Showing posts with label interactive website. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interactive website. Show all posts

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Commonlit.com

   Commonlit.org is an online library of free literature and Informational texts. Teachers can quickly locate a passage that fits with a lesson for students can read and answer comprehension questions. This can follow with discussion in small or large groups.
      Teachers can select by grade level, genre, literacy device or theme. These are mostly short pieces which comes from classic works, writing that has been  in other publications, and short works that have been donated by authors; Each text has a summary about the author and the piece. There are text dependent questions and also a readability factor to adjust font size.
    Also available are related media, audio and video clips which go along with the text. There are parent guides. For teachers there is the option to create classes and track learners. It seems that this site is full of interesting items that I feel it might be very helpful for teachers.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Using Elink


 I am using Elink for my project pathfinders. I had used Livebinders to do this previously but am at my limit for my free subscription. So I needed to find another way to curate a series of web links for students to put on the library page.
 Elink is a visual collection of web links, I find it very useful when students are researching topics for their projects.  If I know the topics the teachers are having students do investigation’s on , then I will be able to find relevant & accurate  links for them to pull from.
  Students can use the websites in the elink pathfinder  and they will have a quick easy way to find accurate information quickly.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Smithsonian Learning Lab

Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free resources of digital resources. There are more than a million images, recordings, and texts for use by students and teachers, or anyone who wants to investigate digital sources.   The SLL is designed for discovery, creativity and  sharing. There are more than one million images, recordings, and texts. Search results display pictures that you can click on.  you can add notes, tag questions , save and share.

The learning lab helps build critical skills by having students  select , organizing and create new resources.  Enter a subject that interest you  in the search bar. Keywords can be from broad to specific/ Search results in an image grid but can also be changed to a list view.
There are resources and learning lab collections tabs at the top.  resources can be individual or a group. A curated group of resources will be a collection or resources.

  There are icons to help you distinguish between images, video, audio, and text, There are also learning resources( lessons , games, interactive online exhibition websites.
  users can collect resources, save them to favorites and also share resources with co- workers and colleagues.

https://learninglab.si.edu/

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Symbaloo- Tech tool

Symbaloo  is an exciting tool to use - either with students or as an organizing tool for much used items It helps you organized the internet so you can find  and share resources!

   You build a webpage by first creating the title and then you can personalize with colors of your choice.You can add new sources- even articles  I think and radio stations. You chose a title , pick a color , and then up load a link I am just learning , but if you haven't seen this  it really is cool. And it is not to hard to learn.

This become a webmix. You can also search in the gallery for other webmixes that have already been done. Theses are very helpful and you can find lots of interesting links that way'

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Great Website for digital media- Middle & High School

     I am using Nsteens  in my Information Literacy classes . Actually what I did was put up several links to some of the items on this site on my Google classroom for the students to do - some as part of a class activity when we were in the computer lab, and some to do when they were done with their assigned work.

    Anyway , the students  seem to think that this is a very cool site .  They enjoy and go back to several of the games.   The purpose of NS Teens  is to make students aware of the issues  about using different internet sources , internet safety, & social media.   The programs are designed to think about what are posting and doing online.  Hopefully they will stop and think about  what they are doing  online and if it inappropriate.

   Along the top of them main page you will see the different items available!
 First there are videos related to  digital citizenship. Here is a quick listing of just a few: Friend or Fake, Gaming, Cyberbullying, & Post to be Private.

   Another Tab is Games, which my students thoroughly enjoyed.  Website Warrior and Password Plunder were on my google classroom and many students return to Website Warrior  again and again.

  The Quizzes  tab has 4 quizzes- the first was completed by my students but  some of the wording was confusing to them.  There were two comic strips , my students viewed one.  The remaining tab is biographies on all the characters throughout the different  programs.

  

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Read Any Book-

   Readanybook.com  is a free site where visitors can read  online for free.   There are many different genres of books: children's, western, mystery, historical fiction, classics, and thrillers to name a few.

 You need to  create a free account to access the books.  Registered users can also recommend and add books to the  readanybook.com

  Also included in this site articles and  genre links.   On the main page you can see featured books and read a preview , download the book in various formats, and vote on the book read.  If you are a reader who like to read online , check this out .


http://www.readanybook.com/

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Gnooks- Discover New Authors

  Gnooks is a community bases system of the gnod engine.  On this site you can discover new authors , discuss your favorites and learn new titles that are similar to your favorites.

  The gnod engine also provides similar links to music, movies, and art.

  There is a search block for Gnods suggestions when you can impute your favorite authors. The site will give you a list of  suggestions of authors and titles to try.

   Under the "Map Of Literature" block you can type in an author. The site pulls up a 'wordle" of authors that write similar styles to your favorite.  The closer the name is to your favorite the more similar they are to the style and genre. When you click on an author it takes you to another 'wordle" of authors.

  The literature forum gets you into a discussion of a certain author and their works  The latest discussions are listing on the right hand side of the main screen.

