Playing around with Infographics for Newsletters

I used one of my newsletters from last school year to play around with infographics  I try to include reading tips or advice every month, such as how reading for 20 minutes a day improves reading skills, tips for reading to your kids, and book suggestions. I made th 6 tip for reading to your kids into an infographic.  It was just a list previously. I need to work on the colors since the newsletter is our school colors. I may start changing the newsletter colors to go with the season.

Tell me what you think! Thanks!

Final Reflection

This class was fast and furious!  There was so much to learn in so little time.  I really enjoyed this class and have taken many things from it that I will implement in the fall.

First, screencasts to teach lessons. Sometimes it's hard for me to set up trainings with teachers to teach them a new program or app. I plan on making screen casts and either email them out or place them on the library website so teachers and students can learn how to use them.

I created a Facebook page for our school libraries.  I included book recommendations, links from the blogs that I'm following, and sharing school news. I also got an idea from a fellow librarian.  I asked parents to send in or post pictures with the hashtag #Odemreads. Those pictures would be posted on our page. In the past 2 days, I've posted 6 pictures.  Here's the link to the page if you would like to see....

Odem Edroy ISD Libraries

I like the idea of posting videos and podcasts. These can be used for book recommendations, library orientation, library news, and school announcements. I will need to get over my reluctance to record myself in order to implement these plans.  I do plan on  using students for some of these. I have recorded elementary students for short book reviews.  Now that I am more familiar with more tools to help with this, I can do more of these.  

I have a monthly newsletter that is sent to all campuses. Each campus has a different one of course. Library news, book reviews, teacher or student recommendations, pictures, and study skills are included. I plan on using infographics in my newsletters to make them look eye catching.

I have also gotten some great recommendations on books and technology tools from the blogs that I am following.  I always have trouble deciding which books to order for the library.  I usually look at award winners but it is nice to have recommendations coming from more than one source.

I'm still not completely comfortable with the comics. I had a hard time thinking of something to create.  I was impressed with so many of my classmates' ideas, especially those that made their comics about the library. I'm hoping that I can become more creative and use those soon.

‘How do they even do that?': How Today’s Technology is Shaping Tomorrow’s Students

 Lenhart, A. (2013, April 8). ‘How do they even do that?': How Today’s Technology is Shaping Tomorrow’s Students. Retrieved June 30, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/04/09/how-do-they-even-do-that-how-todays-technology-is-shaping-tomorrows-students/ 

I enjoyed this article because it discussed a girl who was born in 1995 and the changes that have occurred in technology since then. My oldest son was born in 1995, so I have seen first hand how things have changed in his lifetime.  One of my favorite stories about him is when he used a corded phone. We had cordless phones, which are now pretty obsolete as well.  He was talking to his grandma on the phone, but when the conversation was over, he didn't know how to hang up.  "What do I do with it now?"  It was quite funny.

The article also discusses how teenagers now can learn about their college roommates weeks or months before meeting them in person.  Thanks to social media and texting, teens can look up roommate on social media to learn more about them. They usually end up communicating with them before move it day.

It is also easier for students and parents to keep in touch.  Parents would have to wait for days before getting a phone call from their child.  Students communicated through letters and phone calls. Very few had cell phones. Now parents can keep track of their kids' activities through their social media, texting, and email.  The communication is faster and can be more frequent, but not so much with all college students...like mine lol

Technology in the classroom is also changing. Distance learning, blended learning, self directed learning is becoming the norm.  At our high school, many students take online classes for college credit. They dont have to leave our campus to take advantage of this opportunity.

Cell phones, tablets and e readers have replaced desktop computers in the classroom.  More students have access to the internet and online resources.  

43 pages

Tech trends and library services in the digital age

 Zickhur, K. (2013, May 9). Tech trends and library services in the digital age. Retrieved June 30, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/05/10/tech-trends-and-library-services-in-the-digital-age/

The first page of this study surprised me. I didn't know that dial up internet still existed.   Broadband is increasingly becoming what's used most.  Less than 10% of adults had dial up service by Dec 2012. I wonder how much that number has changed since then.  

