Videos and QR Codes in the Library

YouTube

Video creation has now become a tool for both teachers and students to use in many ways. Videos can be “how-to” videos for students and staff, student projects and reflections, informational videos for students, commercials for new books and/or overdue books, or showcasing videos that show others some of the things that are happening around the library or around the campus. These are some libraries who have used YouTube Videos in a creative way to both help students and connect with students!

The NHS Library
I feel that this video is most helpful for students, because it reviews EBSCO host, including the Student Research Center, how to search the databases, and how to find your citations for articles.

In this video, the high school mascot visits the library and showcases the library in a fun way. I think students would really appreciate and enjoy this video.

The Unquiet Library

I love how The Unquiet Library includes student projects and reflections. It is an excellent way to move student projects beyond the walls of the school, so that others can view what students are learning. The librarian also includes some wonderful tutorial videos here to help students understand how to use different tools when they are researching and creating. Many of the videos are set to music that is fun and upbeat, which would keep students engaged.

There are so many tutorial videos this channel features that would be very helpful to students, including how to use EasyBib, how to embed content, how to export bibliographic information, how to find and use images, etc. This video would be very helpful to students, because it discusses Creative Commons Licensing and why students (and staff) should care about it. It was created using Animoto, but it helps students be mindful of copyright laws and helps them be ethical in their use of music, images, etc.

I also loved this video that was created to show students some of the new titles that were added to the library. I think students would love to see all of the new books that have been added. What a great way to showcase new books and increase student interest!

Pikesville High School Library

This channel had a ton of great videos, including student products.

This video, hosted on the channel, records a financial aid workshop that was held for students and parents. The school counselor provided this workshop and it was recorded. I think it is a great resource that students would find helpful, if they were unable to attend the workshop.

This video was created by students to provide information and remind their peers about filling out their FAFSA application. It was very creative and I think it is a video that students would enjoy watching.

BBMS

BBMSMedia channel was my favorite channel. Many of these videos were created by students and were so creative! There were many informational tutorial videos on this website, that students would find helpful, including this video which reviews the eResources available to students.

I just loved all of the Overdue book videos created by students. I think that students would really like these, because many of them are parodies or are based on media (songs, movies, etc.) that are trending. I especially enjoyed the Star Wars Overdue video!

There are so many ways to incorporate video creation into the library. However, what if your school blocks YouTube? There are other options available for teachers to share videos. Some of these options include:  School Tube, Teacher Tube, Next Vista or Academic Earth. There are more alternatives to YouTube that can be found at https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/09/47-alternatives-to-using-YouTube-in.html. Are you worried that inappropriate ads could appear while you are showing students YouTube videos? View Pure or Safe Share are some options that are available to “clean up” your videos from unwanted ads or other distractions.

Using Videos in the Library

Tutorials and/or Demonstrations

Videos can be created and placed on a library channel to inform students and staff of some of the resources available including the library webpage, accessing online databases, viewing the online catalog, etc. You can also walk through different apps and websites, showing students how to use different applications to help them with their research and/or projects.

Showcasing School and Library Events

Slideshows and videos can be created to showcase some of the events that are going on around the campus. For example, a slideshow can be created displaying the pumpkins students created for the Storybook Pumpkin Patch. Pictures of Family Literacy Nights can be created into a movie.

Student Products

Student-created videos can be placed on a library Youtube channel. This allows peers the opportunity to see all of the interesting things that they have created and provides a global platform for students.

Book Trailers and/or Book Talks

These videos can be created to promote new books in the library. Book trailers and book talks help increase student interest in new titles.

QR Codes

QR codes have made their way into the world of education. All you need to do is generate a QR code and others will have instant access to websites, text, geolocations, email, etc. To read the codes, you simply need to download the QR reader to scan the code. Newer iOS updates even have a QR code reader built into the camera, though it will ask to confirm if you want to be forwarded to the website.

Below, I have created  a QR code for a book trailer that I created using Animoto. I used http://goqr.me/#t=url to create my QR code, just for the simplicity of saving it as a .jpeg file. Other websites that I visited, including https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/ and https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ asked me to upgrade in order for me to save as a .jpeg. The default option was a .png file.

“Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree" — people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.

You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.” (Goodreads.com)

Scan the QR code below to view my book trailer. 

Using QR Codes in the Library

Book Trailers

QR codes can be placed on the covers of books for students to view a book trailer of the book before checking it out. (These codes can also be placed on shelves or near books.)

Library Orientation

QR codes can also be used in a library orientation. The codes can be linked to videos where the librarian discusses different sections of the library. As students go around the library and scan the codes, they can learn what types of resources are available in each area.

Promotional Materials

By placing QR codes on posters, bookmarks and fliers, you can provide instant access to things like the library website, the online resources, the library’s social media accounts, etc. It can even be connected to Google Forms for surveys or a form for volunteers to fill out.

Scavenger Hunts

Students can go on scavenger hunts thoughout the library, scanning QR codes for clues and finding out information about different genres, authors, and series.

Student Projects

QR codes can be linked to student projects. Videos can be created explaining the students’ research process and how they gathered information for their topic. These “behind the scenes” videos can be placed near student projects for more information.

Sources:

[Bbmsmedia]. (2018, May 31). Luke Skywalker Has Overdue Books [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivht6CPe1Ek.

[Bbmsmedia]. (2017, October 23). eResources @BBMA [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht7cv39Vbr4&t=4s.

Byrne, R. (2010, September 1). 47+ Alternatives to Using YouTube in the Classroom. [Blog post]. Free Technology for Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/09/47-alternatives-to-using-YouTube-in.html.

Byrne, R. (n.d.). Alternatives to YouTube. [Blog post]. Free Technology for Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/alternatives-to-YouTube.html.

Gilstrap, C. [Calypso Gilstrap]. (2015, March 12). How to Use EBSCO Host [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezObVKkqOo&t=272s.

Gilstrap, C. [Calypso Gilstrap]. (2015, May 4). Tiger Visits the Norman High Library [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4&t=95s.  

Lamb, A. (2013, January). Scan Me! QR Codes in the School Library. [Website]. Retrieved from http://eduscapes.com/sessions/qrcodes/.

[pikesvillehslibrary]. (2015, March 12). PikesvilleHighschool FAFSA. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVyIaw40neY

[pikesvillehslibrary]. (2013, December 16). PHS Financial Aid Workshop 2013 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esKCAk_t6v0&t=841s.

 [Theunquietlibrary]. (2012, August 27). Creative Commons Licensing: What Is It & Why Should I Care? [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8zSYqvAJuI.

[Theunquietlibrary]. (2012, April 12). New Arrivals, April 2012 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7RjsFNFRs

Zinkovich, B. (2015, January). Using QR Codes to Promote Your Library. Retrieved from https://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/novelist-special/using-qr-codes-to-promote-your-library.

Screencasts in Education

Screencasts are a great way for educators to share their screen and demonstrate learning through demos and tutorials. It makes it easy to walk through new websites, apps and technology concepts without being in a face-to-face environment…and, the great thing about them is that they are recorded and can be saved for a reference at another time. Wouldn’t it be amazing if your library could have a collection of “how-to” videos for teachers and students about how to use technology?

When I was exploring some of the ways to create screencast videos, I found that Screencast-O-Matic and Screencastify were my favorite. I also created a “mash” between Apple ipad “Screen Recorder” and iMovie. I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase new apps that teachers can use to integrate technology.

Screencast-O-Matic

Now, while I did enjoy the final product, I found Screencast-O-Matic to be a little more difficult to access. The Screen Recorder Launcher had to be downloaded to my computer, but I didn’t find an easy way to access it from my “Applications.” I had to go back to the Screencast-O-Matic website (https://screencast-o-matic.com/) and then click “Start Recorder.” Then, it provided me the option to record my screen, my webcam, or both. When I chose to record my screen, it provided me an adjustable screen frame to adjust what it records. This was nice, because I could “crop-out” my tabs and other areas that I didn’t want my viewers to see. When you start recording, it gives a 3-second countdown before it starts recording. When the recording is complete, you can click “done,” and choose what you would like to do with the recording. You can save as a video file, upload to Screencast-O-Matic, or Upload to Youtube.

