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Reflections on Previous Technology Posts I will be using this post as a reflection on all my previous post on technology platforms for educators and students. I will cover the platforms I’m most excited about, the platform I found to be more difficult, and the platforms that I think would yield the most benefit for students.  I will be sharing how educators might consider using these platforms.  Another disclaimer, I’m an Apple user.  While I did share other platforms besides Apple ones, in these previous posts, I will be covering platforms that I use on a regular basis.  Check out my digital reflection story created using the Clips App. My Digital Reflection Story Noteworthy Platforms My hands down favorite platforms for both students and for teachers are platforms that allow the users to create videos or voice recordings.  I find these platforms to be very powerful in sharing new information and reflections, adding to the learning, building c...

  Podcasts Do you enjoy listening to podcasts?  Have you ever stopped to think about the benefits that podcasts offer their listeners?  Creating podcasts is now easier than ever, with many different platforms to choose from. If you're ready to try your hand at creating and sharing a podcast, this post will cover several platforms that you might want to consider.  The three platforms that I researched for this post were Soundcloud, Audioboom, and Podbean.   In starting the research for this blog post, I was wanting to know more about the origins of the podcast.  In my research, I discovered that a former MTV video anchor, worked with a app developer to create a way to download internet radio to an iPod in 2004.  Several other app developers continued to work on the possibilities of downloading and streaming internet radio. It was from this work that the concept of a podcast was created.  For more information on this,  follow this ...

  Cartoons and Comics The use of comics and cartoons in classrooms can have a powerful impact on capturing student interest.   There are many apps and online platforms that allow students and teachers to create comics  as a way to connect to the educational content being covered. This blog post will cover several good options to consider, and one option that I would not recommend.  I have really enjoyed the rise of the graphic novel and the introduction of them at the younger reading levels.  This format allows almost all learners to be able to read and understand.  If reading this format has a positive impact on it's readers, imagine the impact of these same readers being able to create their own comics? Pixton Pixton is one of the top platforms that I would recommend to use in the classroom.  It can be used on laptops and IOS devices.  It provides security features that can protect its users and is very user friendly to create comics....

Videos and QR Codes in the Library Libraries, schools, businesses, and organizations are using videos to share their message with their patrons more frequently.  There are so many options for creating videos to share and convey their messages.  These options include both online and app versions for editing videos.  YouTube is one platform that many are using to house their video collections to share with others.  Below are a series of videos posted on YouTube that showcase what many libraries are doing to connect with their patrons.  Some of the examples have been created to be helpful to their student patrons, while others have been created to entertain and connect with students.  YouTube Videos Drawing Student Interest The first four videos show examples of how different librarians are seeking to make connections to their students and to draw interest in their libraries.  Some of the librarians use humor, some use topics of interest...

Screencasts For this blog post, I will be sharing several options for creating screencasts or filming videos that can be used by teachers as well as students.  Based on how we as a society have been interacting with all of the technology around us, the way that we process information is changing.  We don’t need to use our brains to memorize endless facts and information, now that we have the option of Google.  This change in how we access and process information is changing the way we want to take in new information.  Videos have become a much more powerful tool to use in learning.  With the ability to pause and replay information, learners can interact with the material in more powerful ways than trying to memorize the steps.  Screencasts and creating videos to share with others, allows for both visual and auditory learners to experience the information better than just reading a set of directions.  The level of comprehension and retention of the i...

  Infographics I must say, "I LOVE infographics!" I was hooked when I first started seeing them on social media and on the news.  I found this digital resource to be concise and memorable way to learn more about certain topics.  With my interest piqued, I wanted to know how I could start to create my own infographics. Just in case you're not aware of what infographics are, I've included an example of one that I created using Easel.ly.  Part of what makes an infographic what it is, is seeing it.  Infographics combine digital graphics with words to convey a topic in a format that helps the readers to make better connections with the content that it is trying to convey. This post will share three different platforms that you might want to consider using for creating your own infographics.  Easelly, Infogram, and Piktochart are all good resources, in my opinion.  I chose to use Easelly, over the other two options because they had a fre...