Technology is not only ever changing, it changes in the blink of an eye! After researching and ‘playing’ with the tools from LIBS 602, I was excited to implement them into my work. Then, I began reading and toying with the list of tools to stay current with technology. Immediately overwhelmed! So many, so much information, who to follow, and on and on. The Daring Librarian brought a sigh of relief. In her blog post It’s ok to date technology, you don’t have to marry it (2022), she releases the pressure valve, allowing for an extended sigh of relief. I can casually explore blogs and websites, I don’t have to spend a lot of time on all of them. Her advice to “Do one thing. Once you do that one thing and feel good about it, add another (The Daring Librarian, 2022). And so I did. I ‘went out with’ each of the various prospects listed in our module, spent several minutes with some, and more time with others. I found a few I would like to date steadily. Resources to help me stay current and up to date on technology. Confession: One was a steady ‘date’ I had established a little over two years ago. Richard Byrne, https://www.freetech4teachers.com/ His Practical Ed Tech Tip of the Week emails ping my phone weekly. Richard is a high school science teacher who shares in simple, well explained fashion, the free technology available to teachers. He is published and has won many awards for his blog. I enjoy his weekly email, as it is a quick read I can browse anytime or anywhere. His firm belief “…that technology gives teachers the ability to form powerful, global, professional learning communities” is evidenced by his passion to equip all teachers from those with little tech savvy to the tech advanced (Byrne, n.d.). Melissa Dewitt shared her interest in following some groups on Twitter. This idea especially appealed to me because there are times when a quick read is all I have time for. “Everyone is constantly sharing their work, other peoples’ work, their ideas, what’s happening at conferences, and everything in-between” (Dewitt, 2019). I like the idea of gleaning a vast array of current information, updates, and ideas from one source. Clicking on Dewitt’s suggestion http://critlib.org/ , I was immediately impressed with not only the tweet, but the 3-5 discussion questions listed after. What a great idea to further engage the reader, and start a discussion with fellow coworkers about their thoughts on the given tweet. Lastly, I have bookmarked AASL’s page Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning. AASL is certainly equipped to spread the news about emerging technology resources. It will be important for me as a children’s librarian to stay abreast of the latest resources to lead children on the path of success. Each logo is displayed, a brief description of the resource, the appropriate age group to use the tool. Noodle Tools, an excellent choice to instruct children how to “create citations, take notes, create an outline, and organize all research for a project or paper” and Novel Effect “plays layers of interactive music and sound effects that respond as you read aloud from your print book during your regular storytime routine”(AASL, 2022) are two new to me technologies I will use in my homeschool programs. Combining the advice of The Daring Librarian to date the tools, and that of a fellow classmate, to set aside specific day and time to do so, will keep me current with technology, but not overwhelmed.

AASL. (2022). Best digital tools for teaching and learning.  Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/aasl/awards/best

Byrne, R. (n.d.).  About. Free Technology for Teachers. https://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/about-richard-byrne-and-free-technology.html

Dewitt, M. (2019, March 22). The benefits of library Twitter. ACRLog. Retrieved December 6, 2022.  https://acrlog.org/2019/03/22/cheers-to-library-twitter/

Maximalfocus. (2020, January 20). Abstract blue neon light with mirrors and cubical spheres in Melbournes CBD[Photograph]. Unsplash.  https://unsplash.com/photos/VT4rx775FT4 CC Zero

The Daring Librarian.  (2022, August 2).  You don’t have to marry it!. Retrieved December 6, 2022 from https://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2022/08/you-dont-have-to-marry-it.html