Instagram and Vine

Instagram and Vine are awesome social networking tools that allows you to share your memories, ideas, and just every day life!

Instagram
What is this Instagram that all the celebrities and cool kids are using? Well, it's a free social networking app for all people (even the not so cool ones like me) that lets you share pictures and short 15 second videos. It is available for iOS, Android, and Windows phone.  It is similar to Facebook and Twitter. It displays your profile and your feed. People that follow you will see your posts and you will see posts of people you follow as well. Your profile is public when you first create it and then can be set to private where you will be able to approve who follows your posts. You may use the search tab to look for hashtags or specific users. A neat thing about Instagram is that when you capture your photos or video, it allows you to edit. It has 24 filters for photos and 13 for videos. You can edit the brightness, sharpness, add frames, etc. You can also configure your Instagram to posts pictures and videos in your other social networking accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Flickr automatically when you press the "share" button. Instagram would be an efficient tool in the classroom and library to share presentations, ideas, lessons, book reviews, book trailers, and many more neat things. 

Weathering, erosion, and deposition

A photo posted by Rebecca Ybarra Cabriales (@rebeccacabriales) on Nov 20, 2015 at 9:15pm PST

Natural Bridge Caverns

A photo posted by Rebecca Ybarra Cabriales (@rebeccacabriales) on Nov 20, 2015 at 9:17pm PST

Vine

Vine is a video sharing app that is owned by Twitter. It must be downloaded to a smart phone either on iOS devices or Android devices.  When you sign up, all your Twitter account information transfers over such as your biography, photo, and name. This app allows you to film short, separate instances and then allows you to create a six second video. Each video plays in a continuous loop. You can publish to your Twitter timeline or embed into a web page or blog. Your Vine will look like an animated image (GIF) on your Twitter stream. It has an Explore tab that allows you to search for popular categories. The activity tab allows you to see who follows you, comments, and likes. The interface looks very similar to Instagram showing you a scrollable feed of all your friend's Vines. Some disadvantages of Vine is that you can't save a video to your camera roll for later use. Vine doesn't have social network buttons to be able to share of Facebook or Tumblr like Instagram does. Vine is an easy to use tool and can be used to review book talks, author's visits, presentations, A.R. kick-off parade, and many more recordable moments.

Screencasts

Screencasts are a great way to capture a computer screen through a video. This tool is great when wanting to explain to your students or any audience a particular website or how to use a specific Web 2.0 tool. Below are some screencasts that I created using different programs. Take a look below:

Screencast-o-matic

Screencast-o-matic is free and easy to use. I've used it before to create a screencast on how to utilize the school online card catalog. At first I was a bit reluctant to use this tool because I was afraid of messing up and having to start all over again. I learned to use some features that made my presentation flow and easy to record. I also like how easy it is to share the video. You can share with an email, social media websites, and Youtube. I posted this video easily on Youtube and the uploading didn't take long. You can either get the URL or embed code to post to your blog or share with others.




Jing

Jing is free and easy to use. It is alot like Screencast-o-matic. It has the same features. For example, when you are recording, you have the option to pause, gather your thoughts, and continue. When you review the final outcome of the video, you can't even tell there was a pause in between. I really hard a hard time getting the embed code to work on the blog. I used the embed code provided and couldn't get the video to view on the blog as I did with screencast-o-matic.  I watched and followed the tutorial given by Jing. The file also takes very long to upload.

URL     http://www.screencast.com/t/f77FY0fQm

Link for Video:   rcabriales_sciencefair


Screenr

To my surprise, I went into the Screenr website today. I had viewed it about a week ago and was already planning on using it for my blog today. As soon as I went into the webpage, I got a message that said that Screenr is retired as of November 11, 2015. What a bummer because it was free and easy to use as well. This is what they had to say:

Sadly, we're retiring Screenr on November 11, 2015.

As you might already know, Screenr’s recording capability is based on Java RE (Runtime Environment), which is rapidly becoming antiquated. For example, Google Chrome doesn’t support Java RE anymore. So Screenr can’t run there. And on other browsers, Java support is also limited, causing constant problems for users.

Because we at Screenr pride ourselves on providing a superior customer experience, these issues are simply unacceptable. And there’s no way around them.

If you’d like to download your videos, please do so before November 11th. After then, you will no longer be able to log into Screenr. However, all of your embedded videos and links to your videos will continue to work.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our services as much as we’ve enjoyed providing them to you.

