Tuesday Tips December 15, 2015

TECH TIP:  Google Cardboard

Looking for an inexpensive, but super fun, stocking stuffer for the techie in your life?  Get them the Google Cardboard!  I had this around the library last week and students love it!  It is a virtual reality viewer.  You buy the cardboard device (lots of different options but can be purchased for under $5 at Amazon), download the free apps onto your phone, slide your phone in and explore!  The New York Times was also giving out these viewers to some of their subscribers and they have an app that allows you to explore in virtual reality many of the places they cover in their stories.  

BOOK TIP:  What To Think About Machines That Think by John Brockman

Another great idea for the techie in your life.  This is a collection of essays by today's leading scientists, thinkers, and artists.  The essayists reflect on technology, artificial intelligence, and the role of machines in our life today. Makes you think.

Tuesday Tips December 8, 2015

TECH TIP:  Doodle Poll

Have you ever tried to schedule a meeting, a party, or a study session with a group of people?  It can be tough to find the best time for all involved, and if you do it over email or text message, it can become a mess as you lose track of who can come on what dates in the slew of texts and emails.    Doodle Poll is the answer to that!  Doodle Poll is free and allows you to post options for dates and times and then the poll gets emailed to your invitees.  It looks like this:

You simply enter your name and select the best dates for you.  When others go to the poll, they can also see the best times for others.  You can set the poll so they can only select one option or any that they are available.    I just used it this week to schedule a pot luck dinner - and it was so easy!  

BOOK TIP:  Eden West by Pete Hautman

The Grace are a religious people who live in Nodd, their isolated compound in Montana.  Jacob knows only this life.  Until one day, he ventures off the compound through the broken fence and meets Lynna, a "Worldly" girl from next door.  This glimpse of the outside world leaves Jacob confused and unsure of his faith and the reality of life at Nodd.  This is a fascinating look at religion, faith and what is true.  

Tuesday Tips December 1, 2015

TECH TIP:  SaysIt Sign Generator

This is a fun one (although not all choices are school appropriate), but Says-It has options for making all kinds of signs like the one above.  You can also make an official seal!   Students make use of this with historical quotes, book character lines, posters for your classroom, etc.   Thanks to Lisa Nielsen's blog for this tip.  

BOOK TIP:  The 2015 GoodReads Choice Awards

Each year, readers vote and select the best books of the year in several categories.  Here are allthe winners.  Some selections on here good for holiday gift ideas!  If you're interested in reading any right away, the MMRHS library has these titles:

• Go Set the Watchman by Harper Lee
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah Maas