Infographics

Infographics

Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information in a visually striking way.  Infographics are excellent attention grabs and provide an easily understood overview of information. Patrons may not have the time to read lengthy articles of information, but infographics makes data easily understandable at a glance.  There are different web apps you can use to create infographics including: Easelly, Piktochart, and Infogram. 



http://www.easel.ly/    
Easelly is a user friendly web app that allows you to use ten infographics templates to customize and create your own infographics for free.  By upgrading your account with $4 per month, you will have access to 320+ templates and 11 million objects, 112 fonts,  and 20 types of charts and graphs. The organization of the web app is awesome and templates and pictures are sorted by category.

http://piktochart.com/ 

Piktochart creates infographics, presentations, posters, reports, and flyers.  The free version allows access to numerous more templates compared to Easelly.  An individual upgrade is $39.99 per year and has access to HD image exports and PDF exports.  PRO Team is an upgrade that allows 5 users for $199.95 per year with access to exclusive PRO features.  With Piktochart's free poster maker, creating attention-grabbing visuals is simple and fast.  With the user friendly organization of Piktochart, posters and infographics can be created in minutes!  The upgrade fees are on the high end, but with the numerous free templates available with the free version, there really is no need to upgrade.

http://infogr.am 
Infogram is a free web app that creates infographics, dashboards, single chart, Facebook posts, slides, and reports. Infogram is user friendly and very well organized.  The free templates available with the free version is limited compared to other web apps.  Upgrade fees include: Individual $19 per month, Business $67 per month, and Team $149 per month.  Upgrades did have a limit on the number of projects created per month.  

After reviewing all three webapps, I chose Piktochart because it was very user friendly and had a great selection of free templates available.  My infographic was create with information from the article A Majority of Teens Have Experienced Some Form of Cyberbullying from the Pew Research Center website. 

https://create.piktochart.com/output/39673634-cyberbullying

Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

Facebook
I borrowed a Facebook account today to search up school library pages on Facebook.  I do not have an account for personal use but do see the immense need for a school library to have a Facebook account and the abundant resource it is.  There were so many pages including: School-age in the Library, School Library Journal, School Library Media Specialists, and individual school library pages.  An advantage of using Facebook would definitely be promoting the school library program. Facebook can be used to share important dates, information, resources, book reviews, recommended book lists, and pictures of library activities currently happening.  However, a disadvantage would be that most students do not have a Facebook account because their parents are Facebook users.  Although students many not be connected on Facebook, the librarian can use Facebook for communication with parents, teachers and the community.

Twitter
An online news and social networking service that has users of all ages including students.  I already had a Twitter account and was following most of our library science professors and professional organization groups.  The biggest names in education technology today are:

Kathy Schrock is an Educational Technologist/Ed Tech presenter.

Twitter @kathyschrock - Tweets are all technology, from iPod Touch, Apple Watch features and so much more.  Great to keep you current on the latest developments and trends in the world of technology. 

Thanks, @macworld, for the great article about Apple Watch features to start using. Some I knew, but some I did not! https://t.co/zF46X2jGDD

— Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) May 20, 2019

Linda W. Braun is a learning consultant, educator, teen advocate, and librarian.
Twitter @lbraun2000 - Tweets include YALSA reminders and ideas for motivating student interest.

“Educators often develop digital learning programs to meet youth interest…they can also leverage these interests by directly involving them in design of new programs, leading to deeper learning and engagement.” https://t.co/yDJDN9DwTN

— Linda W Braun (@lbraun2000) May 16, 2019

Alan November  is a Globe Wandering Educator, Founder, November Learning, and author of Who Owns the Learner?
Twitter @globalearner - Tweets include inspirational and motivational words in education and inspiration to spark student interest.

Alan November: “The goal of the Digital Learning Farm model is to redefine the role of the learner as a contributor, collaborator, and leader in the learning” by @globalearner #digitallearningfarm https://t.co/RmcajgBAqb pic.twitter.com/0wjIGM0LBg

— November Learning (@NLearning) May 28, 2019

 The Daring Librarian, Gwyneth Jones is a librarian that is passionate about her library program.
Twitter @GwynethJones - She tweets motivational words, shares library and school event pictures and news.

Our #ShakespeareCafé is shining bright in the Library Media Center! #CelebrateHCPSS #MGMSMd @HCPSS @HCPSS_GT #engchat @hcpss_mhms Great work, kids! & Mr Dunbar & Ms @StallingsELA ! pic.twitter.com/yVLr22WPWr

— Gwyneth Jones (@GwynethJones) May 30, 2019

Jim Lerman is an educator, designer, author, speaker, and project director.
Twitter @jimlerman - tweets about new technology, features and programs for teachers.

Free Technology for Teachers: Nine Tutorials for Making Your Own Mobile App :: Richard Byrne https://t.co/pZZFkR4Rrq pic.twitter.com/TJXXMIOGWI

— Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) May 27, 2019

Instragram

Instagram is an amazing social media network.  It is easy to share pictures and videos to promote the school library program with students, parents and the community.  I am currently a middle school science teacher and I know that the majority of my students are on Instagram.  Instagram is an excellent tool to motivate and engage student interest!

View this post on Instagram

Check out our new feature on the Library Catalogue! You can now check your loan history using the self service option on your Library account. You can check your loan history by: Title/Author, Date Borrowed or Date Returned. Handy if you've returned a book that you later realised that you needed for referencing #librarycatalogue #loanhistory #libraryvideo #happytohelp #referencing #librarybooks #librariesofinstagram #studentlife #universitylife #leedsbeckett #leedsbeckettlibrary

A post shared by Leeds Beckett Library (@leedsbeckettlibrary) on Feb 9, 2016 at 9:01am PST

Blogs and Blog Readers

Blogs and Blog Readers 

Feeder was the blog reader of my choice.  I was able to place the icon for Feeder on my computer and with only a click of a button I can see all the blogs I am following with a drop down lists of all the new posts for each of the blogs.  This gives you immediate up to date information about areas of interest to you.  You no longer have to visit each individual blog to see new posts, all you need is Feeder to see all the blogs you are following and new posts available. I chose Feeder because it was very user friendly and easy to use.  It was extremely simple to add blogs to my reader with Feeder.  The following are blogs I am following and information about each.

• Tech Library- Comprehensive coverage on technology updates. 

          https://visualstudiomagazine.com/Home.aspx

• 5 Minute Librarian- All you need to know in 5 minutes, including: social media, marketing, technology, book displays, etc...

          http://www.5minlib.com/

• Book Riot- Covers all things literacy, from book news to reading recommendations. 

          https://bookriot.com/

• Teaching and Teacher Education- insight into teaching, helpful resources, and education news.

          https://www.journals.elsevier.com/teaching-and-teacher-education

• Thegreatlibrarian - Has excellent book reviews, recommendations, and great source to ask questions. 

          https://thegreatbibrarian.tumblr.com/

Tumblr is an excellent social networking website! Cannot believe I had never even heard of the website and I was immediately crazy for it.  Absolutely love Tumblr!  This website has something for everyone, from sports, entertainment, books, beauty, and etc. This is a website that everyone needs to check out.  Take the time, it is really AWESOME!

https://salinasreadings17.tumblr.com/post/185296170472/new-to-tumblr-and-love-it-excellent-social


Erica Salinas