The Screenr Team

Cartoons and Comics

Tellagami 

I love love Tellagami! This app is only available for iPad or iPhone. There is a free app but, I purchased the Tellagami edu which has more options when creating your avatar. You can change the hair style, hair color, clothes, shoes,background, and emotions. It is easy to use. All you do is create your avatar and voice record or type your message. You can save and share via social media. It also gives you an embed and video code. I will be using this with students to explain concepts they are learning. For example, they can present a book report and describe the story elements.

ToonDoo

This cartoon creator is easy to use and free. As soon as you create a free account, you can start creating. You first choose your layout which as many options. Next, you get to choose your background, characters, props, text boxes, and clip art. One feature that I really liked was the "search" button that helps you search for any character or item you might be looking for. It was easy to save. You could share with the public, just your friends, or with social media. I was able to get and use the embed code.

By rcabriales | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Pixton

Pixton is a great Web 2.0 tool for visual learners. It makes classroom learning so much fun.Students can create scenes and dialogues for their comics and share with their teachers and friends. Pixton for fun is free. Teachers may purchase for 200 students for $8.99 a month and a school or district may purchase for unlimited students for $1.75 per student/year. Pixton can be used to present book reports or discuss favorite books like the comic below. Comics can also be used to describe the story elements of a story or the may also support other content areas. Once a comic is created, you can either print, download, or share. You may share publicly,  with friends or  through social media.

MakeBeliefsComix

This is another cool comic generator tool that requires no registration. It is free and it is pretty easy to use. Compared two the first two comic generators mentioned, I did not like the fact that you couldn't save to the site. Either you print or save to your own computer. It doesn't give you an embed code either. It doesn't have many backgrounds or objects to insert, but it does have plenty of realistic looking characters. It gives you the option of using three sizes of bubbles. You don't have the option to drag and make them larger or smaller. Overall, it is great to use in the classroom where some students might not have e-mails to register with. They can create and print right away. These comics can be used as informal assessments to check if students' have grasped the concept being taught.

Online Book Communities

Online book communities are advantageous communities for book lovers of all ages! Readers can share what they are reading by building virtual book shelves. They are able to rate, recommend, and keep track of books they've read. Readers can also keep track of what their friends are reading.

Goodreads

Goodreads is an Amazon company. It features a nice eye pleasing interface. It is well organized and easy to use. It has a five star rating system and also allows you to leave a written review. I really like the book shelf option of categorizing your books by read, currently reading, and will read.

Skitch Screenshot of Goodreads profile


LibraryThing

LibraryThing not only catalogs books but movies and music as well. It is very well organized but not very colorful (eye-catching). Recommendations are given based on what books you have on your shelves. Readers are able to write and read book reviews as well.

Skitch Screenshot of LibraryThing


Shelfari

This is my favorite online book community. It is similar to Goodreads. It is also owned by Amazon. It has the virtual bookshelves as it's main feature. The color book covers are displayed as well with popups that allow you to view the rating, review, and tags. The books can be organized in different shelves such as already read, currently reading, planning to read, wish list, currently owned, and favorites. Shelfari also features group creator which allows you to talk, play, or discuss your books.

Skitch Screenshot of Shelfari

Booklikes

Booklikes has an interface similar to Tumblr's. When you create an account on this online book community, you are actually creating a book blog. You can choose from a variety of free templates and you may purchase some as well. The bookshelves can be categorized as read, planning to read, currently reading, and wish list. You may also create a category of your own. I really like the Dashboard feed posted by Booklikes and updates from users or users you wish to follow.

Skitch Screenshot of Booklikes

Biblionasium

As a classroom teacher, I think this is great. Teachers can create a class group and see what their students are currently reading. Teachers can create a bookshelf of recommended or required readings. Students will create their own virtual bookshelves on what there are currently reading, read, plan to read, and wishlist. They may also view their classmates' bookshelves to see what there are currently reading and their book reviews. Hopefully students will get inspired to read what their friends are reading.

Skitch Screenshot of Biblionasium

Podcasts

Podcasting can be beneficial and fun in the library as well as in the classroom. Podcasting can be used to enrich lessons in various content areas, and promote the library. It is also a great tool for students that are to shy to get in front of a video recorder but still want their voice to be heard. Some podcasting tools I explored were Soundcloud, Audioboo, Podomatic, and Garageband. They are great tools and easy to use. Unfortunately, Garageband is not free but, totally worth the price of $4.99 through the Apple store. Having a podcasting channel for the school library would be awesome to review books, create book trailers, and to promote activities in the library. I used Audioboo in the classroom this week. I had my students, in partners, write a short script on weather and climate to review the concept. As soon as their script was completed, they recorded their dialogue. Check out the their recording below!

