In June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.
StoryCorps is an app that allows users to record memories and stories of family members and friends, and archive them with thousands of others. It’s a good way for students to practice interviewing skills while getting to know older relatives, neighbors, or family friends. The app even comes with questions to ask, or users can come up with their own. Stories can be saved to the device, or uploaded to the StoryCorps website to be shared.
To get an idea of the powerful impact StoryCorps can have in the classroom, check out this article from the TED Blog. To get a more step-by-step approach to using the app for assignments, check out this blog post written by a teacher. Finally, the StoryCorps site includes several resources for educators or those interested in using the app.
Some public libraries check out art, playground equipment, even hot spots, but have you ever heard about a necktie collection?
This article describes the new initiative of the Paschalville Branch Library, where their “tiebrary” features a display of ties available to borrow three weeks at a time, for no cost.
Libraries are increasingly being used for more than just checking out books. They are spaces where community members can use resources, especially when they are trying to find a job. People come to use the computers to fill out job applications or work on resumes. Now they can return to the Paschalville Library to help get outfitted for their job interviews!
Image credit: http://gratisography.com/ (Ryan McGuire), licensed under CC0 1.0
Dean Mark Vargas. Image by St. Cloud State University. Retrieved online 11/25/13.
Earlier this year, Mark Vargas joined the leadership at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) as Dean of the Library, in the James W. Miller Learning Resources Center. Dean Vargas was drawn to SCSU because he recognized the potential to build upon the existing strengths of the Library in support of the University’s strategic plans stating, “We are a reflection of the University. It is important for the Library to show how it aligns with institutional goals and objectives; demonstrating our impact on the success of the students and faculty across campus is essential.” Dean Vargas’ number one priority is to meet the needs of students and faculty in this ever changing and dynamic educational environment. “All libraries are dealing with the complexities of the digital age. Many opportunities exist to collaborate with colleagues, other departments, institutions and so on; the list is endless. The challenge is to zero in on what is feasible, given the availability of finite resources.” When asked about his managerial style he replied, “I have an innate optimism, about how people want to do work. I believe there is power in showing people appreciation and respect. I want to provide the necessary resources and then get out of the way, to allow them to excel at their jobs.”
Born and raised in Gary Indiana, it was his experience as a steel mill worker, after high school, that influenced his decision to enroll in college. Dean Vargas’ interest in history, and experiences as a student volunteer in Archives, at Indiana University Northwest that led to the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in History; and later his Masters in both Library Science and History from the University of Maryland, Archives. Since then, Dean Vargas has worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT,) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma-Chickasha, and Saint Xavier University-Chicago.
Dean Vargas graciously took time out of his busy schedule to meet with CMLE staff this week. And, we encourage other member libraries to take a moment and, in turn, welcome him to Central Minnesota! The Dean of the Library currently serves as an ex-officio member on the Governing Board for Central MN Libraries Exchange (CMLE.) In that capacity, Dean Vargas, welcomes collaboration and participation in programming; freely offering the Library as centralized facility for regional meeting and events, “I want to build a relationship between our Library and all CMLE member library types-their patrons/users are our current and future students.”
This week CMLE interviewed Nancy Lorentz, Media Specialist at Becker High School. We offer this best practice under our Strategic Focus Area of Stretching Dollars!
Becker High School TechSquad Representatives
We have all seen the commercials for the Minnesota based company Best Buy and their trendy and beloved “Geek Squad” on television. These seemingly knowledgeable computer support teams are available on-site and on-line to help answer questions and trouble shoot technology woes.
Nancy Lorenz is overseeing a no cost/low cost technology solution to stretch her library dollars. Her squadron of savvy tech support is being culled from the classroom. In 2011, Becker added 900 iPads to their inventory in preparation of the launch of a 1:1 iPad Initiative. Nancy began searching for assistance from among the high school student body through National Honor Society’s Facebook page and the current Student Teaching Assistants (TAs). The students focused on trouble shooting ways to synch large numbers of iPads, research and learn about educational apps and finally, inventory, label and distribute equipment. Since then, Nancy has developed a course for the “TechSquad” assigning tasks such as creating iPad specific tutorials about set-up, apps, and programs. They have now morphed into providing software updates, troubleshooting air printing issues; and assisting with email, writing work orders, inventorying equipment and performing basic maintenance. Bringing this service front and center, this coming year Nancy will designate a corner in the Media Center as an iPad help desk, staffed in the afternoon by the student TechSquad.
