CARTOONS AND COMICS

Having students use cartoons and comics is a great way to interest them in lessons.  The following are three great sites I visited where cartoons can be created for use in the classroom:

ToonDoo

ToonDoo states that their site is the fastest way to create cartoons in the world.  True to their promise, it is fast, fun and easy to create a cartoon using ToonDoo.  Their site is easy to navigate.  Their menu consists of seven choices, followed my several submenus.  The submenus are easy to utilize.  For example the menu choice Toons offers many submenus like Create Toon and My ToonDoos.  It is all very easy to understand and follow.  The choices of people, backgrounds, etc., provided are many.  It was easy to save and retrieve the code to embed in my blog.  Students will definitely enjoy using this site to create cartoons and comics. 

The following is a cartoon created at ToonDoo and can be used on the first day of school for introductions:

By vsaenz038 | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Pixton

Pixton is a great site for creating comics.  It is very easy to sign up. Once you log in you have several menu choices:  main menu, home, my comics and Pixton comic templates.  The main menu is precise.  The Educator Community allows you to go directly to the Pixton Comics Blog, which contains a wealth of information and ideas.  The Pixton comic templates are great examples to learn from and follow. You are also given the choice to create from scratch.  I tried downloading the cartoon I created and was prompted to upgrade to a full version of Pixton.  Retrieving the  code to embed the cartoon in my blog was fairly easy.  Students will enjoy using Pixton in the classroom.       

The following is a cartoon created on Pixton to teach the difference between homophones "your" and "you're":





MakeBeliefsComix

Make Beliefs Comix is a great site.  Creating comics is fun and extremely easy.  Signing up is not necessary.  The menu includes many choices.  The Create Comix choice provides story ideas.  The Teachers choice includes lesson plans and writing prompts.  The ESOL/Literacy button provides classroom activities.  You also have a choice of over 500 printables.  Make Beliefs Comix has received honors from the American Library Association and the Parents' Choice Foundation among many others. Parents and educators have provided rave reviews of this website. You can easily print, save and/or email the comic you have created.  It is a wonderful site that I am sure students will love utilizing. 

Click on the link below to view a comic strip created at MakeBeliefsComix regarding bullying and how students can deal with this issue:

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=19994686C2194244

Cartoons and comic strips are great fun and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom.  Some ways I would incorporate cartoons and comics are as follows:

1.      First day introductions

2.      Vocabulary

3.      Book trailers

4.      Setting future goals

5.      Introduce new books

6.      Diaries

7.      Writing prompts

8.      Informing students and parents of special events at the library

9.      Lesson on Dewey Decimal System

10.  Just for fun

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

Librarians are using YouTube videos to promote their libraries.  Following are great examples of videos posted by librarians and their students: 

EXAMPLE 1

Norman High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos

Videos:
Getting Started with the NHS Library Website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjpxzgZQkZM

Tiger Visits the Norman High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUhXLvFAi4

The most helpful for students is "Getting Started with the NHS Library Website", and students would like this video the best since it provides great assistance.

EXAMPLE 2

The Unquiet Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos

Videos:
How to Export a Bibliographic Data File from LRC to EasyBib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRhEc-SJcHo

The Importance of Choice for Igniting Student Passion and Learning Through Research Projects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZUTsyfY8m4

Both were helpful for students in different ways.  Students would like "The Importance of Choice for Igniting Student Passion and Learning Through Research Projects", since it provided a lot of valuable information for students. 

EXAMPLE 3

Pikesville High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

Videos:
PikesvilleHighschool FAFSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVyIaw40neY

Senior Party in Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqy_KdeAPc

The most helpful was "Pikesville High School FAFSA".  The video students would enjoy more is "Senior Party in Library".  The students looked like they had loads of fun creating this video.    

EXAMPLE 4

BBMS Media
https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos

Videos:
MAP Goal Setting Math
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvEsD79830k

Caroline Director's Video 1/20/17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LElZ02WohUo

The most helpful for students is "MAP Goal Setting Math".  The knowledge imparted was extremely valuable.  I think students would like "Caroline’s Director’s Video". 

How can we use YouTube videos efficiently in our libraries?  As a librarian I would use YouTube videos to do the following:

      1.      Create tutorials to facilitate use of the library
      2.      Promote new books
      3.      Create book trailers
      4.      Promote school clubs
      5.      Give library tours

BOOK TRAILER

Creating book trailers is an excellent way of sparking the interest of our students and staff.  They can view the book trailers, make their way to our libraries, and  find entertainment as well as a wealth of knowledge and information.

 

The following is an example of such:  

 

Synopsis:

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created "perfect" life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for―her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Retrieved from:  https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Chemistry-Novel/dp/0802798225

 

Click on the following link to view a book trailer of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles: 

https://animoto.com/play/gtHM1DIrrYNeyDCr1dzd0Q#

 

QR CODES 

QR Codes can facilitate access to materials found in our library.  For example, students and staff will definitely find it appealing to scan a QR Code and obtain instant access to a book trailer. 

