social media websites (although it has been around for years now), but has turned the educational world upside down with ideas is Pinterest.  Designing and managing ideas have helped teachers to organize their classrooms in ways they could never have thought of themselves.  You can even find lesson plans for sharing on Pinterest.  The mere snapshot of an image allows a viewer to decide if they would like to further pursue the website or move on to something else.  You can "pin" something you find interesting to your board in order to look at it more extensively later and it will also be shared with your followers.  You yourself may choose to follow other boards that appease to your interests.

I could go on and on about social media.  The effects it has in the classroom, for teachers and for students, but we would be here all night.  Although social media can be so beneficial in many ways, it can also become a device in which you spend way too much of your time and it consumes you.  Not only do we need to teach students about the various social medias out there for their use, I feel we are obligated to share with them time-managing tips for using these types of sites as well.  The younger generation is growing up in a world consumed with technology.  We need to make sure they also learn to enjoy life outside the electronic box and remember to enjoy the simple things like walking barefoot in the green grass, sunlight on their face and fresh air.

Media Center Web Pages

Does Your Web Site Help You Do Your Job?

Are webpages marketing tools used to promote the media program? Is it a replica of the school  mission and goal statement? Does it reflect the media specialists knowledge and understanding of technology usage in the 21st century?  Author David Warlick pose a valid question concerning school media centers "Does Your Web Site Help You Do Your Job?" In reflecting on the statement, websites  should guide, as well as, engage stakeholders in utilizing services offered by the media center.   

As I admired several media centers' websites from the assignment, I was intrigued with the media specialists new era technology  skills.  Of the three media programs noted for viewing, North Elementary impressed me the most.  It provided curriculum and pleasurable information for engaging students in learning as instructional literature to assist teachers in teaching. The website I thought I would like the least was Creekview High School due to the assumed simplistic nature; however, six icons or images spoke volume.   What an excellent demonstration of Web 2.0 technology tools being used to engage students in learning.  The icons for Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Wordpress, and YouTube all were available for staff and students  use; thus, no internet filtering going on there.  Pictures of students in the media center engaging in various assignments were published via Flickr.

As I continued my sight-seeing tour of modern day media centers websites, I looked at several websites posted to the School Library Websites (Wikispace) in which I found to be interesting.  I am in the middle for the traditional and digital era websites.  Many of the websites created via Wiki appeared to be less human or less inviting.  Even though elementary students are savvy tech students, presentation is still needed to attract the students as well as keep them engaged. 

The dilemma I foresee is the Librarians who are baby boomers or those who have not gone through a rigorous instructional technology class such as this one; thus, having limited Web 2.0 digital technology skills needed to captivate students in a digital society. As noted earlier, "Does Your Website Help You Do Your Job?" What patrons see, is what they say you do! 

**What is your take on doing away with the traditional website layouts and using Wiki as the layout format for webpage designs for media centers?

Wikis

I have never really given a second thought to wikis until this assignment.  Not sure why . . . I just didn't, but now being at my new school, they use a wiki and use it in an effective manner for the faculty and staff.  It is an area in which they keep our documents handy for all teachers and staff to be able to locate quickly rather than on a computer drive that you might not be able to get into from another location outside of school.  Our school uses it very much like a storage unit for our documents.

After reviewing the given links for the assignment, it appears that several of the schools use the wikis as their actually website for their media centers.  It seems to work well for them and they have all their information readily available for their patrons, but it lacks a bit of luster and creativity that you might get with an actual website.  Two of the websites that a reviewed could have been created within a website of their own rather than a wiki.  I do like the area within the wiki for collaboration, but for anyone to be able to edit and make changes to the wiki when they have been accepted is a little scary.  Unscheduled changes can prove to be harmful in more ways than one.

Wikipedia has long been a thorn to the research process for teachers and students.  Many teachers do not allow the use of wikipedia because its information can not be held reliable.  Anyone can make a post and anyone can edit a post.  Although much of the information found on wikipedia can be useful, the free use of editing leaves the information questionable.

Now on a plus side of creating a wiki, I have been trying to think of how I could use one within my media center.  I host a book club and creating a wiki in order to talk and review information about the books being read would be a great concept within a wiki.  Being able to talk about a book and add or edit your views would be a phenomenal aspect to a book club.  Being able to collaborate through the use of a wiki with our book club would be great.

I do not like the idea of basing your entire media center website based on a wiki one for the lack of making it a little more eye-appealing.  But also, for coming up with an easier free flowing feel to your website rather than the through everything thrown together.  I need the use of color and pictures to add quickly and easily to make the website attractive.  The few that we had been offered, appeared to be overwhelming with information.

Wikis . . . what is your idea?  How will you use it within your media center?

Podcasting

This post is actually written by Trellis Buckles for Team 1

Podcasting, one of the many exploding Web 2.0 tools of the 21st century, has changed the dynamics of how libraries service patrons. Podcasting is defined as an audio file up loaded onto the Internet for listeners. Even though podcasting is booming in many educational arenas, it is not a technology tool utilized within my school. During the first podcast assignment, I sought the assistance of several colleagues on helping me with understanding of how to create one; however, to my surprise no one had prior knowledge of podcasting. I will go as far to say not many know what podcasting is. As leaders within the school structure, the media specialist’s role in providing instructional assistance to stakeholders is vital to the student’s academic success in a digital society. For all new to podcasting, Kretz’s article “Podcasting In Libraries” is an excellent read for insight on the history of podcasting and various usage. According to the author, podcasting is not new to the scene however it presents a newer form of delivering audio information. Now that I have read extensive literature of podcasting, perfecting one sounds simple. To syndicate a podcast, an audio file is uploaded to the web and uploaded into a RSS feed language; thereby, a podcatcher downloads it into the audio file. As I recently read in an assignment “what should be common sense is not common sense to all.” The irony of RSS “Really Simple Syndication” is that “It Really Is A Simple Audio Show” when demonstrated properly how to create one. Educators and students are more likely to embrace podcasting if shown how it will enhance learning and how to create one by keeping it really simple at first. If primary students in lower grades can podcasts surely middle and high school students can incorporate it into their academics. Students at Willowdale Elementary School with the assistance of instructional leaders created podcasts on various assignments and had them published to the school’s website “WillowWeb.” How inspiring! There are numerous ways to utilize podcasts in engaging student learning. Through podcasting, Nancy Keane presents an inside glimpse of books via booktalk. The books appear to be exciting and good reading at least after listening to Keane. What a great way to engage students in reading for fun, as well as, enticing students to learn with fun. Learning can be fun! A new wave in the digital learning environment is bring your own technology. Librarians, educators, and students are being ushered into a new era of information delivery explosion. It is time for everyone to catch the wave. With all the new educational mandates teachers must adhere to, school media specialists are vital to the instructional goal of assisting students in surpassing academic endeavors that we all must meet. Even though media specialists wear many hats in the instructional community, assisting stakeholders in embracing technology tools in a digital driven society more often must be led by the librarian. Just as teaching is an art so is delivering information to patron with understand an art. Podcasting will only advance to another dimension; thus, we must all spread the news to catch the wave or be wash ashore and left behind. Teach the teachers to teach the students to podcasts by showing learning can be fun.

Welcome to the blog for Team 1, MEDT 7477, Fall 2013.
To get started, team members will need to discuss the layout you want to use.  Then you will check the course website for the schedule -- topics, as well as when each of you will do original posts and when you will be responsible for response posts to classmates.
OPC