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Tech Tip Tuesday...a day late: iPad Tips and Tricks for Teachers

I am guilty of taking for granted all the tips and tricks I pick up for my iPad.  Sometimes I accidentally figure out how to do something.  Other times I'll stumble upon a tip on Twitter or Facebook.  Then there are the times I actually seek out help!  I know....you all think I just know these things.  I don't...I'm just really good at faking it and/or keeping one step ahead of your questions! LOL

The iPad is an amazing TOOL: a tool in which we have yet to truly tap its potential for productivity, for teaching, and for interactive classrooms.  I would be lost trying to run my day in the library and around the school without my iPad.

So, today's Tech Tip Tuesday post is all about helping you discover a few tricks you will be glad to know.

First, I want to point you to TechSupportAlert.com's article: Tech Support Alert - The Best iPad Tips and Tricks (Updated for iOS 7).

Novice to Nearly-an-Expert, you might just find something useful here.  Be sure to click on the index button and find your favorite tip of the day.

Such as "How to Read a Webpage with Safari Reader"

While you read a web page in a browser, you can either double tap or stretch a page to enlarge the size for ease of reading.  Safari browser takes a step further by taking the ads or other clutter out of a web page. It automatically detects a web page with substantial text, such as online articles, and presents you with a Reader button at the left end of the address field.  Tap the Reader button when it appears and you can read or even email the articles in a clean layout without ads or other distractions, re-tap the button and you're back to the original page.

For more tips and tricks, check out my PearlTree collection.  (And yes, you can expect a future post on what the heck a PearlTree is as it is my FAVORITE website tool!!)



 


Stay tuned for more interesting (hopefully!) blog entries as I begin my 20 Day Blogging Challenge!!

20 Day Blog Challenge - Librarian Version!!

If you are like me, you have LOTS to share with the world.  You crave collaboration with others in your professional realm.  You look forward to sharing and hearing back from others on their own experiences.  With all of that, blogging should be easy, right??

Here is my hang up...I get it in my head that each post should be BIG, meaningful, Earth-shattering, and amazing.  I start planning in my head what I'll write, what resources I'll share, and how it will be a post worth the hours to compose.  Then reality hits, and I don't make the time to write.

So, thanks to Kelly Hines at "In the Trenches" and her 20-day Blog Challenge she shared on Techformers Unite facebook page, I am ready to do this thing!!

I did create my own 20-day Challenge - Librarian Version in hopes that it will help me keep moving forward. I will be flexible, focused, and interesting....ok, can't promise that last one, but I will do my best!  The list and you guys will help hold me accountable!  Because, if I know someone is actually reading this, I'll have to write so as not to let down my readers! LOL

Wish me luck....better yet, join me!  Who's in?  Please share your blog below.  Let's inspire each other to take our professional development to a whole-new-level!

ISTE 13: My Delayed Ah-Ha Moment!!

This was my first trip to ISTE. I dreamed of attending ever since Maureen Brunner shared at an ILF (Indiana Library Federation) conference session 2 years ago. I literally felt myself drool at the possibility of being surrounded by educators who saw the wonder and potential in using technology as a tool to further our students' education. After watching two ISTE's come and go, I knew it was time to make things happen. After working on my husband for months, planning out how to make the trip as affordable as possible since my district was unable to send anyone, I finally won his support. I was bound for ISTE13 in beautiful San Antonio!!

I arrived early where I was able to participate in HackEd. I was not a stranger to unconferences as edCamps in Indiana are finally taking off. However, I was amazed at how many educators sincerely looking for ways to improve were all there. (More to share in a later post!)

The next day the conference officially kicked off. As someone who is NOT a fan of large crowds, I found myself distracted by the fact that I was surrounded by people that "get it"...and, even better, were friendly to boot! Sunday rolled into Monday and then Tuesday. By then I was still waiting for my "ah-ha" moment. Don't get me wrong. I was attending some great sessions, visiting numerous poster sessions with great ideas, and even sessions held by vendors that were well worth my time. Wednesday also was a great day, but by this point I was on information overload...in a good way. I had no direction yet a million ideas I wanted to share. (Again, more to come!!)

