Final Reflection
I came into this course looking forward to learning new ways to help promote the library and students and staff. I was not disappointed. I learned a lot about using technology to enhance teacher lesson plans and to promote the school library.
To be honest, I was lacking knowledge in what is trending in the digital world. For instance, I did not have social media accounts like Instagram or Twitter until this course. Exploring the social media platforms gave me a better understanding of a 21st century library and the benefits it has on students and staff. Using these platforms allows library media specialists to promote library resources and engage and inform the school community.
Another insightful module was the exploration of infographics. A lot of the time we get an abundance of information and need or want to share, but don't want to bore the audience. Knowing how to create an infographic, to show data visually, and having multiple web applications to choose from will help relay important information to students and staff in a powerful way.
Believe it or not the most challenging module was exploring other blogs and creating my own blog page. After learning more about blogs and feed readers, I now know the benefits of having these resources. Librarians and teachers could both benefit from blogs and feed readers because it keeps us up to date with the newest and trending titles and resources available for all library users.
I believe the social media platforms and the use of YouTube will best benefit the student body. I say this because students as young as those in elementary are already using Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to engage in one of their favorite celebrity, game, or influencer. Social media is an excellent way for teachers to incorporate technology and keep students engaged. Instagram was a great way to have students post pictures of their projects or art work and Twitter is a good platform for students to post web pages and/or discuss important topics.
