Dig Lit News
August 2019
Reminder on Shout-Outs
Intro for New Staff
Anytime you are having your students create a presentation or research something, I'd love to be in your room with you! I'm happy to co-teach with you side-by-side, especially if it's something around technology you don't feel comfortable doing. :) Have something coming up? I'll sit down and plan with you and help you find the right tool for your students. There are lots of options out there, and together we can find what works for you (and be sure it's approved for student use).
Making sure our students know how to use the abundance of information that is literally at their fingertips is important. They need to be able to evaluate and sift through information from a variety of sources. And, they should be able to decide what they can use when creating new media of their own. From Google Apps tips to presentation tools to simple shortcuts, this newsletter covers it all. Everything will also be posted on the Library News page. Have questions about something I shared? I'll come work with you and show more, if you'd like.
Color Poster Maker
Google Keep
If you aren't using Google Keep, check it out. Sticky notes meet technology. Keep is right there in your email, or you can open it up in a new tab. That's where I keep things like my RANDA login info, Spanish keyboard shortcuts for the Newsletter, links to look at later, and more. I love how I can get to it on my computer or on my phone, and it's always up to date.
Things I like?
- Tag your notes with a topic so you can keep them all together.
- Use it for reminders and checklists, and upload photos. Even add voice memos.
- Share a note with another teacher or student and both have access.
- Search all your notes at once to find what you need.
- Keep works on your phone, tablet, and computer.
- Keep syncs across your devices so your important stuff is always with you.
Check out this quick video to see how it works, and search for Keep on your app store to add it to your phone.
Adobe Spark
I shared this last year, but I wanted to re-share. It's the same app you saw being used during our recent COPPA presentation. It's so easy for students to use if you need them to create quick videos using photos.
There are also iOS Apps. (Android has Spark Post, I think.) What's awesome about the apps is you can start on the computer and continue on the app (or vice versa). I created a video using the website with my own photos, and I recorded voiceover using my iPhone app. It's all saved in the cloud, so it was all there when I got back to my computer.
Here's an example of what a finished video looks like. With Adobe Spark Post, you can create photos, flyers, and more that you can then print or post on your website or social media. Want more ideas?Ten Ways to Use Adobe Spark in Schools
Favorite Past Tips
- Check out Explora, one of our EBSCO databases that supports mobile searching and features text to speech capabilities.
- Share entire folders in Google Docs instead of individual documents...it's so much easier! Any new documents in that folder automatically have the same sharing capabilities as the folder.
- Create quick video tutorials with Screencastify. (Or, check out Loom, my new favorite...)
- Model being a good "digital citizen" by using public domain photos on Pixabay, Unsplash, or Pexels.
NoodleTools
*Don't forget to check out NoodleTools! This citation builder replaces EasyBib. Here are some of the perks:
- No ads!
- Create MLA and APA citations.
- Export to Google Docs, and link papers in Google Docs within NoodleTools.
- Students can create notecards to organize their research.
- See student projects while they are in-progress so you can make comments along the way!
- Find out how to create an account below.
Our Library Website
Digital LIteracy Partnership
Again, I am available to collaborate and plan with you, co-teach a lesson, work with individual students or groups that need more help, or whatever else you need! I'm happy to come to department or common course meetings or sit down with you individually anytime!
Photo Credits:
- creative commons licensed (BY-NC-ND) flickr photo by venspired:http://flickr.com/photos/venosdale/6774128801
Tricia LaRue, Teacher Librarian
Email: patricia.larue@adams12.org
Website: http://bit.ly/MRH_Library
Phone: 720-972-6345
Facebook: facebook.com/MRHSLibrary
Twitter: @MRH_Library