Alabama Virtual Library-Explora for Middle School

  Alabama Virtual Library-Explora for Middle School

Alabama Virtual Library- Explora for Middle School

The Alabama Virtual Library is a valuable online resource that provides access to a wide range of educational materials, including articles, reference books, and more. Explora is one of the platforms within the Alabama Virtual Library, and it's designed to help middle school students find age-appropriate information for their research and learning needs. I became interested in the topic of online educational resources and digital libraries because they play a crucial role in modern education, making it easier for students to access high-quality information and resources. These platforms help enhance the learning experience, making it more engaging and convenient for students and educators alike. Online educational resources like the Alabama Virtual Library offer numerous benefits, making them a valuable asset for students and educators. As someone who is interested in the field of education, I believe that these resources play a crucial role in modernizing and enhancing the learning experience.

YoLandra Ball

AVL Demo- Chase Cheaney

 AVL- PBS LearningMedia

For my Alabama Virtual Library demonstration, I chose to use the PBS LearningMedia database. This database offers a wide range of educational resources for teachers, students and parents. These resources include videos, interactive lessons, games, and other digital content designed to support K-12 education across a variety of subjects. In my current job, I could use this database to assign resources to my students to view/complete for supplemental help on content they may be struggling with. I could also use the video options to introduce topics to my students. There are so many great options from this resource, the possibilities are endless. 

GALILEO

https://vimeo.com/881523482/d354b06385?share=copy

GALILEO  is a virtual library that all students and educators can use in Georgia.  I was able to search "Harry Potter" and library cited articles, ebooks, encyclopedia, and many more things that pertained to "Harry Potter."  The cite will also allow you to rent ebooks if you wish.  This platform will teach student how to search things because they enter college.

Alabama Virtual Library Demo-- Ashley Clingan

AVL- Pebble Go

For my AVL demonstration, I chose to demonstrate how to use Pebble Go. Pebble Go is a great resource for elementary students to improve their information literacy skills. You can browse various topics, read e-books, and watch videos. I love using Pebble Go in my kindergarten class during our Nocturnal Animals unit. I let my students research their animals individually and in groups. They share their research with class at the end of the unit in the form of a class book. It is such a fun and engaging way to learn about new topics and practice information literacy skills. 

Alabama Alabama Virtual Library demonstration

Alabama Alabama Virtual Library Demonstration -by Gerod Diggs

PBS Learning Media is a valuable online resource that provides a wide range of educational content, including videos, interactive lessons, and teaching materials. It is designed to support educators in creating engaging and informative lessons for students at various grade levels.PBS Learning Media offers an extensive collection of educational content that covers a multitude of subjects and topics. It provides access to age-appropriate videos, lesson plans, and educational games, making it a versatile tool for educators. The content is aligned with educational standards, ensuring that the material is both educational and relevant for students.\ PBS Learning Media is suitable for a wide range of grade levels, including Kindergarten through Grade 5 (K2 to K5). It offers content that can be adapted to suit the needs and abilities of students within this age group. As a teacher for K2 to K5 students, I can utilize PBS Learning Media to enhance my teaching materials. I can incorporate educational videos and interactive lessons into my curriculum to make learning more engaging and effective. Additionally, the platform's lesson plans can serve as valuable resources for developing comprehensive and interactive teaching plans, tailored to the needs of young learners. PBS Learning Media can become an essential tool in creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment for my students.

Alabama Alabama Virtual Library demonstration

Alabama Virtual Library Demonstration

 Alabama Virtual Library Demonstration Video -- Gale (Literature)

The Gale (Literature) resource is useful to educators wanting to find articles, books, and more regarding subjects within the field they teach.  In my demonstration, I utilized the tile search feature that allows a visual search tool instead of the usual "wall-of-text" search tools we are accustomed to using.  The tile search feature is helpful in organizing keywords and their associations with other topics within the search.  This resource is great for all age levels, including educators and students.  For myself, I can use this resource to find journal articles for future writing projects, and maybe even discover new avenues to explore during my research. 

Alabama Virtual Library Screencast - Book Connections

Alabama Virtual Library Screencast - Book Connections by Shelena Cofield

Designed to meet the needs of the public library, Book Connections is a resource that contains book readings, read-along audio performances, and additional resources, such as lessons and games, to support the book. Additionally, it allows the promotion of a book through QR codes and the creation of booklists. Book Connections' motto is "Bring reading to life" and aims to enhance anyone's reading experience. It contains over 340,971 supporting resources for the books it houses, which target children and young adults. Despite the target age for Book Connections, I love to read and plan to use this site for access to free books and resources. I hope to locate and access some programming books that might provide newer tips and tricks for me in automating mundane tasks in my current job.

