Posts

The End

-
This is it. My last post for this course. I really did not know what to expect when this course started, but now even though I do not really use a lot of technology currently as a teacher's assistant, I have a greater appreciation of how I can use these resources in the future as a school librarian.  Technology, I have no doubt will continue to grow and evolve in years to come. The reality is that we all must adapt to it and adapt to what children are learning. As I see my own children learning, they are learning technology faster than I keep up with. What can I do to change that? Educate myself and immerse myself in resources like this course has provided for me in these eight weeks.  I am going to be openly honest, there were many resources that I had to teach myself to use. I used resources online such as YouTube to provide guidance on how to use a tool for an assignment. I learn technology by playing with it as badly as it sounds. I am not a technology expert by any means.  I h
1 comment
Read more

Teens and Social Media

-
Image
Social media plays a key role in any teenager's life and there is no denying that. It is a whole new world that they create and feel accepted when the world outside their phone may be different, scary, and unknown.     Imagine this image for a second. A teenage girl posts a selfie of herself in a brand-new homecoming dress on social media. Instantly, she gets "likes," followers, and comments. She begins to feel that excitement and acceptance for everyone that sees her post.    Image Source: Musebridals.com   Can she get the same reactions from others in person? Is she someone who feels left out or socially awkward?    Teenagers and social media are a touchy subject, and this is clear when one does a simple Google search. As a parent and a teacher, what can I do to understand this hard subject? Let us examine three articles that focus on this hard topic and my thoughts on the articles.   Article #1 -  What is "Finsta" Teens and their Secret Instagram Accounts
Post a Comment
Read more

My Digital Tattoo

-
Image
Digital Tattoo What is a digital tattoo? For starters, I am not talking about the temporary electronic tattoos that a person can wear on the skin. I am referring to a person's digital presence online. A digital tattoo focuses on information about an individual that can be found on the wide world web and also any sort of activity online that can be traced back to an individual.  Now that you understand the definition, have you ever done a search on yourself on Google? Many of us will say "Yes." I will say I have done a quick search, but I have never taken the time to see how much information is out there on me. Was I scared of what I would find? Honestly, my time online has always been limited as a teenager and when I was in college, so I assumed I would not find a whole lot.  My Data Mine This week, I am focusing on my data mine. Here is what I found:  Google: I searched for my name and the first result was a known result. It was my social media account on Instagram for
1 comment
Read more

Why have a Professional Learning Network as a School Librarian?

-
Image
Technology has advanced for many educators over the years. As a future school librarian, I am constantly learning innovative technology , but intimidated by what it has to offer me to help in building my skills beyond what I have learned in my education so far and through my work experiences. In any professional learning, we all must step out of our comfort zone to learn. Everyone learns differently and must do what works for them. Sure, we have professional development in our field, but is that enough or do we want to learn something that is not recommended by others or required to do? How can we educate students creatively if we use the same tools? This is where a professional learning network or PLN (Professional Learning Networks) comes in.       What is PLN?   What is a professional learning network? A professional learning network or personal learning network is a "tool that uses social media and technology to collect, communicate, collaborate, and create by connecting
Post a Comment
Read more