Monday, November 30, 2009
Diversity and the Media Center
Diversity has many meanings. First there is diversity in our cultures. Then there is diversity in our learning styles. In our schools we have both. It is our responsibility as media specialist or future media specialist to make sure that we have provided both for our students. We want our students to feel that they can come into the media center and find what they are looking for in the various forms that will suit their needs. If we all learned the same way or lived the same way then we would live in a very boring world. That is why there is so much diversity in the many different avenues in life. In a media center if a child needs large print books, books on CD, computer programs that enhance their reading, or just plain books we should provide that for them. If a student comes with different cultural diversities then we should provided them with those types of media resources also. Everyone is different so we need to look around our school community and make sure that we provide the needs of our students.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Digital Storytelling and Ebooks
I introduced my students to digital storytelling last week with http://www.storylineonline.com/. It is a website where members of the Screen Actor's Guild read a book. The actors introduce, read, and show the pictures to the students. The students are introduced to books we may not have in the media center, but are able to get at the public library. I also had shown Fifth grade how to create their own digital story with photos from their visit to STARLAB at Dobbins Air Force Base. The Fifth graders then wanted to use Photostory to create projects for the end of the year. They took pictures of their favorite teachers, classrooms, friends, and other places at school. The students then out the pictures in the order of importance to them. We then added music to them Because the music was already included, we were able to stay within copyright laws. Once they completed the project, we saved it to a CD and the students were able to show their parents at the end of the year.
While we do not have E-books at our school, persay, we do have online research resources. We have encyclopedias, websites, and other online resources for our students. The county has started introducing ebooks to the high schools with the hope of sending it to middile schools and elementary schools. They will be beneficial to the students who want to read a book but the hard copy is checked out. The checkout time for an ebook is usually twenty-four hours where the students are able to read the books and then returning them for someone else to read. With the introduction of e-books into the media centers, the students will be able to read their favorite books when they want without having to wait on it to be returned.
While we do not have E-books at our school, persay, we do have online research resources. We have encyclopedias, websites, and other online resources for our students. The county has started introducing ebooks to the high schools with the hope of sending it to middile schools and elementary schools. They will be beneficial to the students who want to read a book but the hard copy is checked out. The checkout time for an ebook is usually twenty-four hours where the students are able to read the books and then returning them for someone else to read. With the introduction of e-books into the media centers, the students will be able to read their favorite books when they want without having to wait on it to be returned.
Digital Storytelling and Ebooks
As educators, we are always looking for ways to make the curriculum we have taught to our students "stick". Before our last face to face class session, I had never heard of students creating digital storytelling projects. Even after a long day of working and driving all the way to Carrolton, I was drawn in by the digital storytelling examples that were shared during class. These projects must have been very memorable for the students who created them. What a fun way to learn!! Yes, there are many obstacles to overcome when doing a project like this with students. In a real classroom setting, many students may have a hard time with a project like this. You have to model for them how to complete the story board, and many students will not be familiar with Moviemaker. Like us, they have never been exposed to this type of learning. I believe that after you have gone through one digital storytelling project, it will be much easier for students to do it a second time on a different topic.
When I think of digital storytelling, I think of the Amazon's Kindle. Just this week, I have been training high school students on how to use GALILEO. I opened up my lesson reading an article about how Saturday mail may be discontinued. The article stated that mail volumes are declining. We had a discussion about why mail volumes are declining in the digital age and what implication this may have on libraries. This got the students thinking about why digital information and search tools such as GALILEO are important. It is very important that students know how to use digital information tools as they enter college.
In the high school media center electronic reference materials can be considered an "ebook". GALILEO offers the same type of information available in an encyclopedia, but the information is electronic. Our media center has never purchased an "ebook". The reason is that there is not a very high demand for these electronic materials. Just this year; however, I had a teacher request an electronic teaching resource. She was asking for a GALE poetry reference material. I looked into purchasing the ebook for her, but I found that the reference e books cost $1,900, not something I have in the budget at the time. Now that I know this is a material will be utilized by the teacher, I will look into purchasing the digital reference materials next year. I am planning on asking the teacher to train other teachers on how to use the GALE electronic poetry resources, so they will be used by other teachers as well.
As we talk about digital story telling and ebooks, it is important to remember that there are free materials out there on the web for teachers to try. It would be a good idea to train teachers on where to find these free electronic resources in hopes that these materials will be used to enhance learning in the classroom.
