11.5 Thing 9 Slideshare

At first I thought, "What's the big deal? We can already use Google Docs for this. But then I realized that Slideshare has an archive of presentations on a variety of subjects that you can search. This is a definite bonus.

Slideshare, and the various alternatives out there, would be useful for students. I really like Authorstream -- especially the ability to format presentations for use on ipods. Too bad that this costs $2 a pop (at least, that's my understanding of it). My library budget is slim to say the least, and I must use only those free options!

I definitely see students using slideshare to create their own research presentations, as well as to find information.

11.5 Thing 8 -- Screencasts

After exploring screencasts, I created one that I can send to my teachers to help them find books using our new online catalog. It took me three tries to make it because I was working at home and interruptions, such as the clock striking 10 o'clock, kept happening! But it was very easy to create with Screencast-O-Matic. I hope the video plays okay in this post. I could not get it to play from the preview screen of this post -- but hopefully it will play once it is posted.



I can see students using this to explain how to use some of our new technology. I'm sure they'll really like creating screencasts.

11.5 Thing 7 Video Resources

This was an opportune time to be working on this "thing." I was looking for something very basic for my 2 preschool classes about plants growing from seeds. I looked at totlol, but they wanted you to pay a fee to join. Then, I looked at Blinkx, but the video I found wasn't loading within the district. Then I noticed that next to the video was a blurb about going to Sesame Street's website for videos, so I went there and found the same video, and it will load in the district. Here's the short video I found and plan to use next week with my preschool classes:
http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player/-/pgpv/videoplayer/0/33412479-f663-4937-9457-014f1c95de0d/mrs_obama_plants_a_garden

I found the second video I'll mention here at neok12.com. This is a well organized video website, in my opinion. I have used it successfully before. This video, covering the phases of the moon, is for my 5th graders:
http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX6b5c7f0456765261795b6b&t=Moon

11.5 Thing 6 -- iTouch Apps

Having received 12 iPod Touches in my library, I have downloaded several educational apps -- a variety including those to reinforce math facts, states & capitals games, fairy tales, connect 4 type, and others. Easy to do, and easy to sync all the iPods with the cart.

Maybe I'm being simplistic, but I see the iPod Touches as another way to access information in the library. Students can use it to find websites, and thus information, to practice skills, to view videos, etc. I could see teachers having wikis with assignments and even instructional videos, all accessible through the iPod Touches. I'm eager to have the "new" wear off so the kids can get down to work with them!