  If you want to participate in all the functions of the site you need to be registered and logged in. They use Florke as the systems that provides members with the discussion community.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Open Library

     OpenLibrary.com  is an editable library catalog. Their goal is to have a pager for each book published.  Visitors can contribute new information or make corrections.

  One can browse by subject or author. To date there is over 20 Million records and  growing. There are links to  read free ebooks which can be read from whatever form of computer or ereader you have.  There are also links to borrow books on your device. This is a great Internet  archive..

  There us a daisy format  that provides talking books ( Library of congress national service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped)  Open Library also suggests where the physical book can be purchased.
   I like to click on the lists tab because it fives some very interesting topic book lists. If you sign up amd make an account , there are many ways to help the open library cause and continue to grow their collection.

  Some of a things you can do on Open Library : read, borrow up to 5 titles for 2 weeks, with 1000
 librarians participating.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Libraries are Technology Hubs

  Public Libraries are the technology hubs form most communities, large and small.  Libraries offer public computers for use by patrons and visitors.  Nearly all public libraries offer  Internet access. Some also offer wireless access.  There are still many who do not have these services at work or home.

  Of course, many public libraries have computer training classes and  computer assistance on a range of topics ( general computer skills, searching  skills and resources, software instruction, data base instruction and career  building classes)

  Using technology, libraries provide access to almost unlimited information to patrons seeking answers.  Because the information is online, the  resources can be accessed anytime of day or night.

  Many libraries provide one on one training. Patrons can find information , download audio books , and reserve / renew books on line, or maybe even take a class.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Ixquick.com

    Ixquick.com  is another powerful and personal search engine. One of their advantages is that they do not collect or share your personal information.   Their search results claim is that  they have more comprehensive and more accurate search results than the other major  search engines. This also includes an advanced search  tool.  There is also an international phone directory and for fun a video search.

  When you use Ixquick, you are using  many popular search engines combined. These cover more of the internet than any one search engine combined.    On a search you will see stars *- If you see 5 stars that indicates that 5 search engines agreed on the results of the search.  You can be assured of the most accurate information and results.

  Ixqucikc sends your search topic only to search engines that can handle that specific search,
You can search Izquick in 18 languages. The seraph can include local and international results. You can include local and international results.   You can also find national and international business. n There is also a reverse look for phone numbers. Another plus using Ixquick, that on the tool bar you can us the magnify button to enlarge or reduce any web page.

 So check it out and see if you like using Ixquick!


Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Duck Duck Go

  You know Goggle, Bing, and Yahoo for search engines. But do you know Duck Duck Go?
 ( DuckDuckgo,com )

    Duck duck go has search results that provide quality web sties related to the search topic. It has a quick response and  sponsored links are clearly labeled. The screen design is clear,

  The results are focused and not complex to this is perfect for children and people just getting started in surfing  the  web.   Duck Duck go [provides quick answers from online sources.

 It also has a no tracking policy . They do not collect or share personal  information . There are many keyboard short cuts. So you may want to try it and see how you like it!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Library 2.0

  The library of today is all about library users.  We want to keep the patrons we have  that use our service. But an important goal is to actually seek out those who do not use libraries and it services and attract to show all we can do.

  So we , as librarians, and staff, need to embrace new ideas and technologies that will help us deliver services and involve more users.  What are these new technology's? Many we have discussed here in this blog in the past. They are also found on other blogs and websites.

  Just a few we have yet to explore here : tagging, library catalog 2.0, My space, virtual worlds , and library 2.0.

As I do more research, I will try to  give a review/  summary and let you in on what I am learning. similarly  if you find something great , post a comment here to share!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Bookish

    The slogan for Bookish is Discover More Books!  And you really can on this easy to use site- another Social Media site for Book lovers!

     Type in a book you love and you can get recommendations for other books that you will like to read.   Search for your favorite authors and favorite books.  Read book related articles, exclusive reading list, and video interviews.

     On this site you can also find and search by  genres s, There is a pull down tab with many genres.
You can also discover the newest release on this site.   Also sign  up for their Newsletter which is free and delivered to you email.

     Look at their list of BESTS and read samples of some of the newest books, This site is also a place where you can link purchasing the books that  you want to read.

     I like to browse through and see what are the newest items  that have been published.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Bookspot.com

  Here is another 'social media' site for book lovers. I am having so much fun discovering all these different yet interesting sites where book lovers, librarians, and  readers can meet and find out about new books.

  This is a free resource that helps the reader search for book related content. When you get to BookSpot you will see a listing of main pages on the left hand side. The top sources for best sellers has main list and also has listing by genre, including audio books, Christin, and children just to name a few..

There is a listing of major awards which is helpful for librarians wanting the best for their patrons and libraries.

  The Book Review tab shows magazines which have book review, including NY times, booklist, and Horn Book , just to name a few. This is very convenient for the busy librarian. ( I wonder if there are any that are not!)