As technology becomes more prevalent, libraries will have to offer more services.  Libraries will need to have computers, laptops and tablets available for patron use.  School libraries are beginning to check these items out to students for use.  This is important for students who may not have these to use at home.  

Students no longer use books or encyclopedias for research. Their main source of information is searching Google. Librarians will have to train students how to search effectively using quotation marks, - to exclude terms, and related words.  Students need to learn that databases are better for research than a search engine. Librarians will have to teach them these tips.

36 pages

Libraries, Children and Families: new research and policy recommendations on role of libraries in early reading

 Rainie, L. (2013, July 8). Libraries, Children and Families: New research and policy recommendations on role of libraries in early reading. Retrieved June 29, 2015.

Despite the growing use of the internet or technology, libraries are still considered a vital part of the community.  Parents consider libraries a vital part of instilling early love of reading in children. Libraries also provide resources to families that may not be available at home.  Enjoying time with children or grandchildren is the main reason adults visit the library.  Parents and grandparents also appreciate librarians. Surveys show these adult users have positive interaction with librarians and find librarians useful.
Parents participate in library activities more than adults without children.  Parents are more likely to borrow books or ebooks, use the internet, or attend library activities.
Half of all parents read to their children aged 12 and under.  Many of them read to their children several times a week.  Although the use of ereaders is increasing in parents, reading print books to their children remains the most popular.
The study also shows that libraries need to increase their PR.  Only 22% of those surveyed know all of the services that libraries offer.  Perhaps, libraries need to use social media to promote the libraries.  I have received good feedback on my library's facebook page.  Parents are able to keep informed of goings on in the library.

18 pages

Reading, Writing, and Research in the Digital Age

 Reading, writing, and research in the digital age. (2013, November 3). Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/04/reading-writing-and-research-in-the-digital-age/

Zickuhr researched and wrote about how the internet has changed the way teens and adults find information.  From research to current events, a majority of the population uses the internet to find information.

The use of television and newspapers as a source for news has decreased dramatically. 71% of  internet users under 30 get their news from the internet instead of newspapers and television.  Since the internet is always readily available thanks to smart phones and tablets, users report that they spend 30% or more time accessing the news.  

Books are still preferred over ebooks by readers of all ages, however ebooks are preferred for reading while traveling and for getting books quickly.  Ebooks are most likely to be accessed from a smart phone or laptop.

More than half of Americans are still using libraries for to look for books, browsing books and the internet, and to get help from a librarian.  A quarter of the users are also using library websites to search the online catalog, get library info, reserve a book, or read book reviews.

Over 90% of users use Google as a tool for research.  Less than 20% use online databases that are more reliable.  The use of the internet for research can be good and bad.  Users need to know how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.  They may need to search longer on Google than on databases because Google will have so many more results.

Easy and fast access to the internet and technology is changing the way users gain access to information, news and books.  Libraries will have to evolve to keep up with the changes.  More libraries are offering ebooks for check out, have more computers for patron use, and have made their websites more accessible with more information for patrons.  Librarians will also have to teach students how to search beyond Google.  

28 pages

Millennials and Libraries

 Millennials and Libraries. (2014, April 9). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/09/millennials-and-libraries/

Teens these days are  "super tech saturated." They have internet access at their fingertips.  95% have internet access, while 78% have cell phones to access the internet.  Most not only use their phones, but also tablets and laptops.  

Most educators believe that as a result of all the constant internet access, students are becoming easily distracted and expect results quickly and easily.  Students are becoming more self sufficient but all of the information may be too overwhelming. Many times when they are researching, the first thing they try is Google. They have trouble deciding what is relevant and reliable.  

Teens are reading just as much as adults, but for different reasons. While adults read for pleasure or to keep up with current events, teens read for research and school. Teens are more likely than use librarians and ask librarians for help.  

There is a debate on what kind of impact the constant access to the information will have on teens. Will they become multi taskers who can retain various information at once, lack social skills and interpersonal communication? Or will they become multi taskers who can research quickly and efficiently?

I do worry that students spend too much time on the internet.  A majority of them are constantly updating their status and pictures on social media. They use Google for all their research needs, despite the academic databases that are available to them.

40 pages