 

Scan the following QR Code to view a book trailer of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles:

 

 

 

Using QR Codes in a library will provide excellent results.  The following are a few ways I would utilize QR Codes in my library:

 

1.      Placing QR codes on library copiers, scanners, etc. to assist students and teachers in using them.

2.      Placing them on bookmarks to link to library website.

3.      Placing them on book posters to access book trailers.

4.      Placing them on book covers to access author interviews and book trailers.

5.      Placing them on maps to access information.

6.      Placing them on worksheets to access additional information. 

7.      Provide access to free e-books and magazines. 

8.      During holidays, provide access to poetry and short stories.   

Source: http://eduscapes.com/sessions/qrcodes/

 

VISUAL MEDIA

Using Visual Media in the Classroom

Instagram

Instagram is a very popular social network where individuals can share photos and videos.  It is a fairly easy visual media tool to use.  Importing pictures from your photos is very manageable, as is adding text.  Instagram can be used in the classroom to create a variety of assignments.  For example, as a writing teacher, I can post a picture of a background and ask students to write a story about what they see.  Students can also display their assignments on Instagram and share with others.  As teachers, we can use Instagram to showcase students that excel, as well as their work. 

https://www.instagram.com/vsaenz038/?hl=en

  
Flipagram

Flipagram is a video slideshow creator.  Like Instagram, it is also a social network where individuals can share their photos in a slideshow format and add music.  Flipagram can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom.  As a writing teacher I would ask my students to create a story using pictures.  They can then share the slideshow with their peers, and they can write stories about what they see. 

https://flipagram.com/vsaenz038

Screencast-o-matic

Screencast-o-matic allows you to create video files that you can share with others.  The free features include 15 minute recordings, screen and webcam recording, ability to publish to YouTube and to save as a video file.  The pro features--for an additional $15.00 /year--includes no watermark, ability to make longer recordings, tools for editing, ability to draw and zoom, etc.  The price is very reasonable.  The tutorials offered are also great. Teachers can use Screencast-o-matic to have students demonstrate their knowledge of a lesson by creating a video and sharing their videos with the classroom.  A chapter can be divided into sections and given to different groups of students.  Each group can create a video and share their knowledge with the classroom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj6uknHe9uM 

My favorite visual media tool was Flipagram.  It was easy to use.  The slideshows were fun to create, and I can see myself using this tool often with my students.   

       

References

Retrieved from https://screencast-o-matic.com/

Common sense review: Flipagram. (2014, April). Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/flipagram

Hudson, H. (2014, August 7). 10 surprising ways to use Instagram in the classroom. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/10-surprising-ways-to-use-instagram-in-the-classroom-2/

Moore, A. (2012, June 7). Using Instagram in the classroom. Retrieved from http://prezi.com/fvbrbbznr7ee/using-instagram-in-the-classroom/

INFOGRAPHICS

 

           Easel.ly, Piktochart, and Infogr.am are three great sites for creating infographics.  Like most of the other material in this class, creating an infographic was new knowledge for me.  As I delved into this assignment and analyzed these sites, I learned the amazing power of infographics. 

            The first site I encountered was Easel.ly.  This site states that their mission is “To inspire and enable anyone to represent an idea in a visual way”.  Easel.ly mentions that rather than creating a lengthy Word document or PowerPoint, presenting an infographic can engage readers and make learning fun.  It is tool that helps create and express your ideas with a higher likelihood of having people read the material.  The free account for Easel.ly has 60 free images and 10 fonts.  The pro account--which can be upgraded for $3.00 /month--comes with 680,000 images, over 50 fonts, several templates, the ability to upload your own fonts and a security measure that assures that all information is kept private.  Customer service is available by phone or email.    

            The next site I visited was Piktochart.  The site give you the option of choosing infographics, presentation or printable.  Piktochart encourages you to “Easily create long-form graphics perfect for the web”.  Like Easel.ly, you can start a project on a blank template or use one of their own.  You are given 2 choices: free templates and pro templates.  You can level up to obtain these pro templates for $39.99 /year.  It gives you access to 600 templates.  You can upload 400MB of your own photos.  The ability to download projects as PDFs is also included.   

            The final infographic site I experimented with was Infogr.am.  Infographic or report, chart or graph or map are the three choices to begin your project.  Once you choose infographics, you are given a choice of free themes and pro themes.   To upgrade to the pro theme you can choose from three choices. $19 /month will get you 100 infographics or charts, sharing information confidentially, maps and font options.  The next option is $67 /month which increases your library size immensely.  Your final option has no price.  You are asked to contact them for further information.  The Teams option allows you to make charts and infographics with others.  You can share a library and collaborate as a team. The Learn option includes video tutorials—a very helpful aid.

            After reviewing all three websites, I chose Easel.ly to present my data of the report from Pew Internet Research Project.  Following is my infographic:

       Creating an infographic was a great learning experience.  Seeing a report presented in a visually appealing form was immensely satisfying.  I can definitely see the appeal infographics can have on our students.