Google Docs

Today’s young people are using a range of digital tools to compose and create in new and exciting ways and it is a game-changing moment for teachers of writing. The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century. That is where Google Docs comes into play, Google Docs is a wonderful free tool for teachers and students alike which allows for the creation of a variety of different text documents, spread sheets, and presentations as well as surveys. The ability to be able to share and comment for collaboration and immediate feedback, for its use as a research tool and the integration of spell checking and reference software makes it a fantastic tool for student productivity.

 Some of the best features of Google Docs that teachers need to know about are that :

• It is free and very easy to use.
• It has a user-friendly interface.
• It lets you create Google documents, spread sheets, and other file types and collections.
• It lets you upload, manage and store files and folders.
• It allows you to share Google Docs, files and collections.
• You can preview your docs and files before you open or share them.
• You can also view images and videos that you have uploaded to your document list.
• It lets you search for items by name, type and visibility setting.
• It allows users to collaborate on documents in real time.
• It also offers a chat functionality for collaborators to use while working on docs. 

Some uses for Google Forms and its applicability in collecting data within the classroom include:

• Having students conduct experiment in classroom and one member goes to teacher's computer to enter data for that group.
• Having students create surveys using Google forms and display on own computer; students travel from machine to machine to fill out the survey.
• Emailing forms to participants to collect data (can embed the form in the email); must know all members email addresses.
• The ability to embed the form in a Google Site, wiki, class blog or Moodle.

Google Docs has tremendous potential for use in the classroom and used in innovative ways is a wonderful tool for learning. For more information have a look at these fantastic posts by fellow pre-service educators Jennifer Walsh and Kelly Frintzilas who examine Google Docs in more detail and a great blog by UK educator Tom Barrett who reports on ten uses for Google Docs in the classroom.

Skype In The Classroom

(Introducing Skype in the classroom from Skype in the classroom on Vimeo).

I was conducting some research regarding the use of Skype in the classroom and it got me to thinking about how Skype could also be incorporated into the library. Of course, the benefits of Skype are endless and a list of 50 reasons as to why it would be a fantastic tool within the classroom can be found here, but I also believe it would be a phenomenal tool in the library as well. Based on a similar premise to a reading circle, Skype could be incorporated into the library by providing students with the opportunity to have a meaningful discussion with other students or teachers in different locations about a book they are reading, or even provide students with the opportunity to speak directly with an author! Using Skype within the classroom isn't a new idea and there is a fantastic Skype community for teachers which can be found here. There is even a Skype An Author network. For fellow inspiring educators who may have further interest in viewing or reading about Skype, an interesting article about the benefits of incorporating Skype into a lower grade classroom by one teacher can be found here, and an equally interesting and more comprehensive article about how it can be incorporated into a library can be found here. There is also the Vimeo movie embedded above (allow to buffer first). Skype has the potential to assist students world wide by removing traditional economic, geographical and cultural barriers to communication allowing for a truly enriching learning experience. Would you consider using Skype in your classroom?

I Speak For The Tree's

 

"I am the Lorax. I speak for the tree's".

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a die hard fan of Dr Seuss, so when it came time to pick a new display for the library, I thought what better to do than "The Lorax". For anyone who doesn't know "The Lorax", it is a children's book that was first published in 1971 that chronicles the plight of the environment and the danger corporate greed poses to nature. It was also turned into a very successful animated movie in 2012. The truffula tree's that you can see in the first photo were created using pool noodles, black electrical tape, dowel and plywood. The tops of the tree's were created using tissue paper and wire, following the directions that can be found here. The Lorax was also made from plywood, spray-painted and painted in the appropriate colours. As a family we had such a great deal of fun creating this display (yes kudos to my husband and daughter who made the bases and took their hands to making the truffula tree tops - we are a wonderfully creative family) and the students and teachers loved it as well.

Dragon Quest

 

In many cultures around the world there have been stories about dragons. They may be described in many different ways however one of the common themes are their large reptilian bodies and their feathered or scalded skin. Much of the time these dragons breathe fire, can fly and guard something of value such as knowledge or treasure - having supernatural strength and powers. With dragons previously being one of the most popular trends in children's books, I decided to use dragons as the focus of one of the displays in the library and ran a competition which provided the students with the opportunity to explore various types of dragon based literature. Overall the display was a great success having engaged and exposed a large cohort of students to a fantasy genre they may not have thought of reading before. What is even more pleasing, is that the lovely dragon which was created for the display in still in place keeping watch over the upper campus library to this day.

ZooBurst – Augmented Reality for Books!

ZooBurst image from:  http://cf.zooburst.com/images/ZooBurst_StoryCode_LittleRedRidingHood.pdf

ZooBurst is an augmented reality program that creates dynamic pop up books on your computer screen using a webcam and an internet connection. For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of augmented reality a simple explanation for this is that is a view of a physical, real world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

The ZooBurst book builder allows narration, images, animations, and speech balloons to be added to a story. Once created these books can be viewed using an online viewer or embedded in a website. Due to the simplicity of its interface this program would be most beneficial for primary age students to use in order to create and illustrate their own stories.

The advantage of using augmented reality in education is that it provides students with more effective ways to tell stories, deliver presentations, write reports, express complex ideas and access content. For teachers the benefit of using a program such as ZooBurst is that it gives students the chance to practice digital story telling by becoming creators of content and it is also a great way for students to engage with text.

Are you ready to incorporate one of the most creative, engaging experiences imaginable in your classroom?

To view this story book:

1. Install the free ZooBurst iPad app from the iTunes app store.
2. Launch the app and tap the “Story Code button”.
3. Point the device at the story code when prompted.

Would You Like A Blind Date With A Book?

 

"The love of books is the root of all happiness" - Anon

 

The magic of books can be tremendously powerful in the lives of children. However many educators struggle with finding ways to expose students to the wealth of genres available to read. With this in mind, the upper campus library decided to undertake a "Blind Date With A Book" display. With each book wrapped in brown paper like a present - so as not to reveal the content, students were encouraged to borrow these books and report on whether they enjoyed them - committing to reading at least 30 pages in order to make this decision. This display not only provide opportunities for students to explore genre's that they may have not thought of reading before, but brought a little bit of light and fun to the library. Judged as being an overwhelming success amongst teachers and children, this display took very little time to organize and will certainly be worth repeating in the future.