Leading up to the conference, many veteran attendees warned about the sheer-vastness of it all. The SIGMS (ISTE special interest group - media specialists)held a preconference webinar where the ladies all advised taking time to decompress and sort out what all you have learned. I did just that these last couple of days since coming home.

AND.....I HAD IT....MY AH-HA MOMENT AT LAST!!!


As I was mowing, racing the incoming huge gray rain clouds rolling in, I started mulling over all the ideas that I picked up from different sessions. Slowly, those pieces started coming together into an idea that I can run with starting NOW!


I shall become a Google-Form Goddess (or something like that)

Here are the problems I keep coming back to...all of which could be simplified with a google form!

Problem #1: Ironically, going 1:1 with iPads meant I used more paper than ever in the library. We need paperwork to track the ipad coming in. We need paperwork for when it needs to be repaired. We need paperwork when it needs to be charged overnight. Without paperwork, we quickly lost track of what needed to be done for each iPad. All of this while I was cheering teachers to "Go, Paperless, Go!!



Problem #2: I was having interns backlog ALL of that paperwork into a spreadsheet where I could tell if Joe Shmoe is having a reoccuring problem or if this is indeed the first time his profiles magically disappeared. We fell behind, embarrassingly so. Plus, the spreadsheet was unfocused and chaotic at best. It did not easily pull together into usable data. Much of this had to do with us learning what we needed to do for iPad support on the fly.

Problem #3: Many students would wait weeks before getting help or turning in a broken iPad. The number one reason: not enough time to stop by the library and fill out the paperwork. Some were too shy (been there, done that). Others were worried about being late to class. (Yes, some students actually do worry about this.) :-)

Problem #4: I encourage students to read and vote on the Eliot Rosewater novels. Their vote really does matter in choosing the award winning book! I make a special display every year, put voting slips in each book, and even track down kids who read the book but didn't submit the slip. This takes a lot of time, and I still do not get very many votes in despite how many kids read the book.

Problem #5: Keeping up with all the discipline referrals is not an easy task for my administrators. The forms we use currently are huge files that often lock up their emails. Each individual form then has to be documented on a separate spreadsheet or filed so that the various administrators can look at past history.

Problem #6: This is a "good" problem. I have LOTS of student interns that help through out the day. I also have many students that volunteer to help out with various projects in the library. However, when each day is a whirlwind, I find myself not taking advantage of this help. I have found out in the last week of the semester that one of my interns has a particular knack for organizing or creating awesome signage. By this point, it is too late to make use of these awesome skills.

What do all of these problems have in common?? Data collection! And a google form can do just that for me. Even better, it will collect the information and put it in a pretty organized form and even graph it!

So...I have had my first ah-ha moment, and I'm positive it will not be my last! Now to make it happen....who can help??  Have suggestions?

Reply below, contact me on Twitter @cybrarianjenn

Monitoring our Teens Online Behavior: Protecting their "digital tattoos"

When internet access was still fairly new and online access was limited (remember when dial-up was practically your only option?), police agencies and parent groups campaigned for families to monitor and restrict their children's access. Families were warned to keep the family computer out in a public area, know their children's passwords, and check in on their activity often. Community meetings were held, educating families on the dangers and how to protect our children.

Fast forward to today, where our preteens and teens have smart phones, gaming devices with internet access, laptops, and even school devices that give them the means to peruse the internet and social media unmonitored. Even when schools try to block access or parents put restriction codes on devices, our clever children find ways to get around these roadblocks. Parents express that they do not feel they have the understanding, or even more alarming, the "right" to control their children's access.

Then we have social media. Social media gives our children a platform to share, share, and share some more. When they have good news, they share. When they are bored, they share. When they are having fun and want to show how awesome they are, they share...even if it involves illegal activities.

I just perused through some Vine videos. I have heard people talking about it, and it sounded like fun. One parent even told me about her daughter's humorous posts. Some really were humorous and innocent. However, some posts I stumbled upon (no account necessary to see anyone and everyone's videos as this is a Twitter app) were like "really?!?" as they show off their cussing skills, or were reputation-damaging videos that ranged from highly suspicious (looked drunk, had alcohol or drug paraphernalia in background...to out-right-future-damaging evidence of demonstrating their ability to roll a joint, take shots straight out of the bottle, etc.

