Digital Technology

Digital Technology for the School Librarian

By Milissa Beechem

 

Facebook is a way for school libraries to post activities.  For example, @duncanivlle High School Library they post reading challenges, student achievements, special occasions, and book recommendations.  @Range Elementary Library you will see post of new books, summer reading programs, and pictures of activities in the library. My district offers a Facebook page @The Real Librarians of Temple which gives information about the happenings in the libraries in our district, quotes, news, programs offered on each campus and reading list.  I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about my new co-workers in my district and being welcomed into their group. I believe that all the librarians in Temple ISD have friended me!  As you can see in the photo below, I got 151 likes and 102 comments on my new job.

 

The advantages are community can visit these pages.  The disadvantages are that Facebook tends to be more for the older generation (could include parents) not likely for the students. I will still add it in my list of digital technology for those who enjoy this platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter is an app that I have had for a couple of years and most just look at the quotes, pictures, cartoon and blog type of post. Twitter can be and engaging platform to voice opinions and issues.   #’s can be a fun thing to do because they link you to content and other topics. My twitter is @missybeechem. Some people try to use this platform as a political voice, and it can get out of hand.

 

Some of the biggest name to follow on Twitter in the Library world are professional organizations such as School Library Journal or American Library Association (ALA).  I also follow my professors from SHSU.  Sometimes I agree with peoples post and sometimes I don’t.  This is the beauty of social media, we don’t always have to agree, we can just read and go on. 

 

Some of the biggest names in the library world that I follow on social media are Kathy Schrock, who offers new ideas, tools, book suggestions, and other sites to join such as @DiscoveryEd.  The second big name that I follow is Alan November @globalearner who offers podcast and video links. Jim Lerman follows and links special protest, tool for remote learning, and top 30 tools for Digital Storytelling. 

 

 

 

Instagram is a new one for me. My 25-year-old daughter had to show me that I already had it on my phone because I had forgotten it had been added years ago.  I added School Library Journal and I am now able to see authors who are giving live presentations.  I also follow YALSA and intend to watch Candice Iloh & Jason Reynolds on Monday, June 22 at 2pm for live/virtual chat and conversations.  My students could use this to showcase reading assignments, activities, book suggestions or even feature a Student Reader of the Week. We need to teach students to be aware of incorrect and improper use of photos can be a crime or even just hurtful to themselves or others.  My Instagram is mbeechem.

 

Overgram is an App for iOS for Instagram and I have included an example of a picture and text of my new library:

 

 

TikTok is a video social media App and it is the latest craze for my students.  I have added it on my phone, and it can be addicting watching all the crazy things that people do for entertainment.  My students try all of the dance moves and most of them are like bad videos gone wild.  I can see this platform of social media be used for something as simple as making video about subject and content for school, for example a song to learn terms or facts.

 

My pros and cons, the cons would be that social media is addicting and time consuming and children and adults alike, waste too many hours on it.  For the pros, we need to take into account that it is not going away anytime soon, and we need to use it as an educational tool.  I am fairly new to the posting world and at 53 it can be challenging, but I am putting forth my best efforts for the good or education for my students and for the entertainment for myself.