Why code? It’s not just about computer science skills or becoming a software engineer, though those are great interests to pursue for some students. Coding builds problem-solving skills for students of all ages. They have to determine what their desired outcome is, what steps are needed to get there, and how to accomplish each step….
Category: Instructional Tech
Layering Reality
Virtual field trips are an excellent way to bring art, history, and science alive to our students. It’s one thing to read about Greece on the page, or view pictures in your textbook. It’s another to be able to move around, looking up, looking down… I recently took a field trip to Egypt, thanks to…
Slide Decks
My preferred tool for creating slide decks is Google, which offers the most flexibility and user-friendly design — while being completely free. It’s also useful for creating templates that others can use across grade levels, copying to their own Google account for editing. Google Slides is also one of the most commonly known tools, with…
Stop Motion: Baby Shark
My early childhood students love video, and video modeling is an evidence-based strategy for teaching children with disabilities. I’ve wanted to create our own library of videos with familiar voices that teach vocabulary and story. I also typically have a group of older students who act as peer mentors for my early childhood. I would…
Audio Tools
Audio can be a powerful tool for increasing access, for sparking curiosity, and for expanding creativity. I mean, check out these screenshots from Chrome Music Lab? Who wouldn’t want to try it? Learn more about this — and other tools — in this short talk about using audio tools as a librarian or teacher. You…
Sharks! Infographic
I wanted to explore how an infographic could be used with younger students in mid- to upper elementary grade levels. What types of infographics might they create? How could the creation of infographics during their time in library support the learning they are doing in the classroom? Would the Canva tool be easily used by…
Using images
Below are images created with the Pixlr Photo Editor and inspired by Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (2017). I elected to create two images inspired by this text as this is one way that pictures could be used during programming or classes. Creating collages that are inspired by favorite books, scenes, or…