Learning Commons Lowdown
October 2016
October Events & Activities Highlights
Author Jeff Anderson
NEW: OverDrive KIOSK!
Comic Book Club
Collaborative Instruction: Virtual Tours TV Pilot Project
Librarian Ms. Diaz collaborated with 6th Grade Social Studies teacher Mr. Spivey to develop the Virtual Tour TV Pilot project. Students paired up to create their own travel-oriented TV pilot featuring a country of their choice. They conducted research using the LC's "Search APPS" (digital resources) and created their script in Google Docs based on their notes and media gathered from a variety of sources. The APP Explain Everything then became the production platform for each pair to design and create their pilot video.
Latest Badge Hub Badge: Britannica Scout!
Britannica School is a comprehensive online encyclopedia---just one of our many "Search APPS" that students can access 24/7 on all kinds of topics, including biographies, multimedia, and reference information.
All the Search APPS are also available from home using the district's username/password for each resource. To view password information from home, students first login to their NEISD GOOGLE ACCOUNT and then click this link: Home Access.
MS/HS Librarian Field Trip: Google-Austin & UT-Austin's Perry-Castaneda Library
Exploring the 21st-Century Skill of Collaboration firsthand, we met with Austinite Googlers and University Librarians to learn about their approaches to collaboration and toured their respective spaces, including a relaxation pod (Google) and a modern learning commons :) (UT-Austin).
See below for the main takeaways from the experience!
"GCA over GPA"
Google doesn't care about grades but it does care about how well you can communicate and work with others.
3 THINGS Students Should START NOW
- Digital Portfolio
- Presentation & Public Speaking Skills
- Online Educational or Professional Profile (AKA LinkedIn or equivalent)
Evaluating Online Information is KEY
GOOGLE Drive/Classroom Integration with Search APPS!
- A growing number of our digital resources (AKA "SEARCH APPS") are now integrated with Google Drive and Google Classroom
- Students and Teachers can send articles, media & other sources to their Google Drive/Classroom
- The sharing makes highlighting ideas and taking notes on the original sources easy and accessible for students
For more about this awesome integration feature, click here!
Idea Lab Request: Items Needed!
- Take-Apart Tech Station
- Upcycling crafts
- Gaming & games
If you have any of these kinds of items in your recycle bin or donation pile, send them into the LC as creative fodder for Idea Lab activities:
- Metal Jar Lids - any size (from pickles, condiments, jelly, etc...)
- Any old/outdated or broken "tech" = cell phones, laptops, phones, keyboards, anything battery-operated or electronic
- Paper towel and toilet paper cardboard tubes
- Plastic coffee cup lids...if you go to Starbucks, save those lids!
- Any old board games you don't want or use anymore! New ones are welcome, too!
OCTOBER LC STATS
Total # of Books Circulated/Checked Out
6th Grade: 414
7th Grade: 192
8th Grade: 152
Faculty & Staff: 8
OverDrive: 132
Total # of Classes Served
- Instruction
- Activities
- Collaboration
- Checkouts
Average # of Individual Students Served Daily
Coming in November: Bookaneer Book Fair!
Theme: Bookaneer (Pirates)
Shop ONLINE starting on 11/09 through 11/22!
Interested in volunteering? Please sign up here!
Follow the Learning Commons on Twitter & Instagram!
Twitter: Follow @TexHillLC to stay informed about great resources, events and activities happening 24/7.
Instagram: Follow @TexHillLC to see a visual gallery of the LC's happenings in real time!
Learning Commons @Tex Hill MS
Email: tdiaz4@neisd.net
Website: http://neisd.libguides.com/welcome_hill_library
Location: 21314 Bulverde Road, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: 210.356.8004
Twitter: @TexHillLC