Nancy responds to our questions:
Q: What are the qualifications to become a member of the TechSquad-STAC? We are expanding the TechSquad/TA model into STAC (Student Technology Advisory Committee) which will be grades 6 – 12, beginning this spring headed by Ryan Cox, our district technology coordinator. I chose sophomores and juniors from former and current TechSquad kids.
Q: Do you limit the number of students?
The high school has ten members on STAC – one junior, three sophomores and six freshmen. I chose more of the younger students because they are more excited and have more time than the older students. We used the school’s History Day projects to identify freshmen that showed the greatest interest in technology.
Q: How is their time compensated?
We plan to allow the STAC students to keep their iPads through the summer so that they can come up with new and awesome ways to use it for education. When they come in during the summer to help with iPads we will pay them with pizza and flavored water.
Q: Do students receive on the job training? I do my best to train my TechSquad and TAs to behave professionally when working in the media center. It is important that they never make another student feel stupid for asking for help. I have a Moodle site for my TechSquad that I plan to turn into an actual course when I have time. I’m not sure that all of the current freshmen STAC members will work in the media center as TechSquad or TAs, as some may not have time in their schedules. I’m hoping that when it all shakes out, those students who we choose for STAC will take the TechSquad independent study class at least once per year. Regardless, we will meet with them once per month after school, and they will come in to help when needed in the summer.
Q: What was/were the motivating factor(s) that contributed to the school’s/district’s decision to solicit help with technology from students? Our district had actually cut four of my ten extra days the summer we received the iPads and did the same for our tech assistants and media assistants. We had no other choice but to have students help – we are still fighting to get enough tech hours to handle the extra work the 1:1 brings. I only see the TechSquad class growing.
Q: How has the program helped your library specifically? I think having student workers in the library has made it more welcoming – kids think it’s cool to work in the library, and I am getting plenty of great students who want to belong to the TechSquad or work as TAs.
Q: Final thoughts!
I’m hoping that, moving forward, these students will be trained to provide tech assistance to teachers as well as other students. I have had TechSquad students go into classrooms and demonstrate iMovie for specific projects – I would like that aspect of the program to grow.
Becker High School Tech Squad Representatives
Technology is similar to sports in that it reaches across disciplines. Think of how this can continue to enhance your relationships with teachers across subject areas.
Tip: Identify possible programs for you to engage students in your media center. Seek out distinctive ways to spotlight technologically savvy students in your schools (name tags, locker signs, personalized attire, dedicated section in the school yearbook, etc.) to ignite participation from the student body.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Geek Squad employees are referred to as “agents” and assigned titles similar to those used by intelligence agencies, i.e. Counter Intelligence Agent (CIA). Their uniforms are also indicative of investigative professionals (white sleeve shirt, logo pin, black shoes, etc.)
Last week QR Codes were CMLE’s featured Recommended Ed. Tech Tool & App. This week we interviewed Debbie Disher, Media Specialist at Holdingford Area Public Schools. Debbie is incorporating these little black boxes in a very unique way!
Book Trailers: Take one and ACTION!
Q: How are you using QR codes? A: At Holdingford Public Schools we are creating QR Codes that hold book trailers so students will be able to access additional information about a book using their iTouch or iPad. We are currently focusing on content appropriate for 5-6th graders. In the high school we are thinking about using QR codes to create short how-to videos for students using their Edline account or certain databases.
Q: What sparked the idea? A: I had been reading articles. I also heard about QR codes at a couple of conferences I had recently attended.
Q: Your goal was to… A: Get students excited about books (new and old titles) that they might not check out otherwise.
Q: What resources have you been using? A: For the trailers, we use Google search and YouTube in which the bulk of the trailers have been done by other students. The QR Codes themselves are generated using a free site made available by QR Stuff.
Q: Any challenges? A: Finding quality book trailers. A: The process from start to finish is more time consuming then we anticipated. A: Finding unique ways to display the QR Codes themselves. We are planning on placing them on the back of the books by the check-out bar code and designing a display for the wall that can be posted in the library.
Debbie’s question(s) for other CMLE Members? Submit your responses in the comment section below. Q: How have others incorporated QR codes in their libraries and/or teaching? Q: Are kids really using them?
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In June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.
