The Scanner Volume 6, Issue 1 Winter 2014
Tools of the Trade About ISTE Librarians Network The purpose of the Librarians Network is to promote librarians as leaders and champions of educational technology and digital literacy. The key mission is to provide a professional learning community where librarians can leverage technology knowledge and expertise to improve school library pro-
grams, increase access to information, and foster strong teaching and learning environments in a connected world. The Librarians Network fosters communication among librarians, promotes the school library program, represents school librarians in ISTE activities and with other PLNs, and provides opportunities for leadership and pro-
fessional development for librarians. There are many opportunities to get involved with the Librarians Network including contributing to the newsletter, helping to organize professional development activities such as webinars, Twitter chats or book discussions, or simply attending events and sharing your views and experiences with others.
Inside this issue: Presidents Message PD Opportunities Inside Story Inside Story Inside Story Inside Story Inside Story
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LINKS: Join PLN discussions with your ISTE account Follow @ISTELIB on Twitter or use #istelib Join the Librarians Network group on Facebook Access the Librarians Network’s Website
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The Scanner President’s Message by Donna Macdonald The holiday season is fast approaching, which means life is getting a bit more hectic for all of us.
ities, chaired by Elissa Malespina. These monthly events include an informative Google Hangout that is followed by a Twitter chat with Thank goodness this issue of The Scan- the participants. Elissa details more ner has resources to help simplify ac- about these opportunities in this issue tivities in your library. of The Scanner.
“The enthusiasm and creativity I witnessed was simply priceless!”
One article includes quick ideas for library computer center activities. Another newsletter piece just may assist you in transforming a library space … on a budget. The makerspace movement has been gaining momentum in libraries across the country. If you’re like me, you’re been wondering how you might apply the elements of this new creation space in your own library program. A concern may be gathering of resources needed to get a makerspace started. Well, take a look at “5 Tips for Starting a Makerspace on a Budget” for some helpful ideas. On a personal note, just last week, my second and third graders created “Squishy Circuits” using basic items from my kitchen, some LED lights and a few $2.00 battery packs from Radio Shack. The enthusiasm and creativity I witnessed was simply priceless!
Series vs. Parallel Squishy Circuit
Speaking of priceless, I hope that you’ve been able to attend some of our fabulous FREE Librarians Network professional development activ-
Image from http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/buildingCircuits.htm
Remember that the archives may be viewed on our new Weebly website (librariansnetwork.weebly.com) in case you missed the live event. Be watching Librarians Network social media channels for information regarding our ISTE Technology Innovation Awards. These annual awards are given to educators participating in collaborative projects in both primary and secondary school libraries. The awards will be presented this year during ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia. Applications will be accepted beginning in January 2015 and will continue to be accepted through March. I look forward to hearing about many of your inspiring collaborative efforts through applications for this award! On behalf of the ISTE Librarians Network leadership team, I wish you all Happy Holidays and a healthy and delightful New Year! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and @ISTELib on Twitter to stay up to date on upcoming ISTE Librarians Network events!
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Volume 6, Issue 1
Professional Development Opportunities for You! Each month, we offer a Google+ Hangout and Twitter chat in order to bring you the latest initiatives and trends in the library profession. Upcoming Google+ Hangout & Twitter Chat Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Traveling Librarians: Learning about Libraries in Serbia and Finland Speakers: Tiffany Whitehead and Jennifer Hanson @librarian_tiff and @libraryjenn Miss our Fall 2014 Hangouts? You can watch them now or at any time. Click the links beneath each title to view.
September 2014 Making Your Library Relevant in a Digital World Speaker: Nikki D. Robertson YouTube link to view October 2014 Transform Your Library with Making: How We Started a Makerspace (And You Can Too!) Speaker: Diana Rendina YouTube link to view November 2014 SLJ School Librarian of the Year Award Winners Speakers: Michelle Colte, Colleen Graves, Andy Plemmons YouTube link to view
Librarians Network photos and videos from ISTE 2014: ISTE 2014
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The Scanner Simple and Quick Web Tools by Larnette Snow
“This way you
As a librarian in a pre-kindergarten to grade 7 school I am always in need of simple and quick ideas for library computer center activities. Use these five ideas yourself and share your experiences with the teachers in your school. This may be a way to open a line of communication and collaboration that will continue to grow and promote your library services.
Another idea for using exit slips is exitticket.org. This student response system is designed by teachers and can help with differentiation. I have just signed up for this one and am planning on using it soon. From the email that I received after signing up, I believe this will be a good assessment tool.
will let teachers know that you want to help them and their students become lifelong learners.”
Use todaysmeet.com to set up a question and have students answer. Simply give a name to the online room, type in the question, and have students answer. I have used TodaysMeet to find out students’ favorite books or authors to get ideas of books they would like purchased for the library. Another use could be as a review or exit question, such as “What is the difference between the
Use the free site PurposeGames to create your own review games or to access games already created by others. I have used one called ‘13 Colonies’ to help fifth graders learn the original colonies and ‘Dr. Seuss Books’ with second graders. There are great resources in the interactive section of learner.org. In ‘Elements of a Story’, students learn about story elements by listening to a
author and the illustrator?” The ideas story, then sequencing the plot in for using TodaysMeet are limitless. order, while learning about conflict and resolution and much more.
