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How do you authentically teach research?

12 Feb

How are you teaching students to research? When students research in our library, I started noticing a disconnect between personal vs. academic research. By restricting them to academic sources have we stifled their natural curiosity? Is it the linear path we have imposed on them in the past? I have no idea…but I’m constantly thinking about it and looking for more ideas!

 
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Right now I’ve been informally interviewing students on the processes they use when researching. Additionally, I’ve been informally interviewing myself on how I research. Here’s some things I’ve noticed:

  • Curation -  When I’m researching-whether academic or not-I typically pull together a ton of information. I’m constantly shifting it and curating it in to different topics/subjects and leaving my organization open for future use. When I speak with students, they’re focus is usually temporary. They are task oriented and rarely even have the option to curate their research for later. Additionally, students tend to have a more focused view of their research. They struggle to see how it fits in to the big picture.
  • Scaffolding Works – Seriously. Currently, we use digital notecards (on Powerpoint) with students to help them paraphrase. It’s fantastic! They have the opportunity to organize the cards, color code them, and give them themes right there on the cards. Often times I wonder however if we could start this scaffolding earlier in the research process. I’m not sure how though, still working. I think this is one reason Pinterest is so successful! If you’re looking for ways to organize your mantle, you can easily browse through a variety of photos and articles to find what works for you and immediately organize it.

These are my current observations and I’m interested to learn of others experiences. Do you use any strategies to move students from a linear approach to research to a more asynchronous approach?

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Collaboration Bingo!

7 Sep

After sharing Sharwal’s post on ICT Bingo, I’ve been thinking about some different ways to incorporate this in to our library. Common Core is in it’s initial stages at our school and I’ve been trying to think about ways to show staff different ways we could work with them. So, I recreated the bingo game for our library! We’re hoping to have a celebration for the staff who get five in a row.

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High School Science Apps

24 Apr
Here’s a short list of my top choices for high school science apps. Some of the more pricey ones I have not tested yet, but will update the site when we get the funding. I’ve listed them here though because of their wonderful reviews.
  • The Elements: A Visual Exploration – comprehensive catalog of all elements including interactive periodic table, dynamic pictures, and more. $13.99
  • Buffers $1.99 – Design buffers for pH control. Good for AP chemistry
  • Monster Anatomy 3D – $18.99 for each body region
  • Skeletal 3D $0.99
  • GeneIndexHD $1.99 Information about specific genes from a variety of sources.
  • 3D cell (free) interactive cell and cell stain exploration. Some adds that link to outside links to buy cell stains.
  • Mitosis (free, iPhone app) Very well done. Includes thorough descriptions of each phase with audio reading options. User has to move the cell parts through the phases to move on.
  • Touch Physics HD $2.99 game involving Newton’s laws. Only tested out free version for iPhone
  • Vernier Video Physics $2.99 – have not tested this yet. Does a physics video analysis. Video a moving object and it analyzes it. Comments state it does not mirror for teacher to display.
  • Pocket Heart $6.99 Have not tested, gets very positive reviews.
  • Wonders of Geology $12.99 Have not tested, award winning app. Shows photos and diagrams describing geologic sites.
  • Star Walk $4.99 – Award winning app, have not tested. Labels all starts, constellations, and satellites you point your iPad at.
  • Wolfram Alpha ($2.99 ) One of the best for college readiness. All inclusive search engine with a math and science focus. First stop for technical information
  • Weather Channel (free) up to date weather and interactive radar
  • Science360 (free) Interesting science news app. Uses visual bookmarking to display results.
  • Particle Zoo (free) Awesome app for students to learn particle physics. Incorporates cartoon versions of all particles, interactives, and summary charts.
  • NASA Visualization Explorer (free) Direct connection to NASA’s research spacecraft. Dynamic images and explanations.

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iPads in the Library: Week One

6 Mar

So, back in October we received a grant for our Roving Reference Librarian project. Our idea was that since so many students are using our databases and online tools that we could use the iPad “rove” around the library and help them without taking over their computers. We know as well as you do that truly no one likes someone leaning over their shoulder. We also are planning on using them to display our Gale eBook collections when they’re relevant to their research. Over the next year we’ll be implementing a unit to teach seniors on using online note-taking tools and organizational methods too. Students are struggling with the concept of Cloud storage and I think anything we can do help them out, the better!

Okay, that’s all big picture stuff. This week we’ve really just set them up and experimented with different apps to see what will be good for the students. They were set up by our tech department and work a little differently than a personal iPad. For example, we cannot connect them to our computers. All iPads are synced with one central computer in the IT department. The IT department also has developed a Self Service sort of “app portal” if you will. Apps purchased for the district can be accessed here. We use our personal Apple accounts. We purchased iTunes cards to use with apps we want to purchase for the library, but haven’t figured out how to use those later. Anyways, there’s a few of the logistics for districts brainstorming how to wrap their mind around apps, iPads, and personal Apple IDs.

So, here’s a shortlist of library apps I think are helpful! (in no particular order)

Notetaking Apps

* Penultimate: Records writing, has multiple pages, easy to index.

* Sundry Notes: Another good tool for recording notes. Not quite as versatile as Penultimate.

* Evernote: Of course, a must have. Not only does it sync with everything else, it works with PDFs, allows collaborative notebooks and more! I’m a little bugged by the fact that you cannot annotate PDFs, but eh. You can’t have it all!

* Skitch: I’ve reviewed this before on my blog. This is a great app for annotating pictures or diagrams! For science or math I see this as a must have for students.

* Dragon: Use this to record lectures or conversations and have it immediately converted to text. Works much better than SIRI at translating the speaker.

For Learning

* iTunes U: Tons of lectures and courses from high quality sources.

* Wikihood: This is the coolest. It finds where you are and shows Wikipedia articles that are sourced to nearby spots.

* Wolfram Alpha: The best math based search engine. I’m looking to develop a unit on this for our junior/senior level math students when they come in. So many uses…

* Gale Database App: This app far exceeds Gale’s segmented website. It’s so easy to navigate and find information. I can’t wait to start using this with classes! As long as your library/district/state subscribed to Gale, you should have access.

* Smithsonian: This app tricked me. It’s to watch their programs, but you have to be on at the time of the current program. In other words, it’s not On Demand.

Collaboration Tools

* Wunderlist: Collaborative list making app. Great for organizing projects.

* Idea Sketch: I love the functionality of this app! It’s a brainstorming/mapping tool. Unlike most of these tools, you can export the map as a beautiful JPEG. Love it!

* Skype: I’m sure you’re familiar with it :)

Fellow librarians: What have you used to connect with your students? How are you using iPads in the library?

photo credit: Ownipics via photopin cc

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For Teachers: Creating a Prezi Project from Start to Finish

23 Feb
It’s only appropriate to have a presentation on Prezi be made IN Prezi. The presentation takes you through the process for teachers in creating a project based around Prezi. We’ve had great luck creating templates for classes to use as a basis for their projects.
Click on the image below for the presentation. View handouts on the Presentation LibGuide.

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Adventures in Skype: Part II

8 Feb

Alrighty! This is a follow up to the first post sharing my adventures in facilitating Skype with two classes. If you want to learn more about how we set up the session, read more here! Do you like the photo to the left? I

Overview

This was an invaluable experience for us! The students were so excited and impressed that the other class met with them. They practiced really hard and  both classes were on time, the cooperating teacher was enthusiastic and had great organization with her classes. We could not have had a better experience. I thought I’d share some things that made it awesome!

Things that made it awesome…

Participation! Students on both sides of the Skype connection had “tasks” they were responsible for. We took the time for the students to introduce themselves and they responded really well to that. Both classes shared books they cared about and were really excited about that!

Enthusiasm! The students were genuinely pumped to be sharing the books and meeting the class. Period.

Big Books! We used big books, like those REALLY big ones you only thought the teacher could use. They showed up on the camera and it was easy for them to hold them. I thought maybe the high school kids would think they were silly, but not so.

Interaction! The more planned interactive activities we had, the more excited the students seemed to get. One of the classes performed a sort of “camp” story with hand motions that were easy to follow. It was cool to see the high schoolers play along :)

Notes to self for next time…

For some reason my computer would not connect to the super, mega huge TV screen in the teacher’s classroom for the first presentation. This would have been helpful especially if the class on my end was bigger. We’ll need to get that figured out. Also, we need nice speakers connected not just the computer speakers. We started to get feedback once the sound was turned on if ours was up too high. We fixed this for the next class and it was a huge improvement!

Other reflections and ramblings…

I worked on one of the first videoconferencing projects that used Flash a LONG time ago. We had 5 classes meeting NASA scientists and the San Francisco Art Institute working together to create a project. Macromedia was the first to create videoconferencing that wasn’t constantly having to rebuff and run down your bandwidth. Remember back in the day where there was a room that was designated for videoconferencing? So long to those days. Anyways, all I can think of is how overzealous this project was then! It’d be a HUGE project now even. Baby steps…

I can’t see wait to see what the next projects involve! Our Library Breakfast Club is still looking for a class to collaborate with. If this sounds like something you’re in to, let me know!

photo credit: Peter Kaminski via photopin cc

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Attention ESL/EFL Classrooms!

