Final Reflection

 This class certainly took me out of my comfort zone when it comes to technology.  I have always been a consumer of things like Instagram, or used other people's products in my classroom, but I have never really created my own.  I was proud of myself when I figured out how to embed something into my blog!  I was most excited for the cartoons and comics.  Although some were hard for me at first, I had a lot of fun making them and thought of all the ways I could use them in my classroom.  I was also excited about the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter assignment because I use these platforms all the time and thought it would be easy.  However, Instagram took me a while to figure out how to create videos and add music to them.  I have always looked at other people's but I never knew how much goes into creating them.  I learned a lot making my video and it turned out to be a lot of fun.  I will definitely use Instagram when I become a librarian.  

The most difficult apps for me were the screencasts and the podcasts.  For the screencast it was not hard to make but trying to share it was somewhat difficult.  While using Screencastify I had a very difficult time embedding my video into my blog and was frustrated with the program overall.  Screencast-o-matic was much easier to use and made me feel more confident using and sharing my videos.  The podcasts also took me a little bit to figure out.  I had to record the audio on my phone with the Podbean app and then sign into my account on the computer to post it to my blog.  I was able to figure it out but it took more steps than I wanted.  Also, I never could figure out how to get my voice and my partners pre-recorded voice on the same recording so ultimately I had to just record myself.  These two assignments were  difficult for me but I learned so much doing them.  

As a teacher I really think that the Animoto and the comics would be most beneficial to students.  I liked the Pixton app the best for comics.  These apps can be used in so many ways for students to show what they have learned.  I also think that they give students a way to be creative when sharing their thinking.  Animoto is easy to use and has templates to get you started which is perfect for students who may need a little more support.  Pixton is also a fun and easy to use app that allows students to create comics.  This app could be used by students to demonstrate something they have learned, share their creative writing, or even to teach social skills through comics.      

I used one of my favorite apps Animoto to create my digital story reflection.

Universal Design for Learning

 While looking at the guidelines for the Universal Design for Learning I was pleased to see that I already use many of these things in my classroom.  Optimizing individual choice has been a push in my school for the last few years and I have started to grow quite comfortable with it.  I have noticed that giving students choice in their learning gives them ownership and engages them.  I also activate or supply background knowledge especially when starting a new topic.  Many young students need to be exposed to pictures and videos that will help build their schema for new topics especially in science and social studies.  Using a K-W-L chart is one way that I can engage students and get their background knowledge going.  I think listening to each other also helps students because I often hear students say “I’ve seen that too” or “I’ve been there before”.  Sometimes they are not aware of the knowledge they already have.  

A guideline that I could use right now is developing self assessment and data.  I think that it is important for students to self reflect on their learning.  To take note of what went well and what didn’t when learning something new.  Also giving them the opportunity to create goals for themselves allows them to take control of their learning and engage them more often.  I think that this would also be a useful tool for students to see growth or lack of growth with their learning behaviors.  Students need to see what it is that is impeding their learning through behavior so that they may take the initiative to improve it. 

One of the guidelines that I like but would need some more support with would be using multiple tools for construction and composition.  I love the idea of having students show what they know using various modes of communication.  However, I think that this could be difficult for me with just the management piece of it.  How will I ensure that students are truly learning?  I would have to let go of some control to allow students to choose the mode that is best for them.  However, done correctly I think that this guideline would be powerful for student learning.  

I decided to learn more about how implementing Universal Design for Learning can benefit students with disabilities.  One of the greatest things about UDL is its goal to impact as many students as possible.  Long gone are the days when a student with disabilities only went to the library to check out a book and then later return it.  Now libraries are a place for research and exploration for our students with disabilities.  There is such a vast array of formats for all learners to use such as Talking Books, Braille Libraries, easy-to-read, and large print texts.  There are also various media such as DVD, audio, databases, digital catalogs, and indexes.  All of these make obtaining information something everyone has access to.  According to the article UD and UDL: Paving the Way Toward Inclusion and Independence in the School Library when librarians use the principles of UDL when planning resources for students to gather, interpret, and organize information this ensures that all students are able to access the information that they need.  The Oregon School Library organizes its research site by the categories: learn to research, find information, and cite my resources.  Each one of these categories reflects the UDL guidelines.  Students have access to multiple means of representation as well as engagement.  

