Thing 17 - Connecting to Community: Explore Minnesota

Of all the apps listed for this Thing, the one I was most interested in was the Explore Minnesota app.  I was excited to see what kind of content was available at my fingertips as we travel around the state.  Instead I was very disappointed... I couldn't get anything to load on this app.  Not sure if it was just the day or what, but I tried it on my phone and the iPad and neither one would open up any of the various categories listed.  This will be an app that I keep on my device and check back later to see if I can get it to work.

I then picked the UpNorthExplorer.com app.  This app did work for me!  I can see this being a helpful app when traveling. It did seem like it was a bit limited as to what it offered me.  I would assume there are more shopping options, lodging, dining etc....

Thing 16 - Audio: Audioboo

For this Thing, I decided to try out Audioboo once again. This is another Web 2.0 tool that I had signed up for a long time ago, but had never tried on my iPad. This is a very easy app to use and could be used in a variety of ways in the classroom and in the media center. One of the most obvious ones might be to have students record book reviews for me. The Audioboo web version allows the creator to make a QR code for the "boo" that was just created. This would be a simple display idea that I could use throughout the library space. Another idea might be to have students create a "boo" with directions for various technology tools. My list continues to grow as I think about this fall, but most of the apps I am finding from this activity are ones that can be integrated into a variety of content areas in a variety of ways. Here is my Audioboo example:

listen to ‘QR Codes in the Classoom’ on Audioboo

Thing 15 - Infographics; Infographics Hub

Last year, I created a few infographics with various Web 2.0 tools, but I had not explored the world of infographics, so I was happy to try out the Infographics Hub app.  Here is what I discovered though..... it didn't work.  I tried it at home several times and went into school today and nothing would load?

I then switched to info.Graphic and it worked, but I can't say that I was overly impressed.  I thought the app ran very slow and I tried it in two different wi-fi locations.  I also don't love apps that have adds running across the bottom, but for the most part the ads seemed pretty tame.  A good educational use of this app might be just to have students explore the different infographics before creating their own.  These examples would show students the variety of possibilities for displaying their research on an infographic.  For the most part I think I will stick to the Web 2.0 tools like easel.ly or Piktochart which I have used in the past.

Here is the infographic that I found on info.Graphic which I thought I was interesting.

Thing 14 - Videos: Vine

For creating easy videos I decided to try the Vine app.  Once again this app has had a lot of buzz.  I had tried this once earlier this year and found it pretty easy to use.  The videos included on the 23 Mobile Things would have helped me be more successful earlier this year when I first tried the app.  Even with the limited video length of 6 seconds, I can see a variety of possibilities not only in the media center but in the classroom.

The video I created related to our summer reading program at our school.  Students are expected to read three books over the summer.  The video has the reading expectations and three books that I plan to read over the summer.  One idea I could see was having students create a video of what they read over the summer or the books they hope to read over the summer.  Our staff is always trying to find ways for students to share what they are reading and this seems like a simple fun idea.

Summer Reading Video

I could also see using this app for students to work on new vocabulary by finding images, words, objects, etc... that might help them define the word. Another idea might be to have students share background knowledge on a new topic by again videotaping images, words, objects, etc... that they already know and sharing that video with their peers.  Great app to integrate into the classroom!

Thing 13- Presentations: Haiku Deck

As Google continues to improve their products, Google presentations is still not a choice on the iPad.  Viewing the presentations is always in option, but editing it typically not an option.  Teachers and students in our school are always looking for a presentation option.  Haiku Deck seemed like an interesting choice for me to try.  One of the things I really like about this presentation app is that it limits the number of characters that can be used on any slide.  Too often students add more text than is necessary.  The ability to search for Creative Commons images is also a plus.  As we continue to teach students about what images can be used in their work this app can assist in that conversation with students.

I created this simple Haiku Deck presentation in a few short minutes.  The ability to share the final presentation is also a great feature.  This app will be added to my list for students and staff to explore and use in the fall!  I also think I could create reminders about what is going on in the media center, book reviews, contests, and book club promotions!

Thing 12- Books, Books, and More Books

The app I explored for this Thing was the YALSA Teen Book Finder.  This is one I have had on my devices in the past, but I had not used it a great deal.  The video you included on the page about the app was helpful.  I didn't realize that it would find the book for you in your area so it could by checked out.  I also had not explored the social media options within this app.  The lists it will provide for students is very helpful.  Too often I students come in asking for a good book, but not knowing what they have liked in the past.  This app could maybe assist me in helping me find books for them as well.  I could show them the list under a certain genre and say, "Have you read any of these titles?"  Then we could begin searching the stacks for the next book.
Again with our students having iPads and other devices that they bring to school, this is one more app that I can share with them to help them find great books to read.  This will be on my list for media center orientation as well.  Our homeroom program centers around reading, so this will be a good app to share with staff as they sometimes struggle to assist their homeroom students with finding good reading material!

Thing 11- Library & Reference: ELM Mobile

As we prepare for our students to get iPads this fall, this was a great find for me.  I wasn't aware that ELM came in a mobile form.  Currently I link the ELM sites on my school's website, and a few of the teachers in the building have students explore these sites.  I am not sure how often students are using these databases, but I think I will incorporate this site into my media center orientation this fall.  With the ability to make a homescreen button on the iPads, this will be a good button to have all students create.  Credible and accurate resources at students' fingertips will be a great service to provide for our middle school students.  In addition, I am working on creating various resources for teachers to explore this summer and adding this to the list will remind teachers of these great databases to have students integrate into their research.