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

YouTube Videos:

YouTube videos are viewed practically by everyone. If you need a laugh..boom...funny videos. If you need to know how to fix a leaky faucet...boom...a tutorial. Well why not use it to promote your school library? Promoting the library brings awareness on the materials, resources, and programs it has to offer. Patrons feel "invited" and will want to come in and utilize the library to it's full potential. Also, creating on-line tutorials on how to use the on-line catalog or databases is essential and convenient. Videos are also a great idea to showcase all the great things that are going on in the library. I viewed several YouTube Channels for libraries and I will share two videos from each. I will first share the video that I think is most helpful for students and then I will share the one I think students would like the best.

Norman High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos

Most helpful:


Students will like the best:


The Unquiet Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos

Most helpful:

Students will like the best: (Has more views...maybe because it features a student)



Pikesville High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

Most helpful:


Students will like the best:


BBMS Media

https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos

Most helpful:

Students will like the best:
|




Animoto Book Trailer with QR Code


Quintero, Isabel. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

 Named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2014

Named to School Library Journal Best Books of 2014

Gabi Hernandez chronicles her last year in high school in her diary: college applications, Cindy's pregnancy, Sebastian's coming out, the cute boys, her father's meth habit, and the food she craves. And best of all, the poetry that helps forge her identity.

Synoposis retrieved October 1, 2015  from:

http://www.amazon.com/Gabi-Girl-Pieces-Isabel-Quintero/dp/1935955950

Scan the QR code below to view the book trailer;

QR codes are excellent to enrich a student's learning. They can be used for many purposes in the library. One example that I would use it for would be to access a YouTube video on how to utilize the on-line catalog from home. Yes, they can access through the homepage but wouldn't it just be easier to scan and boom...there it is. I created my first QR code this week for my classroom bulletin board. The students worked on a unit on rattlesnakes. I created a QR code for a YouTube video on rattlers. The QR code was posted on the bulletin board along with the students' work. Students, teachers, and even parents have an opportunity to view the students' work and scan the QR code to watch a short video. Next time I'm thinking of having the students create their own book trailers or reviews and then have them create a QR code.

Blogs

Blogs...so many of them and so little time or so I thought. I had no clue that Blog Readers existed until now. As silly as that sounds...I'm actually in awe with my Blog Reader Feedly. I get to view my favorite blogs in just one place instead of having to go (and remembering) each one I follow.  Feedly is free, easy to use, and I can log in easily with my Google account.  I did explore others such as Bloglovin', Bloglines, Newsvibe, and Newsblur. I did like Feedbin and Digg a whole lot but the only disadvantage is that they're not free.

I added quite a few blogs to Feedly, but my favorite five blogs are...(drum roll please)

1. http://daringlibrary.edublogs.org/
    Quirky and hip the daring librarian is very resourceful. Her blog is full of wonderful ideas. As a matter of fact, her Banned Book Week Display is awesome! I follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

2. http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/
   
     A SLJ Journal blog that has book reviews, book trailers, librarian previews and so much more. This blog serves as a great support system for librarians. It is very insightful and enjoy reading it's content.

3. http://d97cooltools.blogspot.com/

   This blog is definitely filled with cool tools. Cool tools for the 21st Century Learner that is.As librarians aka media specialists, it is our job to keep up to date with the latest trends in technology. This blog does just that.

4. http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/

What a great blog to meet the demands of our young adult readers. Many of the blogs I've read were based on something young adults can relate to. For example, the tweet of the week, Instagram of the week and even an app of the week. I also enjoy reading the professional development posts.

5. http://www.mightylittlelibrarian.com/

Tiffany is a middle school librarian. Her ideas are relevant to to all aspects of the library. She has so much information and resources that not only new librarians could us,but current librarians looking to make changes in their library will find this blog insightful
I really enjoyed listening to her podcast on genrefication found on the link below. I really like the ways she set up her books like they way you would see in a bookstore based on genres.
https://elementarylibrarian.com/podcast17/

I'm also new to Tumblr. What a great way to network and communicate with people of the same interests. I enjoy reading ideas for libraries from displays to good reads.

http://rcabriales.tumblr.com/