Tag Archives: Tech Tool

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Top Digital Tools 2021: Britannica LaunchPacks: Social Studies

AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

Britannica LaunchPack Social Studies provides over a thousand expertly curated collections, which include photos and primary resources. Educators can customize the info for different classes or assignments.

The tool “empowers blended learning, personalized support for every learner, and student-led inquiry. LaunchPacks: Social Studies integrates SEL into curriculum-relevant lessons and allows students to build critical skills while educators effectively teach subject-area content in social studies.”

Grades: K-12

This article from Ed Tech Impact includes case studies, screenshots, and a comparison tool to give more information about the learning pack. And this article from School Library Journal describes the tool in detail, including aspects like ease of use and visual detail.

Watch this quick 2 min video to get an idea of how the learning pack works:

Academic, General, Public, Resources, School Media Specialist, Services, Special, Tech

Learn to build your own Android app

android_robot-svg
Look how cute he is! Let’s build an app!

There are many interesting apps available for library use, and we are looking at some of them this week. But what if you want something that is unique to the special needs of your library? What if you want to stretch yourself and your tech skills by trying something new? What if you just don’t want to pay for an app??

You might be the perfect audience for this (free!) Udacity class!

Android Development for Beginners How to Make an Android App gives you some training in Java and programming for Android. “This course is designed for students who are new to programming, and want to learn how to build Android apps. You don’t need any programming experience to take this course. If you’ve been using a smartphone to surf the web and chat with friends, then you’re our perfect target student!”

Your library may want to reach out to patrons in a way that works for them, and speaks to them with tools they are already using. “Android powers over 80 percent of the world’s smartphones, and represents an incredible opportunity for developers everywhere. The next billion people coming online will interact with the internet for the very first time on a mobile device. Building for Android gives you the best opportunity to reach these users and make an impact — both in your community, and on the world.”

You may not need to connect to everyone in the world – but you do want to connect with as many of your potential users as possible; and an app you create may be one tool to help make that happen!

 

General, Public, School Media Specialist

Top 20 middle school makerspace tools

CrayolaHere is a wonderful list of one school’s most valuable tools for their makerspace.  Kevin Jarrett, middle school teacher from Northfield, New Jersey explains,  “A true makerspace is defined not by what’s in it but rather by what comes out of it: projects, experiences, artifacts, and learning. The tools are just a means to an end.”

Here is just a sample of some of their important tools for both large and small budgets:

1. Writeable desk surfaces
2. Hot glue guns
3. littleBits™ Modules
4. Dollar store items
5. Shop aprons and goggles
6. Quadrille-ruled pads/journals

20 Top Makerspace Tools

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/nhd3wbb, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

There's a Tech Tool for That!

Recently, Charlie Wierzbicki posted an excellent compilation of tech tools for schools. CMLE thought it might be worth sharing.

Did she miss some? What tools have been working at your schools?

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist

1:1 iPad Technology Institute

Image by Sean MacEntee some rights reserved
Image by Sean MacEntee some rights reserved

Minnetonka High School has fully integrated all 9th and 10th grade students with iPads. By expanding this initiative to include students in grades 8 and 11, it will bring their total number of 1:1 participants to more than 3,100 students.

Is your school thinking about developing a 1:1 initiative? Consider attending the 1:1 iPad Technology Institute on Friday, June 28th from 8:00-3:00 pm hosted by the Minnetonka Institute for Leadership.  By attending this institute you will gain an inside look at how-to approach the 1:1 process on everything from planning, budgets, communications, training, etc.  The presenters will include district staff and teachers. And, lets not forget about the students (end-users) who will have opportunities to share their experiences throughout the day.

If you register for this institute before Friday, May 31st the cost  is $139. Click here to register or learn more about this opportunity.