  Under reading lists you can find top sources of reading lists and also a "if you liked" section, which is great for readers looking for similar books.

  Another great section for  both librarians is the section on the side called "Behind the book: . This is a very helpful page . One tab is the Book Discussion center. There you can find links to online discussion, publishers guides to books,  and tips for reading groups.  There are also links to discussion guides for a nice selection of books, both current and older titles.

   A great guide for school librarians can be found under Children, and Young Adult in the Genre Corner. There are links to best sellers, reading lists, awards, reviews, and online books .

  The main page has links to other book related sites, lists for librarians and readers, and recent book awards and questions with answers about books.

   So check out BookSpot.com for some really interesting content  and ideas about books!

http://www.bookspot.com/http://www.bookspot.com/

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Library Thing

    Do you know Library Thing?  If you don't then it's time to check it out.  Library thing is a cataloging and social network site for book lovers.

   Library Thing can help you do lots of things if you are a book lover. You can enter books you own, books you have read, books you want to read, or create / join a group .

    You can contribute reviews, ratings of books, and add or create tags for books. Participate in members  forums.   Library Thing connects people based on book genres, It is almost like an online book club.

    Library Thing and its members provide recommendations for books.  Type in a titles and you can find  which members have read a book and what they think of it.  If you are ready, you can even go on links and have book conversations.

    If you want to 'talk' there is a page that lists all the groups that cover books or topics you may be interested in, When you talk you can read what others think and also post you what you think about the books or topics.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

What should libraries look like today?

    Visualize your up to date library. What should it look like?   You are probably part way there already.   There should be a lot of activity  virtually .  Most , but not all, library activity is online with resources and activities on websites and databases.   In schools and public library, there is a lot of focus on extending physical offerings to being online.

   So here is what I am thinking-  you see patrons and students using the computers or lap tops or Ipads to search the web , use databases, read eBooks, work together on projects,  use the library website to search for books use social media to connect with other, look at online lessons and tutorials.

  Of course you know that I have been blogging about so many websites, blog, and web 2.0 tools  that you can show students , and encourage them also  use all the library has to offer.

  As a librarian , it is your job to make sure the student and patron have the resources that they need and want to use.  Fight for the students and the patrons so they can have the most  up to date

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Why should librarians teach technology?

  As librarians, public, academic, and school, we need to be teaching technology. Will that be taking away of our love of books?  No way- it should enhance our love of books, reading, and learning!

  Technology is changing the roles and responsibility's of librarians. Librarians need to be information literate are and then they need to up to speed on the new technology. Why? Because that is the way the world is going and we need to go with it. We need to help patrons know about how to keep up with all of the newest technology and how to get the latest information.  There are a variety of formats that knowledge and information come in.  We want to help all generations be effective users of ideas and information,
 
 Librarians are a place now of not just print materials, they are filled with electronic mediums that give up to date and accurate information.   Students and 20-30 somethings often prefer getting their information and recreation from non- print sources. you can tell by just watching as they walk around with their phones, tablets, and ipads

Monday, August 19, 2013

Best websites for teaching and learning- how do you choose?

     Librarians are asked constantly for recommendation of the best website for teachers to use with students.  When keeping up with the newest sites this is the place to go . A great source that will save you time and effort is the AASL( American Association of School Librarians) site which names the top 25!
  
   I found this awhile ago  and would like to explore each and every tech tool. So far I have done a few but not all..  The site provides descriptions and learning standards in 6 different categories. You can easily find formats and tools that will help students build and expand their knowledge and provide engaging ways to increase the desire to learn.
   The curriculum collaboration section  helps when teachers ask about content websites.  There are lists of past years best sites , so all in all this is a great place to bookmark , refer to, and dive in to each site to see how it will be useful to your students and teachers.



.http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-websites/2013


  Actually , if you have never explored  AASL there is a lot of information here that  you may find very helpful. So check out this site  to find some great internet tools and resources.!!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wired Wednesday - Techology Tools

       Paige Jaeger is the School Library Coordinator for WSWHE BOCES , NY.. which covers many counties.  This is a huge area!  She  is the author of librarydoor.Blogspot.com  which is a great place to learn about the most current issues of school librarians.
      You will find this site that she has hosted to have a wealth of information  and ideas on advocacy for school librarians. 
  Currently  there is an inforgraph that would be helpful for showing all the different tasks and activities that school librarians do on a daily basis.  There are posts on Common Core and Information Literacy. Other posts discuss readability, reading levels, and complexity of text. There are charts and graphs on measuring reading.
      There are blog posts that discuss the need for research as it helps students build and share new knowledge. Also you will find links to Paige's books and articles. Some are direct links to the  actual articles that she has had published in library journals.  
   Check her link to Scoop it- they are very interesting!!   So check out this blog to keep up to date and learn something new!



librarydoor.blogspot.com