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Volume 6, Issue 1 Simple and Quick Web Tools by Larnette Snow Save the money you would use to purchase a globe and reinforce geography skills with World Geography Games. I have used this with fifth grade students to learn the location of the fifty states. Your students can also
learn the location of the continents, oceans and much more. The best way to learn new tools is to share the ones you like with your colleagues, and they will more than likely share back. Spend a few minutes each week looking for more ideas and share your finds with each other every month. This way you will let teachers know that you want to help them and their students become lifelong learners.
“The best way to learn new tools is to share the ones you like with your colleagues�
Image from http://www.librarygirl.net/
Attendees of the Librarians Network Breakfast at ISTE 2014 were entertained and inspired by Jennifer LaGarde (Library Girl). Did you miss it? Click here to view.
Image submitted by Jennifer Hanson
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The Scanner
5 Tips for Starting a Makerspace on a Budget by Diana Rendina
“… the idea that you need a lot of money to start a Makerspace is a myth”
When I talk to other librarians and educators about starting a school Makerspace, one of the most common things I hear is, “I’d love to do (insert cool Maker activity) at my school, but we don’t have a budget for that.” What many people don’t realize is the idea that you need a lot of money to start a Makerspace is a myth. All you need is a vision, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. A lack of funds is no longer an excuse for keeping your students from experiencing the empowerment of the Maker Education Movement into your program.
Hold a supply drive
Let your parents and community know what you’re looking for, and donations will often pour in. While you might not get a 3D printer, many families have craft supplies, LEGOs and other items sitting around their houses that they would love to give you. And like classroom supply lists, many parents are happy to purchase items to donate when they know what you need. We held a LEGO drive at my school and offered entries into an iTunes gift card giveaway to everyone who donated. Several Cultivate a Makerspace Vision teachers brought their college-aged children’s LEGOs, and many stuWhat would your dream library Mak- dents donated LEGOs they no longer erspace look like? Make a Pinterest used at home. board of activities you’d like to bring to your library. Gather a focus group Don’t discount the value of recycled of students and get their input to give materials either. One man’s trash can your students a voice in the creation become another student’s treasure. of your Makerspace. Maybe you During our Makerspace Cardboard dream of an arts and crafts cart that Challenge, we collected cardboard you can bring out for programs. Or boxes, paper tubes, bottle caps and your students want to have a LEGO other items that would be thrown wall to build on. Perhaps you want away or recycled, and we transyour kids to learn how to program a formed them into DIY games. robot that travels around your library. Develop your vision, and then Talk to local businesses and see if they’re willing to help out share it with everyone you meet. Teachers, parents and community A local stereo repair shop donated members love to hear about cool, several unclaimed items to our school innovative projects that the local when we created a tech take apart school is planning, and they will often station. Try talking to a local hardhelp you out once they know what ware store; they might be willing to you are trying to accomplish. give you paint to spruce up your
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Volume 6, Issue 1
5 Tips for Starting a Makerspace on a Budget by Diana Rendina space, tools for the kids to use or even build something for you. If your school has business partners, share your vision with them, and ask them if they will help you get there. Business partners will often help with financial or in kind donations if they know what you need. Utilize DonorsChoose
get some ideas and inspiration. Also, try to find matching offers that fit with what you’re looking for; a match means you’ll only have to raise half the funds. Matches for the Arts, STEM, and sustainability all fit in nicely with Makerspace projects. Apply for grants
Break out your grant writing DonorsChoose.org is definitely one toolbox, and start writing some of the best resources out there for grants to stock up your Makerspace. kick starting a Makerspace. From There are tons of grants out there for our whiteboard wall to our Epic innovative STEM projects and library LEGO wall to Snap Circuits to craft programs, and Makerspaces fit this supplies, over half of my school’s bill perfectly. This is a great way to Makerspace came from Doget some big ticket items that norsChoose projects. The key is to you wouldn’t be able to afford focus on one particular project, keep otherwise, like a 3D printer, a the overall price low, and market like littleBits workshop set, or a crazy. Promoting your project makes set of MaKeyMaKeys. for a great opportunity to build community support and share all the awe- Remember, creating a Maksome things you have planned. Search erspace is about nurturing a for projects tagged “makerspace” to culture of making and creativity, not about having a ton of fancy gadgets. Kids can get engaged with cardboard, scissors, glue and markers just as easily as with a 3D printer. At the same time, never let a lack of money hold you back from providing your students with the exciting, innovative learning environment that they deserve. It may take a little bit of extra elbow grease at first, but the end results will be worth it.
“DonorsChoose. org is definitely one of the best resources out there”
The Scanner is the newsletter of ISTE's Librarians Network, a group of school, public, and academic librarians working to promote the use of instructional technologies to enhance student learning. This newsletter will feature Librarians Network business items, professional development news, member article submissions, personal success stories, and links to great resources. We will be publishing 3 newsletters this year.
Newsletter Committee Shelley Friesen Katie Kotynski Larnette Snow Mary Carole Strother Jacqueline Liesch Elaine Lawrence Email: istelibrarians@gmail.com
Article Proposals Proposals for feature and short articles should be 100 words or less and submitted through a Google Doc form.
President Donna Macdonald Teacher Librarian and Technology Integrationist Orchard School South Burlington, VT
Communications Chair Jennifer Hanson Librarian Primary Source Brighton, MA
Past President Tiffany Whitehead Teacher-Librarian Central Middle School Greenwell Springs, LA
President Elect Sherry Gick Library & Instructional Technology Specialist Rossville Consolidated Schools Rossville, IN
Professional Development Chair Elissa Malespina Supervisor of Technology South Orange, NJ
Newsletter Editor Shelley Friesen Instructional Coach Golden Hills School Division Strathmore, AB, Canada