When I think of digital storytelling, I think of the Amazon's Kindle. Just this week, I have been training high school students on how to use GALILEO. I opened up my lesson reading an article about how Saturday mail may be discontinued. The article stated that mail volumes are declining. We had a discussion about why mail volumes are declining in the digital age and what implication this may have on libraries. This got the students thinking about why digital information and search tools such as GALILEO are important. It is very important that students know how to use digital information tools as they enter college.
In the high school media center electronic reference materials can be considered an "ebook". GALILEO offers the same type of information available in an encyclopedia, but the information is electronic. Our media center has never purchased an "ebook". The reason is that there is not a very high demand for these electronic materials. Just this year; however, I had a teacher request an electronic teaching resource. She was asking for a GALE poetry reference material. I looked into purchasing the ebook for her, but I found that the reference e books cost $1,900, not something I have in the budget at the time. Now that I know this is a material will be utilized by the teacher, I will look into purchasing the digital reference materials next year. I am planning on asking the teacher to train other teachers on how to use the GALE electronic poetry resources, so they will be used by other teachers as well.
As we talk about digital story telling and ebooks, it is important to remember that there are free materials out there on the web for teachers to try. It would be a good idea to train teachers on where to find these free electronic resources in hopes that these materials will be used to enhance learning in the classroom.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Digital Storytelling and eBooks
Well this is yet another technology that I had not heard of until this class. I can see where this could be a great resource for teachers introducing standards in a very different way from what the students are normally use to. I work in a primary school (Pre-2) so I am not sure that the student would be able to tackle this enormous task on their own. This would be something that would probably be teacher driven. The students would be able to learn a great deal but I do not think that they could accomplish this without intensive involvement from the teacher. At this age and even elementary and middle school the media specialist and the teacher would probably need to prepare the files for pictures, sounds, and video clips for the students because of all the copyrights and citing task that accompany the task of digital storytelling. This has proven to be an enormous undertaking for me.
In the book Library 2.0 and Beyond it is stated that there are seven elements to digital storytelling. They are: the point of view, a dramatic question, the emotional content, the gift of the creator's voice, the power of the soundtrack, the ecomony, and the pacing. This would be a great experience for students to use their creative and individual styles to create something that would be very informational and interesting. Because the digital storytelling is not a very long story it gives the creator just enough time to hook the audience. The objective is to give enough information to leave the audience wanting to know more about the subject. If used by teachers this would give the students enough information for them to WANT to learn more about a topic that they might normally think boring or why do I need to know this. I think that this is a great technology that could become something great for the teachers and the students.
I have check with different schools, from primary to middle schools, in our county and no one uses eBooks. They do use online encyclopedias, encyclopedias and atlases on CD's, Britannica Elementary through Galileo, and some books on CD's that they use the printed book to follow along. The media specialist at our middle school said that she has considered purchasing them but the students have a hard enough time keeping up with the regular books so she is not sure that this would be a good investment. She said that she would like to know more about how others would circulate the eBooks in their schools.
In the book Library 2.0 and Beyond it is stated that there are seven elements to digital storytelling. They are: the point of view, a dramatic question, the emotional content, the gift of the creator's voice, the power of the soundtrack, the ecomony, and the pacing. This would be a great experience for students to use their creative and individual styles to create something that would be very informational and interesting. Because the digital storytelling is not a very long story it gives the creator just enough time to hook the audience. The objective is to give enough information to leave the audience wanting to know more about the subject. If used by teachers this would give the students enough information for them to WANT to learn more about a topic that they might normally think boring or why do I need to know this. I think that this is a great technology that could become something great for the teachers and the students.
I have check with different schools, from primary to middle schools, in our county and no one uses eBooks. They do use online encyclopedias, encyclopedias and atlases on CD's, Britannica Elementary through Galileo, and some books on CD's that they use the printed book to follow along. The media specialist at our middle school said that she has considered purchasing them but the students have a hard enough time keeping up with the regular books so she is not sure that this would be a good investment. She said that she would like to know more about how others would circulate the eBooks in their schools.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Technology Training
Like DeeAnn's school, funding for Staff development is used for things other than technology. We are a Title I school and our focus is reading and math. While most of our teachers are "technology literate," some avoid using it as much as possible. Technology is used in the training that is currently taking place. It is used as an additional resource rather than standing solely on its own and showing what it can be used for in teaching the students.
When we received our SmartBoards two years ago, we received a brief training on how to use it, create lessons, etc. The incentive for attending the training was having the software downloaded to our laptops and greater access to them. We received FASTMATH software which improves students' knowledge basic math facts. Our academic coach and I went to the training and then redelivered the information to the staff. There was no incentive given for doing the training, it was mandatory. While it was understood that we would be using it on a regular basis and the teachers needed to know how the software worked and read the reports, they were already inundated with other training and information they were required to do to receive the PLUs they were given.
My goal at the end of this year is to talk with our principal and technology specialist about incorporating technology training for our staff into their staff development plan. When I taught our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students the new things that they can do with Destiny, the teachers learned with them. While the students were the initial audience, I found that their teachers also took part because they found that they could create lists of books and materials that they would be able to use in the future. Once the lists were created, the teachers would be able to pull the resources for the units they are teaching without having to repeatedly search for them every year when the unit came.
I would like to show the teachers how to incorporate the virtual library that Cobb County has as well. They know it exists, but could use a refresher course since new resources has been added in the last two years. It is something they can share with their students and the students can then share with their parents at home.
When we received our SmartBoards two years ago, we received a brief training on how to use it, create lessons, etc. The incentive for attending the training was having the software downloaded to our laptops and greater access to them. We received FASTMATH software which improves students' knowledge basic math facts. Our academic coach and I went to the training and then redelivered the information to the staff. There was no incentive given for doing the training, it was mandatory. While it was understood that we would be using it on a regular basis and the teachers needed to know how the software worked and read the reports, they were already inundated with other training and information they were required to do to receive the PLUs they were given.
My goal at the end of this year is to talk with our principal and technology specialist about incorporating technology training for our staff into their staff development plan. When I taught our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students the new things that they can do with Destiny, the teachers learned with them. While the students were the initial audience, I found that their teachers also took part because they found that they could create lists of books and materials that they would be able to use in the future. Once the lists were created, the teachers would be able to pull the resources for the units they are teaching without having to repeatedly search for them every year when the unit came.
I would like to show the teachers how to incorporate the virtual library that Cobb County has as well. They know it exists, but could use a refresher course since new resources has been added in the last two years. It is something they can share with their students and the students can then share with their parents at home.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Technology Training
In the school where I teach we have a wide range of technology expertise. A few are very technology savvy and a few do not use technology hardly at all. Most of the staff have an average level of technology skills. Professional development in our school is provided mainly during faculty meeting or in team/grade level meeting. The teachers are provided with PLU's as an incentive to participate in the trainings. The opportunity to provide technology training is limited because of lack of time and funding. We are a Reading First School so much of the professional development is surrounding the areas that the state requires of the Literacy Coaches. After all of this staff development when the word technology professional development is mentioned many teacher will respond "not another training."
I talked to my mentor and she told me that the different staff development that she has provided or would like to provide would include: web page development, how to use the resources provided in the media center like the laminator, poster maker, projectors, online card catalog, and how to fill out tech request forms. These are just some of the basic trainings that the media specialist is faced with on a regular bases.
The media specialist's DO's and DON'T's list. In the DO's list she would want to always provide the participants a computer to sit at while doing trainings that required using the computer. In training that the participants have to sit and just listen are not at all productive. If the training is learning a new technology the participants need to be able to actually do hands on practice. Also provide the participants with a simple handout with the direction so that when they are away from the training they can practice. In the DON'T list the main thing is not to require the participants to just sit and listen.
Our media specialist says that her experience with staff development is sometimes good in the fact that some teachers really are interested in learning new technology skills. The bad experiences would be with teachers that are resistant to change because of lack of technology skills and they feel very uncomfortable with learning new things.
I talked to my mentor and she told me that the different staff development that she has provided or would like to provide would include: web page development, how to use the resources provided in the media center like the laminator, poster maker, projectors, online card catalog, and how to fill out tech request forms. These are just some of the basic trainings that the media specialist is faced with on a regular bases.
