Outside of the "Pizza Box" Makerspace - Blog #8

 Out of the "Pizza Box" Makerspace

School libraries are continuing to grow and change into whatever students need, whether the newest novel, study spaces, meeting places, and creative spaces.  No longer is the library a "quiet zone" to check out a book or display  finished project, but a place that encourages students to create, discuss, and think outside of the box.  Enter the MAKERSPACE!!!!

Not many public school libraries are going to be able to afford the luxury of various types of technology and 3D printers, like Moorefield-Lang describes. No matter what space is selected, many of Moorefield-Lang's points can be applied to "low-tech/low-cost" spaces, which includes planning.  This is also supported by Brooke Brown's blog, Teach Outside the Box.  introduced so many great ideas. In researching for this week's blog, this amazing site popped up with not only makerspace project ideas, but also organization, scheduling, and management ideas.  So You Want to Start a Makerspace?     

                            

Britton's article supports the idea that "the beauty of the Maker movement, particularly in the library, is the that this is no set list of equipment or programming required to make the space successful" (Britton, 2012).  This idea is supported by Lissa Blake's ISTE presentation.  Her idea was not only low-cost, but appeals to two areas of interest:  technology integration and arts/video media integration.  The ISTE Blog, Pizza Box Green Screens: Set the Stage for Young Storytellers.  

This maker's space involves (or can involve) pre-reading, set design, screenwriting/editing, art, music/soundtrack creation/editing, video production/editing, and post production steps.  Through all of this, collaboration is at the heart of the project, but can also be individualized as needed.  Ms. Blake's budget included donated pizza boxes, Starbucks green straws, green paint, green gloves, and other art supplies. Sylvia's Super Awesome Mini Maker Show also introduces paper craft, which could be used to integrate into the makerspace, but also to guide the makerspace.  Students that are familiar with the space, either through training from the teacher librarian or an area of interest for themselves, can produce instructional videos to be watched before students begin a new makerspace activity.  

         

Makerspaces can be as simplistic or difficult as the facilitator determines from a coloring space to welding.  The goal is to get students imagining.  The Pizza Box Green Screen can be adapted for a wide range of ages, as well as differing interest areas.  Elementary students can recreate a scene from a book or present an original production. This space allows for learning to be fun and engaging for students of different ages and abilities.  As Britton stated, "creating playful information-based spaces allows the learners to explore and engage with content on the learner's terms instead of on the instructor's terms" (Britton, 2012).  Whatever the production, don't be scared off by thinking that only great spaces require high cost: Free & Cheap Makerspace Supplies.  Low-tech/low-cost doesn't mean low-engagement.

             

Other Makerspace Guides and Resources:

Ultimate Makerspace Resource Guide

A Librarian’s Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources

The Importance of Giving Makerspaces - Makerspace: A Place for People Like Me

Resources

Britton, L. (2012, October 1). The makings of maker spaces, Part 1: Space for creation, not just consumption.  Library Journal), 137(16), 20+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A303350180/BIC?u=colu68650&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=98cf78ae .

Moorefield-Lang, H. (2014). Makers in the library: Case studies of 3D printers and maker spaces in library settings. Library Hi Tech, 32(4), 583-593. https://doi-org.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/10.1108/LHT-06-2014-0056

Cyberbullying and Digital Citizenship - Post #7

 Cyberbullying and Digital Citizenship 

Bullying is not a new topic, but there is a "new" threat to children, youth, and yes, even adults...CYBERBULLYING.  The StopBullying.gov website reports that "cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation" (StopBulling.gov, n.d).  Back in the day, there was a way to escape the uncomfortable situations of the school day once you left the school building.  This is no longer the case.  Today's children do not have this "break" from the torture of the school bully.  The rise of digital devices and social media allows for the pressures and bullying to creep into what was once a safe space: our homes.  What was once considered to be a "pathway...which [does] not originate in childhood and youth, but rather begin[s] in adulthood" (Faucher et al., 2015) is now invading our children's inboxes.  

The ISTE Digital Citizenship Standards were created to help combat this new digital monster that creeps into our students' and children's rooms.  Teachers are the first defense against this insistent and cowardly harassment.  Before we place devices in our students' hands, we must not only share computer safety, but our duty to be positive digital citizens.  Digital citizenship, as stated by Ribble  "digital citizenship [is] the online display of behaviors that ensure the legal, safe, ethical and responsible use of information and communication technologies" (Ribble, 2011, as cited by Ozturk, 2021).

Useful Resources:

Cyberbullying Symboloo

Educating students on the impact that their verbal and digital words have on others is the first line of attack.  As a teacher librarian, this would be an ongoing year-long teaching opportunity, and could be linked to the school's SEL lessons in the general education setting.  Digital citizenship should be referenced on a regular basis.   It is important to not only just share the effects, but to also provide deeper more meaningful exposure through in-person talks or online (TEDTalks) examples.  Having posters in classrooms, hallways, and the library will serve as reminders for students, teachers, and others in the school building.  These can be premade, but having students complete their own digital citizenship projects will have more of an impact.  

Here is a great resource for all grade levels:  12 Projects to Teach Digital Citizenship.

Trisha Prabhu took her digital citizenship seriously and is moving from being an advocate to an activist.  Her ReThink Project is having an impact that even the Shark Tank has taken seriously.  Sharing her story and her Shark Tank episode might have an impact on more students coming from someone closer to their age. Watch this TedTalk and visit her website.  

          

  

Here is the link to Trisha's ReThink Website:   https://www.rethinkwords.com/

Even though Trisha's message is powerful, students may not get the full effect of why someone would need to go to these lengths to protect those that cannot protect themselves.   Students need to see how their actions and irresponsibility can have life long consequences.  This is a great resource that was posted on another classmate's website, but it was so impactful that I had to reshare.  What Kids Have to Say About Bullying and How to Stop It

What is so surprising is that this issue continues and that more adults are not doing more to stop this torture.  It is up to our future leaders and digital citizens to learn how to protect themselves and others from these cowardly attackers.  Only with teaching and reteaching, providing places to report issues, and school personnel support, can we make a difference in combatting bullying in all forms. 

Providing students with the tools they need to protect themselves and others is a useful tool.  Get Help Now on StopBullying.com is one resource for helping students and adults know where to start to find help.  They also provide this number 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), along with numbers for Spanish and Deaf/Hard of Hearing.  Students can also learn their rights by accessing the ACLU's Site for Student Rights. This poster is also a quick way to inform students. 

References

Faucher, C., Cassidy, W., & Jackson, M. (2015). From the sandbox to the          inbox: Comparing the acts, impacts, and solutions of bullying in              k-12, higher education, and the workplace. Journal Of Education           And Training Studies, 3(6), 111-125.

StopBullying.gov (n.d.) What is digital citizenship?  Retrieved March 11,        2022. https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it

Öztürk, G. (2021). Digital citizenship and its teaching: A literature review.     Journal of Educational Technology & Online Learning, 4(1), 31-45.

Reaching Your Audience Through Social Media - Twitter - Blog #6

 

Reaching Your Audience Through Social Media:

TWITTER

Social Media has come a long way since the days of MySpace and Friednster, and even Facebook.  It is now the most common means to which most of our world communicates and shares information.  Today, Twitter and Instagram are the applications that most teenagers use to communicate, even over texting and phone calls.  Twitter allows for quick bursts of information, but with only a limited number of words allowed (280 words maximum).  In selecting a social media platform, I selected Twitter in order to possibly reach this target audience of middle school aged students.  

Initially, plans for this tool will be to connect to student families, other librarians, the community; Getting student work visible to families and members of the local and social community will help build confidence and pride in the school and its patrons. Not only will Twitter be used for local updates, but for professional outreach.  By this, I mean to authors and publishers.  Based on the slides provided this week by Dr. Green, we see that Twitter is an excellent resource for professional connections.  This was proven to me by an interview I completed with a retired teacher librarinan from my district.  She posted pictures on Twitter about the reading selection she had shared with her students, Boys Dance! by John Robert Allman.  When the American Ballet came to Charleston that Tweet was noticed by Calvin Royal, III.  He contacted the teacher librarian and made an unplanned appearance at their school. Without the Twitter, this would not have happened.  

INSTRUCTION/COLLABORATION

Twitter lends itself to be a wonderful way to collaborate with other professionals to share ideas and trends.  Malik,et al stated that this "platform is also deemed supportive for educators as it provides them with opportunities to learn.  Twitter enables them to learn more about innovative and effective teaching methods as they connect with other educators...[providing] professional networking" (Malik, et al, 2019).

Not only can Twitter be used for teacher collaboration and instruction, but students also can have access to this resource.  Students can learn to connect with other classes in other locations, but learn how to summarize what they are learning within the 280 word limit.  Students can take the lead in communicating what their library or classroom is doing, as well as advocate for thier own school,.

COMMUNICATION

This seems to be a no brainer when it comes to social media.  It is the perfect way to quickly get the word out to parents, administrators, teachers, and community members about what is going in your school's library and classrooms.  It is something that can be quickly done using a computer, ipad, or cell phone.  Teachers and librarians are able to take a quick photo and post it immediately with a caption.  Wilson's article is all about making your library visible.  Twitter is a perfect vehicle for this by "captur[ing} the variety of literacies occuring the library...[through the use of] photograph in a presentation, in a newsletter or on social media" (Wilson, 2017).

ADVOCACY

Teacher librarians are leaders within their schools and often a go between for teachers and administrators and/or students and administrators. This leadership is also a type of advocacy for the members of the school community.  With this critical task, it is important for teacher librarians not only to advocate for their students and staff internally, but also externally.  A perfect way to do this is through the use of social media, like Twitter. This is supported by Judi Moreillion's article which stated that " school librarians [should] match library programs with the agenda and priorities of library stakeholders. Working from that shared vision, mission, and plan, school librarians codevelop a vital, integrated, and results-oriented school library program" (Moreillion, 2019). 

There is no telling how social media will grow and change and what will be the next big thing.  What we do know, is that it is inevidable to be something that will remain a part of our schools and libraries.  As Wilson state in her article, she "had no idea how much time and energy [she] would devote to promoting [her] role and media program" (Wilson).  As a future librarian, I expect this to continue to be the norm to ensure that school libraries continue to stay relavent and current.  

Additional Resource for Twitter:

The 2022 Guide to Social Media for Libraries: Twitter

35 Interesting Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom

References

Green, L. (2022). Harnessing the power of social media to advocate

          for the school library. [PowerPoint slides]. Blackboard@University 

          of South Carolina. 

           https://docx.google.com/presentation/d/1rswnwL_QA16SjO3gE5K

           zLH26OeReTFxdJkJ3_xz8uYk/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_017. 

Moreillion, J. (2019, November 6). Advocacy twitter chat. School librarian                             leadership: Building connections for learning and                                                      advocacy. http://www.schoollibrarianleadership.com/2019/11/06/advocacy-            twitter-chat/

Wilson, J. (2017, December). Make your library more visible. School Library                         Journal.