Alabama Virtual Library Demonstration - Brandi Randall

PebbleGo

PebbleGo.com is an educational platform designed with a primary focus on providing elementary school students with a user-friendly and engaging learning experience. This resource offers a vast array of articles, each meticulously crafted to cover a wide range of topics, from animals and science to biographies and social studies. Its colorful and interactive design is especially appealing to young learners, making it an ideal resource for children in pre-k and kindergarten, typically aged 3-6. As a pre-k and kindergarten STEM teacher, I would incorporate PebbleGo into my curriculum to introduce young minds to age-appropriate scientific concepts, allowing them to explore the world around them. Whether we're delving into animal habitats, discovering basic scientific principles, or exploring the lives of notable figures, PebbleGo offers a captivating and accessible platform for early education, sparking curiosity and building foundational knowledge in the field of STEM.

App Reviews- Chase Cheaney

 

ISTE Standard 1.5: Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/desmos

Desmos is a graphing calculator app with many helpful features (Sliders, colors, shading, etc.). It helps students visualize and manipulate many mathematical concepts. It is free to download and use and is appropriate for students in 6th grade and beyond. It can be accessed on the web or downloaded as an app on iPhones, iPads, and Androids. Common Sense Education is a credible source to judge Desmos’ value because they use trained reviewers who all have experience in education or related fields, and the site does not receive compensation for their reviews. 

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/geogebra 

GeoGebra is a dynamic mathematics software, that focuses on Geometry. It allows students to easily create and manipulate geometrical constructions. It is free to download and use and is appropriate for students at all levels of education. It can be accessed on the web or downloaded as an app on iPhones, iPads, and Androids. Common Sense Education is a credible source to judge GeoGebra’s value because they use trained reviewers who all have experience in education or related fields, and the site does not receive compensation for their reviews.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/geometry-pad#:~:text=Geometry%20Pad%20is%20a%20reference,highly%20visual%20and%20interactive%20experience. 

Geometry Pad is an interactive workbook where students can create and manipulate figures on a graph. It is a great way for students to investigate many different mathematical concepts. It is free to download and use, but there is an upgraded version that can be purchased for $6.99. Geometry Pad is appropriate for students in middle and high school. It can be downloaded as an app on iPads and Androids. Common Sense Education is a credible source to judge Geometry Pad’s value because they use trained reviewers who all have experience in education or related fields, and the site does not receive compensation for their reviews. 

In my opinion, Desmos is the best of the three educational apps that I have chosen. I believe this because it has so many different features, such as sliders in place of undefined variables. Students can easily manipulate and interact with both algebraic and geometrical concepts. Students can also create a free account and save their projects. Desmos is a great way for students to visualize mathematical concepts, and that is why I think it is the best.

APP REVIEWS

 

Standard

Common Core Standard for Mathematics . The standard is CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.1, which states: “Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.”

 

Applications

1. App Name: Common Core Standards by Mastery Connect

https://www.teachthought.com/technology/5-mobile-apps-to-help-teachers-and-students-adapt-to-the-common-core-standards/

• What it does: This app makes it easier for teachers, students and parents to see at a glance just what the curriculum requires. You can sift by subject, age and requirements to get right to the specifics of any given element within the curriculum.
• Cost: Free
• Intended Age Group: K-12 students.
• Platform/Device Compatibility: The platform compatibility is not specified in the review, so it may require further research.
• Credibility of Review Site: The review is from TeachThought, a platform dedicated to transforming teaching and learning through innovative practices.

2. App Name:  Khan Academy Kids

·         Review: https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/khan-academy-kids#:~:text=Pros%3A%20The%20variety%20of%20learning%20topics%20and%20the,standout%20offers%20scaffolded%2C%20creative%20learning%20of%20foundational%20skills

·         What it does: This app offers a wide range of educational activities and lessons, including those that align with the Common Core standards for mathematics. It uses interactive games and rewards to make learning fun and engaging.

·         Cost: Free

·         Intended Age Group: Ages 2-7

·         Platform/Device Compatibility: iOS, Android, and Amazon devices.

·         Credibility of Review Site: The review is from Common Sense Media, a trusted source for media recommendations for families.

 

3. App Name: Discovery Education

·         Review: https://www.iste.org/explore/Toolbox/4-tips-for-choosing-the-right-edtech-tools-for-learning

• What it does: This app takes students beyond the classroom walls and into some of the world’s most iconic locations for rich and immersive learning experiences.
• Cost: $1.91 per student
• Intended Age Group: K-12 students.
• Platform/Device Compatibility: The platform compatibility is not specified in the review, so it may require further research.
• Credibility of Review Site: The review is from ISTE, a reputable organization that sets technology standards for education.

Out of these three apps, I would choose the Common Core Standards by MasteryConnect as the best option. This app directly aligns with the Common Core standards and provides a clear breakdown of what each standard requires. It’s also designed for use by teachers, students, and parents alike, making it a versatile tool for teaching and learning.