6 Feb

Join us March 8th from 8-9:00 am CDT!

 

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Library Classroom Space Makeover

6 Feb

Projector screen with glare

Our computer space for students.

If you’ve been in our library, you know it’s almost entirely windows. It’s beautiful to look at-however it causes difficulties for the technology viewing inside. The area of biggest concern is our classroom space.

The challenges:
-Projector display is too faint
-Inactive spaces-tables where students are repeatedly off task
-Empty walk way to allow space for projector
-Focus-noisy with multiple classes, difficult to focus if too far away, creative “hand shadows” disrupting presentation

One of the coolest things about being a Library Media Specialist is problem solving. In the library you get to problem solve daily to create spaces that work for your staff and patrons. After much discussing/collaborating/researching we came up with the following solutions.

 

1. Replace the projector with a 70″ TV. This eliminates the faint display issue and will pull students in closer to the speaker hopefully increasing focus. We are lucky to be part of a pilot project for installing interactive TVs to replace projectors. Projectors are cheaper up front, but $$ over time due to yearly upkeep and bulb replacement.

2. The TV is INTERACTIVE. Ok…so we’re not sure just how cool this will be, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be cool. The TV has a huge screen that is touch screen. We are also part of a pilot project (more to come on this…) to incorporate iPads in the library for librarians to become Roving Reference Librarians. These bits of technology hopefully will help us create more interactive presentations.

So here’s where we are now! You can see where the TV will be installed and the open space. After the wall is patched and painted we will  hang the TV and replace the tables. Look for updates to see the next steps. In the mean time, tell us what cool things you have done to refresh your teaching space in the library!

Classroom space in transition.

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Adventures in Skype Readaloud-Part I

3 Feb

Next week we will embark on our first adventures in Skype Read alouds. We are lucky to have a library club and two classrooms at our school interested in sharing their love of literature with schools around the world! I figured a post on setting up the Skype would be appropriate to precede a post about the actual Skype itself. So keep posted for future posts about the outcomes! Our next steps will also include Skype Author Visits as well with Maryrose Wood the lovely author of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place.

So, how do you set up a Skype Read aloud? Let’s look at it in a few easy steps.

Step One. Decide on your project. Start specific and then you can adjust later. Anticipate being flexible as well! Due to schedules, people’s lives, the dynamic schedule of a school-all of this adds up to change. So, be prepared and do not plan on being rigid with it. We started simple with a meeting during a specific time to read a story to a younger classroom or ESL class. Simple.

Step Two. Decide on who you will meet with. If you already know people, that’s great. If you’re like us and don’t-don’t sweat it! Some great resources are available out there to help you. I posted on Twitter and added some hashtags that I thought might connect me with educators interested in meeting with us. I found two classrooms this way. I also posted our project on the site: Skype in the Classroom . This site is wonderful! Join it and add your project! We had more responses than we were ready to accommodate.

Step Three. Coordination is the next step. Be available and clear with the other party. Find out their comfort level and offer to practice ahead of time. We did all our planning via Skype which helped! Seeing a person face to face is easier than email. Period. Set a date and in between dates to help prepare each side for the Skype meeting and start small. Simple hellos and a short story seems like just about all we could do.

So…that’s where we’re at now! What has worked for you? What hasn’t? Any tips for the budding Skype educator?

 

Read about the next steps here –> Adventures in Skype: Part II

The Children of Cyberspace

24 May

This article from the New York Times, “The Children of Cyberspace” details how much our community is changing from generation to generation. I read a lot about this topic, but there were a few new points I’ve never heard.

1. “People two, three or four years apart are having completely different experiences with technology”

2. “They’ll want their teachers and professors to respond to them immediately, and they will expect instantaneous access to everyone, because after all, that is the experience they have growing up,” he said. “They should be just like their older brothers and sisters, but they are not.”

3.  “Studies performed by Dr. Rosen at Cal State show that 16- to 18-year-olds perform seven tasks, on average, in their free time — like texting on the phone, sending instant messages and checking Facebookwhile sitting in front of the television.

People in their early 20s can handle only six, Dr. Rosen found, and those in their 30s perform about five and a half.”

4. “[younger children are] more likely to have some relaxed notions about privacy. The idea of a phone or any other device that is persistently aware of its location and screams out its geographic coordinates, even if only to friends, might seem spooky to older age groups.

What a challenge educators have today. As the way we think changes and who we are teaching is changing-how will we modify our classrooms, media centers, and schools to meet these needs?

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