Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

I was able to attend the Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy on September 28, 2019 at the Georgia Coastal Center in Savannah, Georgia.  What an experience!  This was my first conference on informational literacy.  Even though it was geared to the college level, I learned a lot of information that I could take back to my elementary school setting.

I went to two different sessions explaining the use of  the Google apps Google Forms and Google Drive.  The presenter showed us how we could use the Google apps to teach and assess students.  I've used many of the Google apps before, but I have never used Google Forms as part of my instruction.  I was surprised at hoe easy it was to gather and analyze data once you have assessed with Forms.  The second Google apps session I went to discussed Google Drive.  What a great invention that is!

Next I went to two different sessions that focused on integrating information literacy and STEM.  I learned different tools that were available online for online 3-D scanning, programming and printing.  We have a 3-D printer at my school, and I started brainstorming how the media center can collaborate with our STEM lab.   Another session, "The Student Makes a Discovery on Her Own:  Four Tools to Fuel Independent Research for STEM Students" discussed how writing had a place in STEM subjects.  My brain was already running from the previous session, and this session gave my brain fuel to keep going!  This session discussed four tools to fuel independent research.  As a media specialist I need to have STEM documents available to students.  Popular Mechanics for Kids would be a great start to these resources!

Have you used Kahoot?  I haven't, but a session explained how this online tool could enhance instruction.  The presented discussed how he used Kahoot while teaching in a college library.  Kahoot can also be used in a K-12 environment.  Kahoot is something I can implement right away!  Not only can I use this in my current classroom, but I can also use this when teaching library sessions.  There are some restrictions to Kahoot, but it is very easy to use, fun, and interactive.  Plus it provides immediate data for the students and teachers to see.

I learned how the presenters, who were majorly college professors. used the library to teach information literacy classes.  The media specialist is more than a person that checks out books.  The media specialist teaches how to use the information tools and skills that all of the other subject areas need.  I can so this, too, at the media center with elementary students.

Overall, I learned that there are a lot of easily accessibly tools that help teachers promote informational literacy.  Theses tools can be used at a college level, but they can also be adapted to the K-12 level as well. I"m very glad that I attended this conference because I learned new ideas, but more importantly it made me brainstorm more way to make the library a library commons.

How to use Word Art

Smore

I just used the tool Smore to create an online list of primary documents for Life on the Homefront during World War II.  This is an awesome tool, and I know I will use it in my classroom! Check out my work!

https://www.smore.com/rha1p

What does Inquiry Based Learning mean to you?

Blog #6: Inquiry Learning and Technology

Education is shifting from just giving information to students to an inquiry learning approach.  The National Research Council (2007) states that "The meaning of knowing has shifted from being able to remember and repeat information to being able to find and use it." We need to shift to inquiry based education, and we can do that with the use of technology.

What does inquiry mean to me?  I feel that an inquiry based classroom is one that gives students just enough information to make them curious and want to know more.  An inquiry based classroom allows students to make mistakes along the path to education.  It's ok to fail as long as we learn from our failure.  When we are curious about a topic we dig in to find the answer.  We don't stop even when failure may be around the next bend.  Making students curious about a topic will help them learn.  I particularly enjoy teaching science with inquiry based lessons.  I love giving them a bowl full of materials during our electricity unit, and then I ask them to make a light bulb light up.  You should see what the students produce!  They students not only give me a series circuit, but then they discover how to build a parallel circuit.  I love watching them explore and learn through inquiry.

Technology allows us to engage, enhance and extend learning.  Not only can technology motivate students to learn, but it can also help students develop a deeper understanding of the knowledge and the world around them.  The Landwitches blog "Get Over It!" explained why some of the schools haven't caught up using technology to engage, enhance, and extend learning.  A lot of teachers have technophobia.  Sadly, I have been included in this group.  Teachers sometimes fear technology and allowing their students to have free reign with a computer.  The article by Keren-Kolb explains that there is a difference between engaging students with technology and enhancing the education.  I'll admit that it's hard to concentrate on adding technology into lessons to do more than engage the students.  It's hard to determine how to extend learning through technology.  I need to focus on learning how to teach inquiry based technology lessons by realizing that it's ok to fail.  I may just come up with an amazing lesson or project through my failure!

Worth the watch!

Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset?  This video is worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc

#5 Goals and Growth Mindsets

It's just as important to take a look back at your goals as it is to set goals.  We need to see where we have been in order to see where we are going.  One of my goals of this course was to become a better user of technology.  I have already learned so much after 5 weeks in this course.  I never thought I would have created some of the products that I have created.  I never thought I would have my own blog, much less know how to link pages to it!   I aimed to become a better user of technology not only for myself, but also my fellow students.  During the final weeks of school I tried some of my new technology findings out on my kids.  I promise they didn't mind being guinea pigs.  :)  I allowed them to learn a new skill by using technology.   An article, during week 2 really stuck out to me.  If kids can learn how to do almost anything on youtube, why don't we utilize that thirst for knowledge and allow them to learn an academic skill?  The activity I tried worked, but it also needs a bit of tweaking.  I'll definitely use this activity many more times in the future.  

After the readings for this class, I would like to add another goal.  This is more of a personal or professional goal for me.  My goal is to foster a growth mindset with my students.  Too many times I see students fail, then give up.  I want them to see that failure is just a bump in the road to mastery.  

The video, "The Power of Belief: Mindset and Success", examines a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.  It also focuses on Josh Waitzkin and his growth mindset.  Not only is he a chess prodigy, but he is also a martial arts champion.  Once he mastered chess, but wanted to continue to learn.  He didn’t stop at being a chess champion.  He wanted to continue to grow.  I have mastered teaching elementary school math.  I have been a 5th grade teacher for 18 years, but I am ready to challenge myself to master something new.  That is one of the reasons for my drive to be certified to become a media specialist.  Just like Josh wanted to master martial arts, I want to master instructional technology.   I love that the video stated that after lots of hard work and many failures Josh became a great martial artist.  I have had done a lot of hard work in my career, and I have had many failures.  Those failures have given me a growth mindset to keep searching for the knowledge to become better.   A growth mindset if the key to success!  We need a growth mindset, and we need to share our growth mindset with others.  

I still feel like a fish out of water most times, but I am a life-long learner.  I am honestly enjoying this journey, although sometimes it is tough.  I think my goal to become a better user of technology is one that I will keep.   Technology keeps changing, so I need to as well.  I will also keep the goal of teaching my students how to have a growth mindset.   I plan on showing them the youtube video from this week.  If you haven’t seen it, check it out!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc