Fall into the DHS Library

I know it has been awhile since my last post, but it has been a busy start to the year.  Blanca, Karen, and I have inherited a new position.  We are now the district lead librarians.  Our library director, Mendy, has moved to a different district.  We miss her terribly but know that she is in a better place for her and her family.  So now the 3 of us are not only running our library, but we are also supporting 15 other librarians.

To give you a glimpse of what has been happening at the DHS Library, here are our August/September 2015 and October 2015 library statistics.

I think our biggest fear is that with our new positions as "District Lead Librarians," we might neglect our own campus.  In looking at our statistics, I think that would almost be impossible.

In addition to sharing our stats, here are a few of our library decorations too.

Halloween 2015

Thanksgiving 2015

Fall 2015

Homecoming 2015

Veterans Day 2015

There is no denying that we struggle every day to balance what is on our plates, but doesn't everybody struggle with that? We still love what we do and really enjoy a library full of students. Now we have the added bonus of helping the other librarians in our district.


Thanks for stopping by!

Aurasma at the Art Show

I teamed up with the Art department a couple of weeks ago to learn more about Aurasma and augmented reality as they were preparing for the district art show. We had an amazing time, and I learned lots.

Here is where I need to give a big thank you to my husband, John Tahaney, for allowing me to take over his art classes to learn more about this web 2.0 tool.  He truly has the patience of a saint!

Why Aurasma?

Two years ago we debuted audio QR codes at the art show.  So anyone with the QR app on their smart device could hear students describe selected pieces of art.  Although the QR codes were successful and we could have done the same thing again, we decided it was time to learn something new and change things up.

After a discussion about augmented reality and its possibilities in one of our district library meetings, I decided to take the plunge.  I did a bit of research (OK, I Googled "augmented reality in the classroom"), and up popped one of my favorites, Kathy Schrock.  Her "Augmented Reality in the Classroom" page was amazing.  On the left side of her page under "Educational Ideas," the first 4 articles listed included Aurasma.  In addition, I follow a number of libraries on Instagram, and a couple of them have mentioned this particular app as well.  So I was sold.  After reading all that I could, I then turned to YouTube and searched Aurasma.  The best video I found was "Aurasma iPad tutorial app" by Steve Morgan.  It's over 5 minutes (which usually turns me off), but it was well worth it.

The Aurasma Project:

So the concept was to video the students explaining their art pieces. Then at the art show, anyone with the Aurasma app could open it, scan the selected art, and see/hear their videos.

Because Aurasma was relatively new for us, John Tahaney (the teacher of Art I, Pre-AP Art I, Art III, AP art, and yes, my husband) and I decided to narrow the project to just the AP Art students.

Set Up Before the Art Show:

Taking the videos, importing them into Aurasma, and then attaching them to the art work was the bulk of what we did before the art show.

• The first student I recorded was the main "guinea pig."  I went through the whole process of attaching the aura (video) to the trigger image (area of the art work that would illicit a response from the app), and viewed the finished work.  
• For a step by step process of creating an Aura for your poster, art piece, or selected work, I recommend Morgan's YouTube video, "Aurasma iPad tutorial app."
• I made the aura public which I thought would make it visible from any Aurasma app.  Come to find out, I have to create a "channel," dump all auras into that channel, and then ask all users to subscribe to that channel.  I missed that part in the video and had to Google it.  (Here is the article I read to help me...  How do people view my Auras? )

Setting up 2 generic Aurasma accounts: In order for Aurasma to work, the user has to establish an account and then make sure that he/she subscribes to the correct channel in order to see the Auras appear over the selected pieces of art.  To save time, I created two generic accounts and subscribed to the "Duncanville Art Show 2015" channel.  Then anyone using one of the generic usernames and passwords would already be set up.

Anticipating "tech" issues...  

• We trained 6 Art III students to help people who brought their own devices, and they ran the Tech Table during the Art Show. 
• We loaded the App onto a cart of iPads and checked them out to the AP students.
• We added the App to the bottom of the Art Show flyer so people could download it ahead of time.
• We printed labels with the Aurasma icon on them to identify which art pieces would work with the Aurasma App.  Then we attached those labels to the art.

        

Setting up a QR scavenger hunt: In addition to Aurasma, we did use the QR app.  We created a scavenger hunt where the participants had to scour the area for the 7 elements of design.  When they scanned all 7, they came back to the iPad station for a prize (which was candy).  The website I used for the QR codes was QR Code Generator.

During the Art Show:

At this point, it was mostly done.  We hung up the QR scavenger hunt right before the doors opened. I went around and checked out the iPads to the AP students.  Then everyone manned their stations, and the art show began.

Our Art III students ran the Tech table beautifully.  They didn't have too many customers though since all the AP students had their own iPad.  The AP students were able to show their audience the videos without having to download the app.

Things We Learned:

Start small and start early.  Although we narrowed down our pool of students, we still did not video everyone.  We forgot to schedule extra time for those students who were absent.  There were a few.

According to what I have seen and read, Aurasma does best when the student videos are 30 seconds or less...no problems there; I found that many of these art students were reluctant to stand in front of the camera anyway.  Therefore filming time took twice as long because I had to coax some of the students into doing the project.

There is no need for fancy equipment.  I used the camera on my iPad, and John used his camera on his iPhone.  The one thing I would have done differently is to shoot the video a little closer as many of the students were hard to hear.  Either that or I needed a microphone.

Make sure you have atleast 2 different Aurasma accounts.  One person to create the auras and make the channel, and one to subscribe to that channel to make sure the auras can be seen from a different device.

The Aurasma App is just not as well known as the QR App.  When we do this again, I would have additional "tech" students circulating the room with an iPad demonstrating the Aurasma app.  Then they would be able to help on the spot instead of directing people to a tech table.

Thanks for stopping by, and have an "Aurasma-tastic" day.

Why Are We So Tired?

Wow!  It's April!  All of the March testing (TAKS, TELPAS, & STAAR) didn't seem to slow us down much.  According to our March statistics, we still managed to see 205 classes, circulate 2000+ books, host 19 other meetings, see over 4000 students on passes, and solve 560 technology issues.  

Ok...now I know why I am tired!  I know why all 4 of us are tired!

In spite of our super busy schedule, we did manage to crank out a few new decorations...inspired by Pinterest, of course.

I did notice, however, that our grandiose plans to create our Makerspaces came to a screeching halt.  I guess we can't get it all done, even if there are 4 of us.  As we head to TLA next week, I am hoping to sit in on a few Makerspace sessions to renew my enthusiasm.  We always find something to inspire us at TLA.  Can't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!

Staff Development @ DHS

Ok..so we were a little behind in getting out our Staff Development schedule this semester, but it's ready now.

This year we sent out the staff survey at the beginning of the second semester, which begins for us after the MLK Holiday.  This is the 3rd year we sent out a survey (created in Google Forms), and we consistently try to keep it short...5 questions.

Our questions this year were

• What classes would you like to see the library offer your students?
• What classes would you like to see the library offer the staff?
• When can you attend training?
• I wish the library could help me with...
• Do you have any suggestions to make the library program stronger?

Only the first 3 were mandatory to answer.  The last two were optional.  Here were our results.  After we analyzed our results, here is the calendar we have created for Spring 2015.

At the TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) conference, we actually presented at the Library Academy about this very subject.  The name of our presentation was "Keep Calm and #learnanywhere." Here is a link to that presentation,  Enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Makerspace...Phase I

We are taking baby steps with our makerspaces.  Since the last blog entry, "It's all about the Makerspaces," we have re-purposed one area to make a project center in hopes that students who have products which require art supplies will utilize this resource.  It seems like such a small thing, but I feel good about this change and also with the direction in which we are going.

Here is what we did for phase 1...

Instead of using the magazine shelves to store our supplies, as we mentioned in the last blog entry, 

we took out that set of shelves entirely.  That really seemed to open up the space.

After having maintenance move our magazine shelves to the back storage, we had to move the juvenile section because that is the space we decided to use for our art supplies.  

So we shifted the juvenile section to a set of shelves that were actually empty in the back of our library.  Now our makerspace for school-related projects looks like this...

We are planning to add more supplies as needed, but you have to start somewhere.  Having said that, here is our list of starter supplies...

Construction paper

Manila paper

Markers

Crayons

Pencils

Glue

Glue sticks

Staplers

Post it notes

Things we can add right away are notebook paper (which the students still ask for), rulers, and white copy paper.  After that, we will just see what the students request.

In order to keep the area in good shape for all to use, we did post our norms in a couple of different places around the area.

