YouTube
In my blog post last week, I detailed the benefits of using screencasts to enhance learning and efficiency in your classroom and library. This week I will expand on that idea and discuss how the use of YouTube in education can add variety and quality instruction to your classroom and library. I will display 4 educational, school library YouTube channels to demonstrate how you can utilize this site, and display 2 videos from each channel, one that will be helpful to the students and one that the students will enjoy.
The video above shows the high school librarian demonstrate the steps it takes to get started on the library website. This is a perfect link to have on the library's home screen and to share with students.
In this really fun and silly video, the school mascot utilizes the library and has some fun with its patrons and staff. Students will get a kick out of seeing themselves and their friends in a video.
In this video, the librarian screencast her computer to walk students through how to search Wikimedia Commons for copyright friendly images. This can sound like a tedious task to a student, but the librarian demonstrates how easy it is. This is an extremely helpful video for students.
While this is a very simple video, I believe students will greatly enjoy seeing themselves and their friends having a good time in the library. These types of videos are always a student favorite.
The video above details the requirements and process of completing the FAFSA and I believe would be most helpful to students.
This video shows a fun day in the library with students playing Wii video games on the overhead. I believe students would like this video best as it shows a fun aspect of the library
4. BBMS Media
I believe this video will be the most helpful to students. This video goes into great detail on annotation writing for 2015-16 National History Day at Bonnie Branch Middle School.
This comical video will surely be a great hit amongst students. It combines pop culture and humor to help remind students to pay their late book fines.
A common concern shared by some teachers are that their campus may not allow YouTube videos to be streamed through their campus Wifi. The first step I would take is to ask the technology department to be unblocked a certain video, but this can take time or they may still not allow it. An easy solution, which I take often, is to download the YouTube videos needed for a lesson using a 3rd party site like, apowersoft.com or clipconverter.cc, and embed the videos into your class blog or website. Its important to be vigilant when doing this as there are many ads on these sites to trip you up. You must also do this through off campus internet since the links may be blocked on campus.
QR Codes
Another great tool to use in the classroom is QR codes. QR (Quick Response) codes are similar to a bar code. They are usually a pattern of blocks that you scan with an electronic device, like a smart phone or a tablet, which link students instantly to the websites, photos, or files of your choosing (Boschen, 2018). QR are great to integrate in to classrooms with a set of IPads or tablets. You simple download a QR reader from the app store and you're ready to go! For more information and sites to guide you on creating QR codes visit Kathy Schrock's QR Codes in the Classroom. The benefit of using QR codes is you cut down on the information overload and frustrations of directing students to different links or files. With QR codes, they are instantly taken to the destination you created.
The possibilities for how you use QR codes are endless but here are a couple of ideas:
- View educational YouTube clips
- Online book reader
- Easy research guide
- Online scavenger hunts
- Class warm-up activities
- And much, much more! Only limit is your imagination!
The way I envision using QR codes in my future library is adding codes to the books on my monthly book displays. When a student scans the QR code on one of the books in the display, they will be directed to YouTube to watch a book trailer and see if that book interest them. I created a book trailer to give you an example. Try scanning the QR Code to the left to watch a YouTube book trailer I made for Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, which I created on the website Animoto. This book was a favorite of mine growing up and is now a favorite of my son's. 
Synopsis of Caps for Sale from Amazon.com:
Children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts to outwit the monkeys and will ask to read it again and again. Caps for Sale is an excellent easy-to-read book that includes repetition, patterns, and colors, perfect for early readers.
QR codes and YouTube videos are great tools to help keeps students engaged and focused. Technology can sometimes feel overwhelming but with the use of these tools, you can streamline information and keep your students on task.
References:
Boschen, J. (2018, November 09). Using QR Codes in the Classroom to Enhance Learning. Retrieved from https://www.whatihavelearnedteaching.com/using-qr-codes-in-the-classroom/
Schrock, K. (2018, March 1). QR Codes in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.schrockguide.net/qr-codes-in-the-classroom.html
Slobodkina, E. (1987). Caps for sale. Logan, IA: Perfection Form.
Slobodkina, E. (2015, September 01). Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Caps-Sale-Peddler-Monkeys-Business/dp/0064431436
I like your recommendation of using a QR code to share an easy research guide. I could see myself making the QR code card and adding it to my help ring (laminated carts with helpful info for students to use in the library that I hook to the back of the computers with a 3M hook and a binder ring). Thanks!
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