Podcasts

Podcasts have been around for a while, but I personally don't have a lot of experience with them. I have listened to a few for different assignments over the years, but that's about it. There are many educational podcasts that would be great to use in the classroom or library. For this assignment, I explored a few popular options for creating podcasts. 

Soundcloud

SoundCloud was easy to sign up for. I did have to verify my email account to get started with uploading. There was the option to sign in with Google, which may have been quicker. It gave me the option to upload up to 180 minutes on the free plan.  There are paid options that give you an ad-free experience and the ability to save tracks offline. 

Audioboom

Audioboom doesn't seem to have a free option for podcasters. I started out by downloading the app and recorded my podcast on there. When I tried to publish it, I was told that you can't publish without upgrading. I was a little worried, but when I visited the site, I saw that I could share my podcast on Facebook or Twitter and embed it on my blog. Using it through the app was super simple. 

Podomatic

This was my least favorite of the podcast sites. It didn't seem to be as user-friendly when it came to recording. It does have an app available which simplifies the uploading process if you record using your phone. 

Here is the podcast that I created using Audioboom. One of the elementary libraries in my district recorded a different person reading a bedtime story each night for National Young Reader's Week. I decided to jump on board and read Pig the Pug. 

Cartoons & Comics

Comics are a great way to enhance learning in the classroom or library. You can use them for instructional purposes, to create fun reminders, or even tell jokes. Students can also use them as a creative way to express what they have learned. 

Toondoo

In all honesty, I struggled with this one. There were so many options, that it was a bit overwhelming. I would get an idea of what I wanted to create but couldn't find all the clip art needed, or manipulate the characters in the way I needed. I did find that you can change the expressions of some characters, but there weren't many possibilities. Once I finally finished my comic, I couldn't find a way to save it to my computer. It only allows you to save your comic on the site. I used a snipping tool to capture and crop the screenshot of the comic. 

Pixton

I found Pixton to be much more user-friendly. There are numerous content-related templates that would be a wonderful tool for teachers to create comics for the classroom. I chose to start a comic from scratch. I felt like this was much easier to use than ToonDoo. I liked that I could change the facial expressions and manipulate the characters' body. There were a lot of options to choose from. I also liked that I could delete objects from the backgrounds. It did allow me to email the comic, but I couldn't print or download it without upgrading to a paid subscription.

MakeBeliefsComics

I like that you don't have to register for an account to create comics on this site. This site was the most simplified of the three that I explored. It had the least amount of backgrounds, characters, and props to choose from. It was difficult finding backgrounds and characters that made sense together. I think this site would be most appropriate for younger students. This was the only site that allowed me to save and print my comic. 

Overall, I think these sites would be great resources for teachers and students. These would be a great tool to use for students to creatively write. They can create a comic to summarize a scene from a book or identify key points. They could also create a comic to explain a math operation or steps in a scientific process. I would love to share these sites with my teachers during their planning meeting next six weeks so that they can start using them and allow their students to unleash their creativity. 

YouTube, Animoto, & QR Codes

YouTube

Channel 1: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos

• Video that is most helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezObVKkqOo
• Research can be difficult and frustrating if you don't know how to use the resources. This video is helpful because it teaches students how to use EBSCOHost. 

• Video that students will like the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4
• Who doesn't love their school mascot?!?! This fun video shows the school mascot exploring the library. 

Channel 2: https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos

• Video that is most helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJGWJsuSRRk
• This video teaches students how to use multiple resources including Destiny and Britannica. While it is geared towards a particular project, students can still apply this knowledge to other research and projects. 
• Video that students will like the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7RjsFNFRs
• Students will enjoy seeing new books available in the library. The music is catchy and upbeat, and the video is short enough to keep their attention. 

Channel 3: https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

• Video that is most helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esKCAk_t6v0
• Financial aid is important to all students nearing graduation. This video will help students understand the various ways that they can get money for college. 
• Video that students will like the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJGWJsuSRRk
• Students always enjoy seeing themselves and their classmates acting silly. 

Channel 4: https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos?disable_polymer=1

• Video that is most helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T-QyQMS8H4
• This is a great video, because it introduces students to the media center and teaches them how to use it. 
• Video that students will like the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivht6CPe1Ek
• This channel has a lot of great parodies that I'm sure students will love. I picked this as my favorite because Star Wars is so popular right now. 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIpc4Hnj_HU This is a great musical parody by the same channel.

If your school blocks YouTube, don't fret. Here are some great alternatives: https://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/alternatives-to-youtube.html

YouTube videos are a great way to promote the library through book trailers, parodies, and videos of student activities. It is also a great teaching tool to help students understand how to use the online catalog, research databases, and more. 

Animoto

Animoto is a great site/app that allows teachers and students to create videos with photos, text, and music. There is a free subscription, but you can also pay to upgrade your account and access more features. Teachers can sign up for a free Educator's Account, which will allow you to create longer videos. 

Here is an example of a book trailer I created: https://animoto.com/play/UoxFRi8z6P48BmXbEU3Xmw

Synopsis: Rose Howard has OCD, Asperger's syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog Rose's father brought home. Rose and Rain are practically inseparable. And they are often home alone, as Rose's father spends most evenings at a bar, and doesn't have much patience for his special-needs daughter.

Just as a storm hits town, Rain goes missing. Rose's father shouldn't have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. Rose will find Rain, but so will Rain's original owners.

Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told from Rose's point of view.

Use your QR reader to quickly access the book trailer for Rain Reign. 

QR Codes

QR codes can be used in a variety of ways both in and out of the classroom. 

• It is an easy way to direct students to a website without having to type in a long URL. 
• You can also create self checking task cards for student centers or enrichment. 
• You can print posters with QR codes to direct students to book trailers.
• QR codes can be used with Breakout EDU games to direct students to necessary information. 
• QR codes can be used to create classroom scavenger hunts.