Of course we also made a sign to signify the purpose of the area and to advertise...

We debated on whether we should start making morning announcements to advertise but decided that the space really couldn't accommodate a large number of students just yet.  So we are advertising by word-of-mouth.  We haven't had too many takers yet, but our second semester has just started.  Give it time!

Now we focus on phase 2 of our makerspaces...the student production room.  We have pulled out the desktop computers since we have closed off that area completely.  As mentioned in the previous makerspace blog, this is the area we want to outfit with a few comfy chairs, our ipads, and the video production area.  In addition, we just received permission to paint one of the walls in that room with chalkboard paint so the students have a creation/brainstorming area.  We contemplated dry erase paint, but we decided chalk was cheaper and wouldn't "walk  away" from the area the way dry erase markers would.

Our progress with phase 2 has just come to a screeching halt due to the Junior English research.  Not that we mind because we all enjoy co-teaching the research classes and helping the students.  In addition to the research, we also have TCEA next week.  So phase 2 will have to simmer on the back burner for awhile.  Can't wait to see how the giant chalkboard turns out!

Thanks for stopping by!

It's all about the Makerspace

We decided to jump on the Makerspace bandwagon.  We have read numerous articles on the movement (click here for Pinterest board on Makerspace Ideas) and attended a couple of conference sessions too.  As I read these articles and attend sessions, I am able to picture the end result, and it looks fabulous.  Getting there is another thing.  Where do you start?

Blanca, Karen, and I have been discussing this idea since August after Blanca visited the Grand Prairie Public Library.  Then in November, we had a visit from one of our top administrators talking about this "radical idea"he saw at a conference.  He began  describing the various "stations" in the library with legos, tools, craft supplies, etc.  All three of us responded with "the Makerspace Movement." So after that we decided to sit down and figure this out.

I will be the first to admit that we have yet to figure it all out, but one does have to start somewhere.   Here are a few things we have already learned on our Makerspace journey.

My advice at the beginning is to read as much as you can and decide where you want to start.  Do you want a passive makerspace area where students can work on projects assigned to them?  If so, what types of supplies should your provide? Do you want to host workshops using your Makerspace area? If so, what types of products are you envisioning? I know this sounds very elementary, but it helps to drive your budget.

We decided to then analyze the budget and purchase what we could.  We went in 2 different directions.  We bought a lot of craft type consumables like duct tape, markers, crayons, glue sticks, paints, paper, and glitter which we bought through Office Depot & Every Season.  Then we bought board games like Battleship, Connect Four, Sorry, Boggle, and 3 giant games....Connect Four, Checkers, and Jenga.

Why board games you ask?  What does that have to do with the Makerspace movement?  When we attended the TLA (Texas Library Association) conference 2 years ago, there was a conference within the conference called TT4L (Texas Teens 4 Libraries).  We were able to take our Book Club students to this event because it was in Ft. Worth.  During the Teen Makerspace time, the moderators put out all of these stations.... a photo booth, a 3D printer, circuit boards, games, a jewelry making station, and a soldering workstation.  We watched  how engaged the teens were with these giant games (as well as the other stations), and that is how we decided to include the board games.

Our next step... where to put our Makerspaces?  After scoping out our options, we decided to start small.  We have a student production room that has 4 computers and a video production studio which is in the process of being installed.

We decided to pull the desktop computers out, and we plan to put a couple of tables or maybe some more comfortable furniture in there; we are not sure.  We have an iPad lab that we plan to keep in there along with the the video studio in hopes to make the area more flexible to fit the needs of our students.

In addition to the production studio room, we have a rarely used magazine rack that we also plan to use for our passive Makerspace supplies.  We decided to place the magazines and comics in a more visible place so the students will discover them...

...which frees up the area for a crafts Makerspace.  As classes or small groups come into the library to work on a project, we will now have an area for them to physically create.  It's about more than just providing databases, print resources, computers and printers. We also need to think about those assignments that are more crafty in nature; not all teachers ask students to design digital products for every assignment.  We want to be there for our students when the product assigned is a poster, scrap book, or sculpture.  As many of our students do not have printers or computers at home, it it also true that they lack many common supplies like crayons, construction paper, markers, glue, paper, etc. We know this to be true because our students ask to use these supplies all the time.  So why not stage a DIY station to help out.

More on Makerspaces soon!  Thanks for stopping by.