        In the article Academic Libraries and the Principles of Universal Design for Learning Nall suggests that reference sections should be available in as many communication types as possible.  By offering text, chat, in-person, phone, etc. each student can choose the method that works best for them and how they process information.  When applying the UDL guidelines librarians can offer all of these choices and more to ensure that all students are getting the information that they need in a way that best suits their learning styles and needs.  “We are already putting in the effort to design our buildings, collections, services, and web pages. Considering the needs of the learning disabled will lead to a more welcoming and accessible library experience for all“. (Nall 2015).

Works Cited

Blue, Elfreda V., and Darra Pace. “UD and UDL: Paving the Way Toward Inclusion and Independence in the School Library.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 39, no. 3, 2011, pp. 48-55. EBSCO. Accessed 17 April 2022.

Gavigan, Karen, and Stephanie Kurtts. “AT. UD, and Thee: Using Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning in 21st Century Media Centers.” Library Media Connection, no. January/February, 2009, pp. 54-56. EBSCO. Accessed 17 April 2022.

Nall, Clark. “Academic Libraries and the Principles of Universal Design for Learning.” C&RL News, no. July/ August, 2015, pp. 374-375. EBSCO. Accessed 17 April 2022.

Podcasts

 Podbean

The podcast app that I am most familiar with is Podbean.  I first used this app over the summer when I had to create a podcast for another class.  I found this app easy to use and I was able to download it to my phone.  It is a free app that allows you to create podcasts as well as browse and listen to other podcasts.  They have sound effects that you can add to your podcast as well as a variety of background music.  The only thing that I was unable to do was add another voice to my podcast.  I was unable to add my partners recording to mine to make one podcast.  Therefore I had to record both of our parts myself.  There are many ways to share your podcast on social media, embedded into a blog, or shared by direct link.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is a free app that allows you to record up to 2 hours of audio each cycle for free.  This app had a few more bells and whistles like magic mastering which fixes the volume on your audio to make it uniform throughout the episode.  It also had something called dynamic content that allows you to record a set introduction to your episodes.  However, I could not figure out how to add it to my episode.  So I was unable to use it.  This app seems to be more for the serious podcaster.  It lets you design your own thumbnail with Canva and you can share your podcast with all the major podcasting apps and social media.

Audioboom

This app is not free.  It is $9.99 per month or $99 per year.  This app also seems to be more for the serious podcaster who has several podcasts they may be working on.  This app allows you to share with all the major podcast apps and social media.  You can also embed your podcasts into your blogs.  Audioboom allows more than one person to work on your episodes and includes the capability to add a cohost.  Because you are paying for this app you have an unlimited amount of podcasts.  This app is for someone who knows what they are doing in podcasts and wants to monetize their podcast.  

The app that my partner and I used was Podbean.  I recorded a podcast that we co-wrote about what an ideal elementary library looks like.  

Podcasts in the Library

Some benefits of podcasts for the library is that it is another way for librarians to get information out to their students.  I think that it would also be fun to allow students to use podcasting as a way to share what they are reading or what is going on with the library.  

Some challenges would be learning the ins and outs of using a podcast app.  Having the time to really work with and understand all of the tricks and tools on how to make a successful podcast is difficult.  Also, learning how to edit sound clips together was difficult for me and would require extra instruction.

Some librarian podcasts that I found were: 

American Libraries' Dewey Decibel Podcast- this one discusses hot-button library issues and plans.

Circulating Ideas- this podcast is on librarianship

Cyberpunk Librarian- a podcast about all things digital in the library.

The Librarian's Guide to Teaching- this podcast gives you teaching tips and ideas for the library.