The free option is a limited version, but there is option to upgrade to Solo Deluxe ($1.50/month billed yearly) or Solo Premier ($4.00/month billed yearly).

Here is an example of a screencast created using Screencast-O-Matic. This video was created to show students how to access Destiny Discover from our online library catalog.

Screencastify

Screencastify (https://www.screencastify.com/) is a screen recorder from Chrome that is available as an extension. Once it was added, it was super-easy to use. A small icon shows up on my toolbar, which is easy to access.

Once it is installed, you simply click the icon to choose what kind of video you want to make; either a browser tab, the desktop, or the webcam. One disadvantage to using this program is that you can’t record both the screen and the webcam simultaneously using the free version like you could on Screencast-O-Matic. The default countdown is set at 3 seconds, but can be adjusted. For the free version, the time-limit per video is only 10 minutes and a limit of 50 videos can be recorded each month. Users can also upgrade to the Premium version for unlimited videos and an unlimited recording length for $24.00 a year.

When recording a video with Screencastify, users are asked if they want to share their entire screen or the application window. It counts down and users can record and have access to drawing tools. Once users are done recording, they can click the icon on the toolbar, or click “Stop Sharing,” which is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Users can then have the option to upload the videos to the Google Drive or copy and share the link. I really loved how easy it was to just have it automatically show up in my Google Drive. From there, it is easy to access in the future or share with others through our district Google Drive.

Here is the screen recording I made using Screencastify. This recording walks through our library webpage and lets viewers see some of the resources that we have available to them on that webpage.

iPad Screen Recorder/iMovie Mashup

I wanted to be able to have a way to create videos that walk teachers through some of the ipad apps that are available, how to use them, and how they can be implemented into instruction. So, from my Control Panel screen, I clicked on “Screen Recorder.” Now, the screen recorder does record sound coming from the ipad, but it does not record outside sound so it did not record my outside narration. This had to be added later through iMovie.

Once you click the Screen Recorder button, it will count down from 3 before it will start recording the screen. But, you can go through the motions of what to do, being aware that you will need to add sound later. You may want to just narrate as you go  to make sure that you are good with your timing. 

Once your screen is recorded, you open the iMovie app and upload your video there. Then you can add a voiceover to your movie by clicking the microphone icon. It is not as “seamless” as the other screencasting programs, but if you want to create a movie on an ipad to demonstrate something, this “mash-up” makes it possible.

Here is the screen recording that I made with the iPad Screen Recorder and with iMovie. It shows teachers about the Chatterpix app and how it can be used in the classroom.

After viewing all of these versions, I think that the screencast program that I liked using best was Screencastify. I just liked how easy and seamless it was to record my screen and share my information.

There are many ways that Screencasting can be used in the classroom. Teachers and librarians can use it to demonstrate new technologies or showcase new apps, but it can also be a wonderful tool for students to show their learning. Students can talk through different things that they have learned or walk through products they have created. Kathy Schrock has a ton of useful screencasting resources, including general information and rubrics to use for screencasts at her website http://www.schrockguide.net/screencasting.html.

Sources:
Schrock, K. (2018). Screencasting and screen recording in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.schrockguide.net/screencasting.html.

Infographics

Book Consumption in the US
Infogram

An infographic is a visual representation of information. It is the act of taking raw data and turning it into visual forms that the human brain can easily access and process. Teaching with infographics can be beneficial to students, because it can be a jumping start for learning, providing visual information for students to understand. Having students create their own infographics to demonstrate learning requires critical thinking and provides students practice with charts, graphs, and maps – all essential skills that students will be expected to understand on standardized tests (Schulten, 2010).  Diana Laufenberg states “Infographics work in the classroom because they grab students and allow an entry point to learning — and because they sum up pages and pages, even chapters, of information that would take a reader hours to process” (as quoted in Shulten, 2010).

