"The adoption of mobile technology alters the traditional relationships between libraries and their users" (Vollmer, 2010).
This quote from Timothy Vollmer's article Libraries and Mobile Technology: An Introduction to Public Policy Considerations, June 2010, really made me think about the future role of librarians. "Research suggests that in 2009 there were nearly 250 million wireless data-capable devices in use in the United States. There were 4.6 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide which represents two thirds of the world's population" (Vollmer, 2010).
Last year was the first year we allowed students to use iPads/tablets in the classroom. Students bring their own device and they are used strictly for reading during SSR time. Smartphones and iPods are not allowed. Next year with our 1:1 initiative, students will have their own MacBook Air and a whole new world of of educational technology will open up to our school district. This week's blog assignment has helped me feel more prepared to use the laptops and to suggest apps and lessons that teachers can use.
Accelerated Reader is a major part of the reading program at my school. The first app I will suggest the students download on their new laptops or on their iPads/tablets will be the A.R. Student App located at http://www.renlearn.com/ar/mobile.aspx . This app will allow students to take A.R. tests at their seats eliminating the need for signing up for the class desktop. Students can also look up books to find out the reading levels and points.
I currently do not have a way to circulate eBooks and honestly have not researched any information on their use in schools until recently. At a district librarian's meeting, the librarians discussed, at the request of our technology director, considering a new circulation system. One of the features of this new system is eBook circulation. I know eBooks are on the way. I am so excited about the eBook app I found called Brain Hive http://www.brainhive.com/Pages/Home.aspx . Brain Hive is a site for K-12 libraries who would like to have access to a large collection of eBooks that you can circulate with no upfront cost. Students can pay one dollar per checkout. It has a great informational video at http://www.brainhive.com/Pages/Video.aspx. It looks like it will be librarian friendly and students can create book lists or start book clubs. I highly recommend looking at this app if you are considering eBooks. I can't wait to share this app with the other librarians in my district. I also found a child friendly eBook app called MeeGenius http://www.meegenius.com . It has special school and library accounts available. MeeGenius is very colorful and will appeal to younger students.
USA Factbook https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/usa-factbook-free/id305888083 is a free app by ADS Software Group, Inc. it is available for download at iTunes. It features facts and descriptions for all fifty states and basic facts about the country. It has good customer ratings. I can use this app with my research unit on the Fifty States. In the past, I used traditional encyclopedias with this unit. I will now add this app to my lesson plan in addition to the traditional resources.
The social studies teachers at my school will love History: Maps of the World App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-maps-of-world/id303282377 by Seungbin Cho. Our teachers teach the Western Hemisphere and come to the library frequently for research projects. This app provides 178 historical maps along with current maps. It can show students how boarders have changed over time.
I liked Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day Blog that I found on Google Reader http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/03/21/nice-ipad-resources/ . His Nice - iPad Resources has good pros and cons for iPad use in the classroom.
Resources:
Vollmer, Timothy. (2010). "Libraries and Mobile Technology: An Introduction to Public Policy
Considerations". ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, 3. Retrieved
April 25, 2013 from www.ala.org.catalog.wblib.org/offices/sites/ala.org.offices/files/
content/oitp/publications/policybriefs/mobiledevices.pdf
Great post! I bookmarked a lot of your app suggestions! I think the A.R. app is very neat! I also like the Brain Hive app. eBooks are definitely on the way and this app would be very useful! Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteWhen I started my teaching career over 13 years ago, A.R. was a VERY big deal! We currently do not use A.R. in my district and I think it is greatly missed. It was a GREAT way to motivate students to read and a great tool for teachers to ensure they were comprehending the books they read. I also am glad that you shared the meegenius app. My 1st grader really struggles with reading and I think he will enjoy using this app. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteJeanne
I love your mention of Brain Hive. EBooks are definitely a hot topic and our libraries need something to keep them current in the technology age. Wouldn't it be nice if you had Kindles and limitless eBooks? I also like the app USA Factbook. Learning the states are very hard to do, but using a friendly app can make that a much easier task. Thanks, Suzanne
ReplyDeleteI have the AR app loaded on all three on my iPads- plus4 computers! It's great when everyone in the class needs to take a test on a story we read- I can have 7 people taking a test at once! My district offers some ebooks for students for free- they can access them through our destiny site. I'm not 100% sure where the orginialy came from! There are only a few hundred avaliable so far, and they are not the most populat ones! However, the Brain Hice site is definitely something to look in to!
ReplyDelete