Tag Clouds

This took me a while to figure out, as the technology is a bit out of date, but I finally created this beautiful Wordle using Tag Clouds. I had to use Firefox instead of Chrome like I normally do, because Java won't work on Chrome. I also had to bypass some browser security options because it was so out of date none of my browsers trusted it.

My first thought was that this would be a great assignment to do in class. The class would really  enjoy this and it would be a very easy assignment. Tag Clouds are great for inspiration and remembering things, not to mention they make great posters for a tact board or covers for a binder.

The following is one I created using the 7 habits of lifelong learners. It's shorter than some of the examples, but I like it.

Podcasting

This week I looked at some podcasts. Though I must admit I don't care for podcasting, as I prefer the written word over the spoken or projected word, I did learn a lot from this experience. Podcasts are great for use in the classroom. There are many diverse subjects and great ideas, most for free, that will probably appeal to some students who love auditory learning.

I looked at a podcast put on by the National Public Radio. It was created for the purpose of education and it talks about a high school that implements a great idea. They teach students digital literacy by using the super bowl ads and breaking them down to discuss advertising and effectiveness. As we're a world of consumerism, the media knows how to work different ideas into advertising to get the message across a wide variety of platforms. Some people don't even know the Superbowl for the actual game; they only know it by the commercials and the food. Advertising is so big in our culture that everyone gets messages they didn't even know they're getting. By helping students see the advertising behind the Superbowl, we can help them become better consumers in the real world.

If I were to use podcasts in a classroom or library setting, I might consider finding some about popular book authors. It would be preferable to keep them under 30 min, but I did find some great podcasts that were an hour or longer. You can listen to them in the car, in your house, while you shower, or even when you're just bored. With so many awesome and diverse topics, it's possible to find one that suits any student's need.

Online Video

Naturally, YouTube has been my favorite place to find videos, especially for teaching. With their wide selection and easy navigation, I've found hundreds of great videos not just for teaching, but also for personal use. 

This video is an informational video about teaching and the school library media center. I love it because it not only talks about everything we should stand for as school library media specialists, but it also shows the new age of technology and what is available today. In today's world some employers might ask for a video instead of a resume. I thought this would be a perfect tool to get someone a job, since she gives great advice that any employer would want to see during an interview. But she's a step ahead of the game. In today's world technology and video sharing is more important than ever before, and we need to be aware of the times as school library media specialists.