Tuesday Tips April 30, 2019

TECH TIP:  I can come to your class!

 With AP Exams beginning next week, I have a bit more flexibility in my daily schedule, where I could come to your class instead of you coming to the library!  Do you have a research or tech project you're working on that you'd like to collaborate on?  I can help!  Stop in and let's plan something!  

As a reminder, the library will be closed until 11:30 on the following days:

• Tuesday, May 7
• Wednesday, May 8
• Thursday, May 9 ****closed all day due to Mass Ideas convening in afternoon
• Friday, May 10
• Monday, May 13
• Tuesday, May 14
• Thursday, May 23

BOOK TIP:  The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

 

This is a very hot book right now.  It is on all the best seller lists.  It is for fans of Gone Girl or Girl on the Train, suspense novels with an unreliable narrator that keeps you guessing and turning pages.  If you watched the tv series The Sinner, you'll also enjoy this.  Alicia Berenson is a famous artist who inexplicably kills her husband, shooting him five times in the face.  She then just stops talking.  It is up to her psychiatrist in the hospital to try and get through to her and figure out what caused her to do such a thing.  Put this on your summer reading list!  

Tuesday Tips April 23, 2019

TECH TIP:  Adding Audio to Google Slides

A new update to Google Slides is that you can now insert Audio files.  This allows you to add in music or narration to play with your slide deck.  You can't record directly in Google Slides, so to add in narration, you will need to use a different voice recorder.  I used https://online-voice-recorder.com/ to make my narration for these slides.  

This is my 3rd Quarter Report for the library using Google Slides and narration.  Click on the image below to view it.  This could be a great tool for students to highlight their learning.  

BOOK TIP:  The Last Romantic by Tara Conklin

  I read a few books over vacation and this was by my favorite - and it is written by an MMRHS alum!  This is Tara Conklin's second novel, and it focuses on the Skinner family, with a focus on Fiona, the youngest, who is a poet.  The siblings are incredibly close, brought together at a young age by what they call the Pause, but as they age, another family crisis will test their connections.  A great read.

Tuesday Tips April 9, 2019

TECH TIP:  Pause Prompt with Class Hooks

A previous Tuesday Tip was about Class Hooks.  ClassHook is a website that allows you to search for video clips. All the clips come from well-know television shows and movies.  Some of the clips are from longer YouTube videos, but the ClassHook link takes you right to the small section you want.  These would be great to use in class as an introduction to "hook" students in.  

A new feature they have is called Pause Prompts, where you can create "pauses" in the video at selected sections and a question will pop up that students would have to stop and answer.  Could be a good way to use videos as a homework with directed prompts they must respond to, and the links can be easily shared to your Google Classroom.  Here's an example of how it works:

And a screenshot of what the students see:

BOOK TIP:  Teach Like a PIrate:  Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator by Dave Burgess

I'll be ordering this year's Faculty Book Club book after vacation, so let know if you'd like to join me in the Faculty Book Club!  

Tuesday Tips April 2, 2019

TECH TIP:  Adding Database Articles to Your Google Classroom

You can now quickly add articles to your Google Classroom that you find in the library's databases.  

BOOK TIP:  Faculty Book Club is Back!

The mission of the MMRHS Faculty Book Club is to promote reading and the discussion of professional and inspirational works in an atmosphere that fosters positivity and community. Our next selection is Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator by Dave Burgess. We will meet in June before the end of the year. Let me know if you'd like a copy of the book and join me!