Side note: Vine is a Twitter app that is supposed to only be downloaded by 17+ as it has no rules against porn, illegal activities, etc.

Not all were that bad...but there were still concerning videos. One video had a teen recording himself talking to the camera (while driving) and then video taping something being held up in front of....wait for it....a don't text and drive air freshener. Hmm....message not received by what is otherwise a really great kid, and he wasn't the only one taping himself while driving.

What all this leads to is this: WE HAVE TO DO BETTER FOR OUR YOUTH!

Parents - MONITOR YOUR CHILDREN'S ONLINE ACTIVITY!! Adults, if you see something that would concern you as a parent, do something about it. Friends with their parents? Say something as simple as "Hey, did you see that video/post/picture? I was concerned for so-and-so's safety and thought you might want to know." Friends with the kid? Offer sound friendly advice or heads up that that video/post/pic can be seen by more than just their friends and can have ugly consequences. If it contains illegal activities, and especially if you work for schools, we have a professional duty to report what we see. Why? First, we are supposed to be looking out for the best interest of the child. Second, if that child ever does have something happen due to their online behavior/sharing, and it is found that we knew about it and didn't report it, we can lose our jobs.

Adults need to STOP turning a blind eye to this damaging behavior. We need to step up and educate our youth on how to behave socially responsible online. Even better, we need to DEMONSTRATE responsible behavior online.

What can I do? First, I have already starting talking with my 6 year old about what is appropriate and what isn't. How some things are private and shouldn't be shared with the world. Second, I need to step up my game at school, educating both staff and students how to be responsible for their "digital tattoo".

Resources:
http://www.netsmartz.org/
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
http://ciese.org/internetsafety.html

Book Review: Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King

Wishing For Someday Soon by Tiffany King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where do I begin? I now realize I have been reading way too many drama-filled, waiting-for-the-stuff-to-hit-the-fan books. Every time I turned the page, I waited for the bottom to fall out (which literally happened in their mother's car).

While the story lacked major drama on every page, what I did find was a heart-wrenching, anger-inducing story of a young girl doing everything she can to take care of her little brother, surviving her mother's wrath just to get them to their "someday soon" fantasy. How any parent can treat their children like personal slaves, beating them when the mood hits is beyond me, but I know this is the reality for some children and quite possibly some students in my own school.

Katelyn has mastered the art of laying low, keeping the "system" at bay for fear of being separated from her little brother. Having attended more schools than actual years going to school, this hasn't been hard. When she hits the tiny town of Four Corners, she finds she can no longer hide in a school that hasn't seen a new student in six years AND only has one small class per grade level.

Why 5 stars? I have a feeling this is going to be one of those stories that sticks with me. I also think this is a story my teens will love. Katelyn's perseverance and self sacrifice along with Max's determination to love and protect her combine with the majority of the characters refusing to let stereotypes define. I believe this will win over many readers wanting to see the good in this world. But....don't be fooled...things aren't all sunshine and lollipops.

Personal Connection: I had a student my very first year of teaching that started late, clearly tested well behind second grade peers (easily understood after seeing the number of schools already attended), and left after only a few weeks. Ten years later I became a librarian at a high school in a different town. I kid you not, I recognized the student the moment I saw her. I hadn't and still do not have any suspicions of abuse like Katelyn experiences in the story, but I wonder how many schools she has been to and whether she has discovered her "someday soon".

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Book Review: Beta by Rachel Cohn

Beta by Rachel Cohn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I picked up this book off of my TBR pile, not expecting much. I do find novels with cloning to be intriguing, and this particular twist with the souls of the "firsts" being extracted to keep the clone pure of any real emotions or memories was especially interesting.

I end up really enjoying this book. Without giving too much away, you can count on this teenage girl-clone not just sitting back and taking it.

We are left to wonder what exactly were the Water Wars, but perhaps there will be a prequel someday? You can definitely enjoy the storyline and anticipate what a possible clone revolution will bring without konwing those details.

Will I read the sequel? Absolutely can't wait!! While this novel is definitely giving you a set-up for an entire series, you can read this one alone and be satisfied with a great story.



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