The media specialist's DO's and DON'T's list. In the DO's list she would want to always provide the participants a computer to sit at while doing trainings that required using the computer. In training that the participants have to sit and just listen are not at all productive. If the training is learning a new technology the participants need to be able to actually do hands on practice. Also provide the participants with a simple handout with the direction so that when they are away from the training they can practice. In the DON'T list the main thing is not to require the participants to just sit and listen.
Our media specialist says that her experience with staff development is sometimes good in the fact that some teachers really are interested in learning new technology skills. The bad experiences would be with teachers that are resistant to change because of lack of technology skills and they feel very uncomfortable with learning new things.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Closed Circuit System/Video Distribution
Well like all the other technologies, we do not have this one either. I really feel that we are very much in the background with our technology. I had to check with some of the other schools in the county and one of them responded back to me. Several years ago the school had a connections class that offered video production. They would do the morning news over the closed circuit system. That was disbanded and the equipment was removed as well. They do use Channel One in the afternoons but other than that they use it for movies. An example would be the social studies classes that would need to see Gone With The Wind but there is only one copy so they could show it and all the classes could watch. The media specialist can play it in the media center, tell the teacher what channel and all can see. At one time they use to have Dish Network but that to has been dropped so Georgia Public Broadcasting can not be seen either.
At our school the teachers can access United Streaming through the computers with access codes and play movies that relate to some sort of standard for the students to watch. The computers are connected to the TV with an Avery Key device.
I looked through the GPB website and there are alot of interesting things that would be available for the teachers to access. I like the way that you can find standards for the things that are provided on the site.
Maybe one of these days our district will offer some of the technologies that we have learned about in the course.
At our school the teachers can access United Streaming through the computers with access codes and play movies that relate to some sort of standard for the students to watch. The computers are connected to the TV with an Avery Key device.
I looked through the GPB website and there are alot of interesting things that would be available for the teachers to access. I like the way that you can find standards for the things that are provided on the site.
Maybe one of these days our district will offer some of the technologies that we have learned about in the course.
School Broadcasting and GPB Resources
At Paulding County High School, we use Channel One as our school distribution system. This means of broadcasting information to the school can be wonderful, but also presents some challenges. One problem with Channel One in our school is that we have an entire building without Channel One TVs, so it is difficult to ensure information is getting to the entire school. The following are ways we have used Channel One:
1. Every night the Channel One News is downloaded into the box through a cable, and we can broadcast the news to classrooms at any point during the day. Some classrooms utilize this and others do not. Since we do not have a homeroom class period daily, many first period teachers do not have the time to show their classes the news broadcast. Educational videos are also downloaded into the box every month. We email out a list of these videos. If the teachers would like them to be recorded, we download them onto a DVD for them and catalog them into the system.
2. We use the inputs on the broadcasting system to display powerpoint presentations. These presentations are broadcasted to the classrooms, lunchrooms, etc. Power point presentations are usually on an automatic loop. A weekly news is broadcasted at Paulding County High School. We have used power point to broadcast new book purchases for the media center. Basically, we put the cover of one new book title per power point page and place on the loop.
3. Some special events are broadcasted through Channel One. This year, I broadcasted the presidential address to students through Channel One. I was presented with a number of challenges when broadcasting this event because I was afraid that live streaming would be slow through the web. (We found this to be the case with the presidential inauguration last year). I thought it would be more reliable to tape the broadcast, but found out there is no cable TV anywhere in the school. We eventually did work it out through the internet. (You can hook up a computer to the broadcasting box.)
4. Another way we use the Channel One system is for our school wide time. I have a digital clock with a video camera on the clock. I plug in the video RCA cable from the video camera to the channel one system. The audio comes from a boombox into the channel one box. This way, any teacher with a Channel One TV can turn to channel 3 and see the time. If they turn the sound up they will hear classical music. They can play this throughout the day for their students.
Regarding Georgia Public Broadcasting Resources, the main way teachers use these resources is through United Streaming. I hold pass code information in my office, and teachers may get the passcode from me anytime. Looking at the website, I see there are wonderful resources available through GPB, and a training on this resource would be beneficial for teachers.
1. Every night the Channel One News is downloaded into the box through a cable, and we can broadcast the news to classrooms at any point during the day. Some classrooms utilize this and others do not. Since we do not have a homeroom class period daily, many first period teachers do not have the time to show their classes the news broadcast. Educational videos are also downloaded into the box every month. We email out a list of these videos. If the teachers would like them to be recorded, we download them onto a DVD for them and catalog them into the system.
