Google has become synonymous with searching the web, but what if you could do it smarter and faster? Jayne Miller of Chalkup to the rescue with her list of Google search tips! From classics like “site:” to librarian classics like “OR”, there are tons of tips. The long list is worth a look as there are even some more obscure tips and Miller does an excellent job of including images when appropriate. For book lovers, check out how to get a list of books from your favorite author:
Leave it to Edutopia to give us an excellent primer on open educational resources or OER. OER has become quite the buzz acronym recently but did you know it’s basically FREE stuff you can use in your classroom or library?! Technically, “open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.” We like FREE things too!
But OER isn’t just about consuming, it’s about contributing to the repository too! Edutopia has you covered there, giving you ideas on how you can get some of your lesson plans, ideas, and materials added to the network.
Read all the details about OER and how you can get started contributing to them!
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/cF6fz9QwfrY (William White), licensed under CC0
Recently the School Library Journal shared that Amazon is in the process of launching a new platform that will allow K–12 schools to upload, curate, and share open education resources (OER). SLJ reports that the site, called Amazon Inspire, is currently in beta and is expected to go live in two to three months and will be free of charge.
While exciting and new, the announcment drew many educators/librarians into a discussion about the pros and cons of such a service. Although free, how will Amazon use the information and data it gleans from users is one question. Hack Education’s Audrey Watters’ piece about those issues struck a cord with many who thought that Amazon’s true aim is ultimately about making money.
Regardless, CMLE is excited more OER resources are being made available to educators. How about you? Will you use Amazon Inspire? Why or why not? Are you currently using other OER services? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/R-HXWCbCBGU (Alex Holyoake), licensed under CC0 1.0
Get ready for the second annual ITEM Spring Conference. The conference will take place on April 30th at Hopkins North Junior High.
With the motto “Reimagine Learning” teachers, educational leaders, technology integrationists, and media specialists come together to talk about makerspaces, learning spaces, and the future of the media center.
Check out the website for registration.
Got something cool you’re working on? Share it! The conference has a call for proposals until March 18th. Submit your idea now.
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came out with their 25 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning. The apps were chosen because they foster innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration.
We’ve heard the promise before: easy presentation creation. Well the Adobe Voice app actually lives up to the hype! Anyone can create beautiful presentations with virtually no learning curve. AASL’s tip is a good one: “Going on a field trip? Have a big event in the library or at school? Ask students to take pics and have a camera roll ready for the storytelling to come.”
The app is FREE for iOS devices, and recommended for All students. Check out the Adobe promo video below: