The Power of Web Tools
As your prompt, you are asked to assemble learning technology tools for your tool-kit. What you put in your tool-kit should be strategic. Therefore organize your tools as you see fit (you can use the structure in this module if you like).
Briefly explain you organization/structure and demonstrate a few tools on your own, by example.
Think about how they would be used as a teaching tool through the library.
I have always said that technology scares me…no matter how much I immerse myself in it, I end up feeling overwhelmed. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Just last week, I had a colleague bursting into my room to ask me to help her figure out why her computer screen was not being displayed onto her Smartboard. The truth is, that with this digital era constantly changing, it has become harder for educators to try to stay afloat in this technological typhoon.
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| Image credit here |
Our job as teacher librarians is to make sure that our colleagues don’t drown in this ocean by providing curated tools to help them teach our 21st century students. This time last year, just thinking about this would have sent me into panic! How could I, a TL in training, be considered a tech guru? And most importantly, how could I help all my colleagues when I am still learning? Fast forward to now, and I have learned that my job as a TL is being a vessel of information; it takes a village to teach our students, so I have worked on creating my village of tech experts by means of social networks like twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Thanks to these networks, I have found reviews and promotions of new and/or improved tools as well as tips on how to successfully use them in the classroom and in our Library Learning Commons.
Being aware of how much these networks and programs have helped me this year, I have decided to create a toolkit that I will share with my colleagues in the hopes that these web tools will help them create a classroom environment where our 21st century learners have the opportunity to succeed. Just like in our module, I have divided my toolkit into 4 categories:
Curate
Publish/present
Create
Collaborate
I have decided to use a program called Symbaloo to organize my web tools for easier navigating. Each section has been colour coded to help organize the collection. I have used the following legend:
Curate: Dark pink
Publish/present: bright green
Create: salmon
Collaborate: light blue
To access my Symbaloo tool kit click the picture below.
Curate
According to the National School Library Standards, curation is “the process of making meaning for oneself and others by collecting, organizing, and sharing resources of personal relevance.” (Spiering & Lechtenberg, 2021). Furthermore, the surveys conducted in 2014 which led to the creation of the “Taxonomy of Digital Curation,” states that curation is a process which began “by collecting or gathering, (then) moved to connecting content and resources for specific purposes and audiences; curated by adding value with context and commentary; and contributed by offering the community opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth.” (Valenza, 2017)
Our job as Teacher-librarians is to make sure our students and colleagues have access to “the good stuff” and for that stuff to be available to them 24/7. Curation is not only done by educators but by students as well. Going through the curation process allows them to develop their literacy and critical thinking skills as they sift through resources and question their validity.
For this section, I have selected the following web tools. I have provided a link as well as a short summary of what each tool can do. I have also provided some examples made by me so you can get an idea of how the tools work.
1) Symbaloo: a visual bookmarking tool used to organize and categorize online resources. Educators like to use it for its simplicity yet fun (visually appealing) way to organize your favourite websites and apps. The video below explains a little bit more about this online tool. I have also attached a link to the web mix I created for an Inquiry unit on Water.
Water Inquiry Unit Webmix, created by Karla Vernon: https://www.symbaloo.com/shared/AAAAA_a-wwIAA41_WhjiCg==
One of the best features this tool has is having access to the online Web mix Library where you can find thousands of Web mixes created by educators, for educators about various topics.
2) Padlet: a digital “notice board” where teachers and students can collaborate with one another. The space can be populated with multimodal resources such as videos, pictures, articles, etc. Once posted, it immediately updates on the “bulletin board” and everyone sharing the space can see it. This is a great tool for instant collaboration not only in the classroom, but in the Learning Commons as well. Teachers and TLs can collaborate “live” with their class and add resources for students to explore. Padlet is usually free for personal use, the basic plan lets you have up to 3 padlet boards and no more than 10MB per upload. For our Learning commons, it would be best to purchase "Padlet Backpack” as it has unlimited padlets , enhanced security and privacy and uploads can be up to 250MB. The cost starts at $2000, which is a bit high, but you can try it for free for a month before deciding whether or not is good for your school community. Padlet can also be used as a “collaboration tool.”
For more information, you can click on the link below:
3) Wakelet: “Curating is a timeless library skill, but Wakelet provides a whole new way of sorting through quality resources.” (Snelling, 2019). This collaborative online platform allows students and teachers to curate resources based on what they are learning in class. Wakelet can also be used to create portfolios students can use beyond their school years. These professionally looking portfolios can include infographics, Instagram stories, graphs, videos, etc. Using Wakelet allows students to also learn how to create a positive digital footprint as the platforms are public and can be accessed by many.
More information can be found in the video below:
4) Diigo: an online platform used for creating personalized online libraries. According to their co-founder Wade Ren, the goal of Diigo is “to evolve from social bookmarking to allowing users to easily create their own personal online information library.” (Ren, 2013). Like Wakelet and Padlet, students, teachers and teacher-librarians can use this platform to create customized libraries with vetted resources to use during a unit or lesson. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their literacy and critical skills as they work on selecting resources to add to their personal library.
5) Edshelf: an online curating tool used by educators, parents, and students. It’s like an online community of educators that curate, recommend and review educational apps. It is a “socially-curated discovery engine of websites, mobile apps, desktop programs, and electronic products for teaching and learning.” (Edshelf website, 2022). Edshelf allows educators to search for tools by topic, age, price range and grade level. It is very simple to use and the best part is, all the apps and programs have been used and reviewed by educators. Below is a quick tutorial video I created using yet another great tool that was recommended by a colleague. It is called Screencastify and you can use it to create tutorial videos to show students, colleagues, etc. Just click on the link below to access my screencast.
Publish/Present:
Digital tools provide students and educators an infinite number of fun ways to present information and to teach concepts. Knowing how to use these tools effectively is critical if we want to be able to successfully convey the message we want to share with others. I have personally used all the tools I chose for my curating list and can honestly say that some are more user friendly, while others require extra time spent learning how to navigate them. Using these tools allow students to continue to develop their digital literacy as they “create, invent, and share” with others.
1) Fanschool: formerly known as “kidblog,” this web tool is a combination of a blogging/social media platform where students can share their personal portfolios with a high level of privacy regular blogs do not offer. Teachers/teacher librarians act as moderators, and nothing goes “live” in the blog unless the moderator approves it. This is a safe way for children to experiment with blogging and create their digital footprint in a safe environment. The only downside about this tool is cost; the individual membership is $99/yr and it would be more for a school license (you need to contact them directly for a school quote)
2) Doodly: One of my favourite tools to use to create cartoon style videos. It is very user friendly, and students can easily create professional looking Doodly videos to share information. Teachers can also use it to introduce new concepts, lessons, pro-d sessions, or events. There are two versions, the free basic one where you can create black and white videos. There is also the premium version where you pay a one-time fee of $99 and you can access thousands more pictures as well as colour drawings. There are also other add-ons you can purchase such as voice over, specific themes, etc. Below is a sample of a video I created to promote our Reading Link Challenge.
3) Animoto: a cloud-based video maker that allows students and teachers to create video slideshows from photos, video clips, and music. It can be used to introduce lessons, concepts, events, etc. It is free to join and there is no limit as to the number of videos you can create. Unlike Doodly which can be used with younger students, Animoto is more suitable for older students (grade 6 and up) due to the number of steps needed to create a video. Having said that, the LLC could have big buddies create videos with little buddies to introduce video editing to younger audiences. For more information, you can visit www.animoto.com
4) Book Creator: One of the best tools I have come across that promotes UDL (Universal Design for Learning). This is a multimodal program that helps create online books which can then be shared with others. There are many great features such as “read-to-me text, voice-over, spelling checker, etc.” You can also upload QR codes, videos, pictures created by students, etc. Another great feature is the “live collaboration” section where students can interact live with one another. I have used it in our LLC for our Reading Link challenge and students were fully engaged and loved creating trivia questions with their classmates. The “collaboration” feature is under the premium version, but you can still create books with the free version. Below is a sample of a book I created for my students last week about “The Day of the Dead.” Just click on the picture below to access it.
5) Canva: a free graphic design platform with access to thousands of pictures. Students and educators can use it to create a vast variety of projects, from invitations to pamphlets, flyers and presentations. It is very user friendly, and you can even upload your own photos to the template you are working on. This platform is perfect to teach simple graphic design to students. Teacher Librarians can use it for makerspace projects or to teach students about photo editing, design layout, and how to be creative when laying out projects to present in the classroom. Below is a sample I created of a fake Instagram account for Jasper Bunny, the main character of the Creepy Series by Reynolds.
6) Screencastify: This program can be downloaded to your Chrome page. Teachers and students can use it to record their device screen and talk at the same time. It is very user friendly and free. I have used it many times to show people how to sign into our library system as a guest in case my job share partner and I are absent, and they need to sign out books. Students can use this to present information to the class, create “how-to” videos or to create other projects. For a sample, take a look at the video I posted above about how to use Edshelf.
7) Google Classroom: a free blended-learning platform developed by Google to assist students and educators share information with one another. The platform is user-friendly and allows participants to share documents, add comments to discussions, upload assignments, create group presentations and even use it for writer’s workshops as other students/teacher can give feedback as students work on their writing pieces. This platform is also a great collaboration tool as educators and students can share feedback and work on projects together. The program is free to use and can be accessed by everyone who has a device.
8) Weebly: an easy-to-use web design platform where educators can monitor students’ creations. This is the perfect platform to teach students web design and the many features available allow them to create great and unique projects. Students can create blogs and showcase their findings as well as post reflective pieces throughout the inquiry process. Teachers can create up to 40 student sites with the free version, perfect for individual primary classrooms. I would consider buying the premium version for our LLC to have access to more features and be able to create more websites with our students.
9) Flip: previously known as “Flipgrid,” this video platform can be used by educators to post topics in video/text format and invite students to respond with a video of their own. Grace Oakley also adds that “digital tools (like Flip) can also facilitate collaborative, active construction of meaning for real purposes, tapping into social relationships and encouraging student talk which, according to Brown and Hirst (2010), are all aspects of student-centered activity, and crucial for promoting inclusivity.” (Milton &Oakley, 2017). This platform can be used to create group discussions in a very inclusive way as it allows students to record their responses and then post them. It is a great tool for those students who are shy about sharing their ideas in front of a group. The ability to record and re-record responses helps students feel less pressured and post whenever they are ready. This platform is great for distance education. For more information about the platform, you can click the video below.
Create/Design:
Creating content is not only about showcasing what you know, but also about learning through hands-on experiences. Students and educators need tools that not only will help them create their masterpiece, but it will also be easy to use and have features that can help enhance their learning experience. Some of the platforms and apps I have chosen for this category are also interchangeable with other categories. For example, Canva is a great tool for presenting information, but it is also a great tool for designing. I have left the platforms I already discussed in the blog blank but you are welcomed to scroll up and take a look at them too.
1) Flexclip: a free online video editing/video making platform similar to iMovie but more user friendly. It contains thousands of templates, background music, and pictures students and teachers can use to create educational videos. It is a perfect tool in the LLC to create book trailers, character profiles, etc. I have attached a copy of a book trailer I created for “The Magic Misfits.”
2) Canva
3) Book Creator
4) Kahoot: a free game-based learning platform where students and educators can create online multiple-choice quizzes in minutes. It is very user-friendly, and students get very excited when playing. A great tool to use for novel studies, to review concepts, to present topics and to tap into prior knowledge. All you need to do is provide the unique access code to the class, they will then enter it in their devices, choose a screen name and play the games. There is a live-scoreboard as well so everyone can see where they are at throughout the game. To learn more about this platform, you can click on the link below
5) Doodly
6) Wakelet
7) Emaze: an online presentation-making tool that students and educators can use to create and edit engaging presentations. These are not like your typical Powerpoint or Keynote documents, they are live, interactive documents that you can create on any device. I have used this platform to create the presentation you see in my previous blog for Module 7. I have attached a link to that blog entry if you would like to check it out. Below is also a quick tutorial video on how to use emaze.
8) Google Classroom
Collaborate:
Collaboration is crucial when learning or reviewing concepts. Through collaboration, educators and students are “supporting and extending learning opportunities” for everyone (BCTLA, 2017). There are many platforms and programs out there, some more complicated than others, but all with the same purpose of connecting individuals no matter their location. The platforms I selected are more age appropriate to the elementary classroom and LLC. Some are interconnected with other categories which make them great tools to be used with our school communities. I have left the ones I have previously mentioned blank; you are welcomed to scroll back to read about them.
1) Book Creator
2) Google Classroom
3) Padlet
4) Schoology: this cloud-based platform can be used to manage classrooms online and offline. Educators can use it to upload assignments, multimodal sources for students to use no matter their location. Students can upload assignments, check school work, send messages to classmates and teachers, and to create, manage and share resources. It is a virtual version of the classroom. Teachers create classroom accounts and add students through their school emails and a password. This virtual classroom aims to “facilitate within a class, group, or school through shared libraries of resources. Schoology can be integrated with the school’s current grading system.” (Schoology, 2022). For more information, visit their website by clicking here.
5) Mural-Digital Whiteboard: a cloud-based platform that provides a virtual space for groups to brainstorm ideas. With this tool, team members can share ideas simultaneously no matter their location. According to their website, “allowing participants to use the live feature gives them more time for discussion and analysis. This also ensures everyone has a voice and shares their thoughts on the canvas before finalizing decisions.” (Digital Whiteboard, 2022) Other features to consider are “color coded assignments to track down who contributes, avenues for providing instant feedback such as emoji reactions, comment box, and online chats. To learn more about this platform, click here.
Well, that's all for today! I hope that you find all these curated web tools helpful for your classroom and Library Learning Commons. I will continue to curate tools as I find new ones and add them to my Symbaloo web mix. What do you think? Do you have any other tools you would like to share? I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Until next time,
The Duchess of Bookington
Resources:
Diigo - Better reading and research with annotation, highlighter, sticky notes, archiving, bookmarking & more. (2019). Diigo.com. https://www.diigo.com/
Edshelf. Find the Right Educational Tools for your Needs. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://edshelf.com/ on November 6, 2022.
Emaze. (2013). Emaze Tutorial - Creating Presentations with Emaze. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMcpXms_HU
Kahoot. (2018). What is Kahoot!? In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XzfWHdDS9Q
Learning Management System | LMS | Schoology. (n.d.). Www.schoology.com. https://www.schoology.com
Meet MURAL, More Than A Digital Whiteboard. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JQRFp6HDrI
Milton, Marion (ed.) & Oakley, G. (2017). Engaging students in inclusive literacy learning with technology. Inclusive Principles and Practices in Literacy Education, Emerald Publishing Limited. (pp. 159-176).
New EdTech Classroom. (2020). Flipgrid Tutorial for Teachers. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLzX13jw7bw
Snelling, Jennifer. 18 tech tools librarians need now: student-tested and approved. School Library Journal, vol. 65, no. 12, 2019, p. 14.
Spiering, Jenna, and Kate Lechtenberg. “Rethinking Curation.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 49, no. 3, 2021, p. 52., go.exlibris.link/Jx21QSBq. Accessed November 5, 2022.
Surrey Teacher Librarian's Association (BCTLA). (December 17, 2019). "What can collaboration with a teacher-librarian look like?" British Columbia Teacher Librarian's Association. Retrieved from: https://surreychapterofthebctla.com/2018/12/17/what-can-collaboration-with-a-teacher-librarian-look-like/
Symbaloo - Bringing it together for educators. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWh1QFKTvmM&list=TLGGcJMdITSJqmQwOTExMjAyMg&index=1
Valenza, Joyce. (July 5, 2017). Curation situations: let us count the ways. School Library Journal. Retrieved from: http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2017/07/05/curation-situations-let-us-count-the-ways/
Wakelet. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHvWZly3V6o&t=3s
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