Sandbox # 8

 In order to meet the needs of 21st century learners, I will have to recognize there is more to being a librarian than the library itself. In the Ed Tech article, Educational Technology Enrichment Specialist said it well, “The library isn’t four walls,” says Holzweiss. “It’s a culture of learning, of collaboration, of working together, of the right to knowledge. It’s a culture of inclusivity, accessibility and equity” (Burroughs, 2022). The library should provide experiences for all students to develop social-emotional skills, discover a new passion or interest, and to collaborate with their peers. 

Walt Disney once said: “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” As information professionals, curiosity should be one of our driving forces (Sarah, 2022). This week’s Sandbox was a great reminder that as a librarian professional I need to stay curious and current in literature and technology trends. To stay current, I will follow blogs, fellow educators/librarians on social media, and keep a list of websites that I want to refer back to for resources. I liked the idea of using Sqworl to keep track of websites that you want to remember. The website allows you to organize your websites into groups. You could have ones that you want to use for particular lessons, but also the websites that you want to use to stay current in the different trends. I also tend to save the websites I frequent the most in my bookmarks on my browser. 

Some of the technology websites I liked, but some of them I didn’t prefer. I liked the AASL website that lists the best digital tools and technology for students.  I will be referring to that website for future lessons. I also liked the Free Technology for Teachers websites. There were great resources for lessons whether you are a new teacher or experienced teacher. The Daring Librarian was an easy blog to read as well. I liked the concept of the Van Meter Library Voice website, but the website itself was very busy. The Ed Surge website felt the same to me and I didn’t prefer it either.

The library has a big role in bringing new technology to students. “Technology is changing the world, and it’s changing our schools and classrooms. It feels impossible to keep up with everything. You’re looking for meaningful ways to use technology and keep students engaged. Don’t worry. You’re in the right place” (Miller, 2022). I was drawn to the Ditch that Textbook website. I liked that right away that website let you know that you will find practical ways to incorporate technology into your lessons. The  website offers support with articles, videos, books, blog posts, and presentations available. On the blog you can find ideas for digital escape rooms, gamification, remote learning, tech like a pirate, virtual field trips, chromebooks, google classroom, google slides, google jamboards, and more google ideas (Miller, 2022). There is a wealth of information and resources available, and everytime I clicked on something I felt it gave me even more ideas. It was definitely one of my favorites and I am looking forward to learning more ways to use technology in my lessons. I also decided to follow Matt Miller on social media platforms to keep up to date. 

References

Burroughs, A.  (2022, July 8). Tech-savvy school librarians provide value to modern learners. Ed Tech. https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2022/07/tech-savvy-school-librarians-provide-value-modern-learners

Miller, M. (2022). About ditch that textbook. Ditch that textbook.  https://ditchthattextbook.com/

Sarah (2022, June 16). Staying sharp during the summer. Hack Library School. https://hacklibraryschool.com/2022/06/16/staying-sharp-during-the-summer/

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3 Comments Add yours

  1. trich037 says:

    I really liked Ditch That Text Book also. There is so much good and useful information. I like your idea of following Matt Miller on social media.

  2. lfaul001 says:

    I put Ditch That Text Book on my padlet. I think it’s an awesome tool. Great Ideas on how to stay up-to-date.

  3. mstee007 says:

    A lot of what Sarah said resonated with me too. I enjoyed that article. I agree – many of the websites were busy. I just couldn’t focus long enough to explore.

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