Tuesday, November 28, 2017

TECH TIP:  WordItOut Word Cloud Maker

WordItOut is a word cloud generator.  You put in the text you want to generate a word cloud for and based on the frequency of certain words, the sizes of the words will be different.  You can change the font, colors, and also vary the word size on your own in order to highlight certain words.  This could be a good tool for students to use to visualize parts of texts, or for them to highlight certain words and explain why those are more important than others.  In this example, I used the MMRHS mission statement. 

BOOK TIP:  Beartown by Fredrik Backman

I read a lot and like a lot of books, but every now and then a book comes along that I just absolutely LOVE ​  This is one of those books.  Backman is the author of another of my favorites, A Man Called Ove, and this is his latest.  Set in a small Swedish town that is down on its luck, but high on its successful junior league hockey team.  A terrible incident occurs involving members of the hockey team and it divides the town and changes lives forever.  Wonderful writing, powerful characters, a book I still am thinking about.  

November 21, 2017

TECH TIP:  Photo Editing and Equipment

This picture ​was taken last week at Elsa's shower in the library.  Thank you to all who contributed and came.  I took this picture using the selfie stick, which is available to check out of the library.  I also have phone tripods and a microphone that can be used if you have any of your classes working on photo or video projects.  I used Pixlr to add in the frame and text.  

BOOK TIP:  Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys

This was a wonderful book of historical fiction based on a true event.  Inspired by the worst maritime tragedy in history, this is the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship transporting refugees in 1945.  Told through several alternating voices, the book moves quickly: I read this in one weekend! 

Tuesday Tips November 14, 2017

TECH TIP:  Piktochart Infographic Maker

Each quarter, I put together a Quarterly Report highlights events, circulation, and classes that used the library.  These reports also give me a chance to try out new presentation tools.  This quarter, I used Piktochart, which makes infographics and presentations.  We also used Piktochart with Bill Florek's Horticulture classes.  

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BOOK TIP:  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

This was a heart warming and endearing novel.  Eleanor Oliphant is a socially awkward financial assistant with a devastating past.   She begins a friendship with Raymond from the IT department and she begins to come out of her shell and face her past.  Highly recommend this one.  

Tuesday Tips October 31, 2017

TECH TIP:  Google Sites

Brian Leslie's Psychology classes have been in the library creating Google Sites.  Google Sites is part of the suite of Google applications, available to anyone with a Google account​.  To create your free website:

Then you can pick a theme, fonts, site name and insert:  

​Could be a great free tool to use with students for a project where their work is published online.

BOOK TIP:  Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

This is the follow-up book to John Green's hugely successful The Fault In Our Stars.  In this novel, Aza is a young woman with OCD who begins a quest with her friend to get a cash reward for finding a missing billionaire.  It is ultimately the story of Aza and her struggle against her ever tightening spiral of thoughts.  

Tuesday Tips October 24, 2017

TECH TIP:  New Science Database​

As part of the library's collection of databases, there is a new science STEM oriented one published by ProQuest.  The database offers ​access to more than 500 science journals and popular science magazines.  The database offers the ability to save articles to your Google Drive as well as pre-formatted citations.  We used it last week in Lisken Dus' Non-Fiction class and would love to share it with your classes.

To access, simply click here and you will automatically get in here at school.  If accessing from home, you will need to use the username / password combo of:  monument / mountain

BOOK TIP:  Jefferson's Children:  The Story of One American Family by Shannon Lanier and Jane Feldman

Today's Arts and Ideas Forum is with the co-authors of the book Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family.  One of the authors is the sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemmings.  They will present during period 7 today to a full house.  I have a copy of the book in the library if you are interested in looking at it. 

Tuesday Tips October 17, 2017

TECH TIP:  Acquainted Online Polling System

 Acquainted is a free online polling tool that is quick and easy to use.  This could be a great way to take a quick poll of your class as an exit ticket or a formative assessment.  Once you've registered, you create a conversation with your questions.  The poll can be shared via a link or a Tweet.  The poll shows up looking like a text message box:

And then the poll results give you a nice results graph:

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BOOK TIP:  The Poetry of Richard Wilbur

Poet Richard Wilbur passed away this past Saturday at the age of 96.  He was a Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner.  There are several books in the MMRHS library of his poetry and several classes are gearing up and selecting poems for this year's Poetry Outloud contest.

Tuesday Tips October 10, 2017

TECH TIP:  Google Keep

 Google Keep is my new go to organizational tool.  It is part of your Google suite of applications.  It is like an online sticky note.  Simply click on the Take a Note box at the top to add a new note.  You can color code the notes or add in labels.  You can archive web sites, images, etc through the Google Keep Chrome Extension.  It is also an app for your phone, so you have all your to do lists and reminders in one place and can access from any device.  This could be an invaluable research tool for students to curate their materials.  Would love to show a class this tool!

BOOK TIP:  Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Our Student Book Club is back up for the year!  Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor is our first pick.  Junior librarian and amateur historian Lazlo Strange has long been obsessed with the mythical city of Weep.  In this novel, he is given a chance to join an expedition to try to solve the mystery of Weep.