2. We use the inputs on the broadcasting system to display powerpoint presentations. These presentations are broadcasted to the classrooms, lunchrooms, etc. Power point presentations are usually on an automatic loop. A weekly news is broadcasted at Paulding County High School. We have used power point to broadcast new book purchases for the media center. Basically, we put the cover of one new book title per power point page and place on the loop.
3. Some special events are broadcasted through Channel One. This year, I broadcasted the presidential address to students through Channel One. I was presented with a number of challenges when broadcasting this event because I was afraid that live streaming would be slow through the web. (We found this to be the case with the presidential inauguration last year). I thought it would be more reliable to tape the broadcast, but found out there is no cable TV anywhere in the school. We eventually did work it out through the internet. (You can hook up a computer to the broadcasting box.)
4. Another way we use the Channel One system is for our school wide time. I have a digital clock with a video camera on the clock. I plug in the video RCA cable from the video camera to the channel one system. The audio comes from a boombox into the channel one box. This way, any teacher with a Channel One TV can turn to channel 3 and see the time. If they turn the sound up they will hear classical music. They can play this throughout the day for their students.
Regarding Georgia Public Broadcasting Resources, the main way teachers use these resources is through United Streaming. I hold pass code information in my office, and teachers may get the passcode from me anytime. Looking at the website, I see there are wonderful resources available through GPB, and a training on this resource would be beneficial for teachers.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Distribution Systems and Georgia Public Broadcasting
The distribution system at Mableton is a closed circuit type. We are able to get very few channels through the head end unit. Unfortunately, the closed circuit is only accessible in the building and not connected to the portables. We use the distribution system to view the school news, a few channels such as Disney, the Weather Channel and CNN, and other school wide broadcasts. There is a computer connected to it as well where we also use it to show the PowerPoint that has information about school policies, staff members, and upcoming events. As the media specialist, I update it once a month so that the parents and visitors who view it are able to plan ahead for the upcoming events. The TV in the foyer of our school is set to the closed circuit channel and remains on at all times for updates.
Teachers have limited input as to what is on the Distribution System. I know there are some things I can do to override and add a few more channels for our access, but I haven't had a chance to look through the information we received from our new provider. They are able to make suggestions as to what we air over the closed circuit channel, but they are not able to suggest additional channels or contorl what is sent over the system. It would be nice if they could access channels that they know are beneficial to the students and their learning from their classrooms, but unfortunately we have not been given that access as of yet.
We use many of the resources from Georgia Public Broadcasting. We use the website to access many of the games from the shows, like Sesame Street and Between the Lions. We also use the United Streaming videos to give students additional ways to look at the information they are learning. I use it in the media center to teach lessons on elements of a story and how to do research. We also locate images and speeches from people we are studying about so that the students are able to hear the voices or put a face with the name they hear about.
We are able to use our Closed Circuit to view videos and other items school wide. It would be beneficial for the portable classrooms to have access to it so that the classes would not have to move to a location inside the building so that they are able to view it. However, many times we are able to send much of it to the portables after the classes in the building view it. Hopefully, when we have our new building everyone will be able to view everything and no one will feel slighted because of their location.
Teachers have limited input as to what is on the Distribution System. I know there are some things I can do to override and add a few more channels for our access, but I haven't had a chance to look through the information we received from our new provider. They are able to make suggestions as to what we air over the closed circuit channel, but they are not able to suggest additional channels or contorl what is sent over the system. It would be nice if they could access channels that they know are beneficial to the students and their learning from their classrooms, but unfortunately we have not been given that access as of yet.
We use many of the resources from Georgia Public Broadcasting. We use the website to access many of the games from the shows, like Sesame Street and Between the Lions. We also use the United Streaming videos to give students additional ways to look at the information they are learning. I use it in the media center to teach lessons on elements of a story and how to do research. We also locate images and speeches from people we are studying about so that the students are able to hear the voices or put a face with the name they hear about.
We are able to use our Closed Circuit to view videos and other items school wide. It would be beneficial for the portable classrooms to have access to it so that the classes would not have to move to a location inside the building so that they are able to view it. However, many times we are able to send much of it to the portables after the classes in the building view it. Hopefully, when we have our new building everyone will be able to view everything and no one will feel slighted because of their location.
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