So how do we create an infographic? When creating an infographic, we need to have information and data. Once we have the data, it is our job to analyze the data and determine what information we need to translate into visual data. According to Alberto Cairo, in his podcast with Connie Malamed, a question we need to ask ourselves is, “what is it more likely that my audience, the people who are going to see this graphic, are going to try to do with this graphic?” (Malamed).  For my infographic, I accessed research about book consumption in the United States from the PEW Research Center (www.pewinternet.org) (Perrin, 2018).

Once we have spent some time analyzing the information and determining what information we would like to represent visually, we can begin to create our infographic. Some of the websites that can assist with creating infographics are Piktochart (https://create.piktochart.com), Infogram https://infogram.com), and Easelly (https://www.easel.ly/).  Here are some of my thoughts on each of these websites.

Easelly

Easelly had several templates to choose from, but one of the problems that I noticed with this website is that the options were kind of limited. In order to “unlock” more options of images, charts, etc., you need to “Go Pro” and upgrade for $4.00 a month. Other than the slim amount of choices, the site was fairly easy to use. The text was easy to change with a double-click and it was simple to move objects around on the infographic. When I wanted to add a pictogram to my infographic,  I did have some trouble getting the pictogram images to change to something relevant to my topic, rather than the default strawberry or popsicle image. While I feel that this website is very basic, it might be a great starting point for students to begin to explore infographics. 

Piktochart

Piktochart was very easy to use and had a nice variety of different images, shapes, photos and photo frames that can be added to an infographic. This website actually had the most variety of images that I was looking for that had to do with books (which was the topic of my information). The search bar made it even easier to find images that were relevant to my topic. The tool bar at the top of the infographic made it easy for users to work with the different elements on the page. For example, users can change the colors, the opacity, alignment, arrangement, etc.  The Piktochart infographic has different “sections” of information that users can customize, versus the one big “chart” that users are adding to while using the other websites (Easelly & Infogram) for their design. This website definitely had a lot more options to choose from, but at times it seemed a little overwhelming to view all of the options that were available. What I liked best about this website was the simplicity of use. Everything was easy to customize and use to represent information in the infographic.

Infogram

This was the website that I chose to use to create my infographic. The templates were very clean and it was easy to choose one where I felt comfortable manipulating the images and information. The options for adding information and elements were located on the left-hand side of the page, where I could choose what I wanted to add and simply drag it into the infographic. There were multiple choices for text, charts, maps, images, shapes and options to add other types of media including youtube videos, vimeo videos, slideshares, flickr images, urls, etc. Data could be uploaded from different forms, such as a .xls file, a .csv file, a Google Drive spreadsheet, Dropbox, etc. The elements on this site were easy to manipulate. Once an element was clicked, information for that element would appear on the right-hand side of the page. Users can adjust things like the width and height of the element, the information provided in that element, colors, alignment, background, etc. 

Overall, my favorite website to use to create infographics was Piktogram, just because of its ease of use and its variety of elements that can be included to represent various forms of information. However, for the purpose of creating a visually appealing infographic with the information I had, I chose Infogram. I really liked the clean templates that were not overwhelming and were easy to manipulate. I feel that any of these websites would be great for introducing students to infographics by giving them an opportunity to explore and create.

Sources:

Malamed, C. (n.d.). EC 010: How to design real (not  fake) information graphics. [Podcast.] Retrieved from http://theelearningcoach.com/podcasts/10/

Perrin, A. (2018, March 8). Nearly one-in-five Americans now listen to audiobooks. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/08/nearly-one-in-five-americans-now-listen-to-audiobooks/.

Schulten, K. (2010, August 23). Teaching with infographics: Places to start. The Learning Network. Retrieved from https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/teaching-with-infographics-places-to-start/?_r=0.

Schulten, K. (2010, August 27). Teaching with infographics: A student project model. The Learning Network. Retrieved from https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/teaching-with-infographics-a-student-project-model/.