Learning How To Code A Meme

Early morning selfie

I've been attending the first ever Mouse Squad Mozilla Webmaker Summer Institute for the last two days.  The Webmaker Institute is being held at New York University - MAGNET located in Brooklyn, New York.  I've learned so much about coding, creating meme's from scratch, using Moziilla Popcorn Marker and digital literacy.  Mouse Squad and Mozilla Software trainers are leading each hands on activity for 15 educators that have traveled here from across the country.  Here's a couple of pictures including my first meme I created from scratch.  Overall, this has been a great learning experience and I'm glad I participated.

Mouse Squad I.D.

I coded this meme!

!

I can't wait to show my students how to use Mozilla PopcornMaker

Group share out time.

I need more practice using Thimble!

Mouse Squad Digital Meet-Up Presentation

Yesterday's presentation for the Mouse Squad Digital Meet-Up was a great experience!  Here's the YouTube recording...Enjoy!

Black Girls Code

I am really geeked about this organization, Black Girls Code.  Created by Kimberly Bryant, Black Girls Code provides a world wide platform for black girls to demonstrate their abilities to code, and do so much more.  Through community workshops and after school programs, girls are introduced to computer coding lessons in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails.  By promoting classes and programs, Bryant hopes to grow the number of women of color working in technology and give underprivileged girls a chance to become the masters of their technological worlds.

The next workshop will be held during the summer of 2014 in Chicago.  Get ready, get set, CODE!

Pinterest and Black History Month

While watching Dr. Henry Louis Gates encore presentation of 'Many Rivers to Cross', I decided to create a new board on my Pinterest account.    The Black History Month Pinterest board highlights the achievements of African-Americans in American history and abroad.  You will find pictures, articles, school lessons and videos on this page that celebrates African-Americans.  There's also a little humor along with little known facts about people and events.

Pinterest is a social website where users can create, share and categorize images found online.   Users 'pin' items that are of 'interest' to them; this is why its named:  Pinterest.   Watch this cool tutorial video about the popular social media application here:  Pinterest Tutorial.    If you are still on the fence about Pinterest, access their Frequently Asked Questions page learn more about this site.  To fully enjoy the website, you must register and join which takes less than three minutes.

Like many, when I first joined Pinterest I merely viewed popular pins.  Eventually I because more comfortable with the site and began to create my own boards and re-pin items that were of interest to me.  Some of my boards are more developed than others, mainly because I'm enjoying other people's pins.  The one thing I enjoy about Pinterest the most is it serves as kind of a online locker for my interests and I can access them at any time.  Here's a screenshot of my board below.  There are over 200 pins about the subject of Black History.  Enjoy!

www.pinterest.com/boydkc/black-history 

TV and Production Class

Sharing...

Here's a really nice video the students in my TV and Production class produced last week.  It's a promotional video for my school, Wendell Phillips Academy High School.  

Enjoy!

Schoology @Phillips HS

Yes, my school is a Schoology school!

     Schoology is an online learning, classroom management, and social networking platform that improves learning through better communication, collaboration, and increased access to curriculum and supplemental content.   Teachers in my building use this website heavily and the students love it.  Many students have downloaded the app on their Android/iPhone devices and enjoy completing their classwork and homework assignments with greater ease.

     Below is a video highlighting how my co-worker, Ms Decker effectively integrates Schoology into her daily lessons.   Library Media Specialists:  This is another way you can support the curriculum at your school. Videotape your peers teaching lessons that successfully integrate technology and share it with other teachers.  Maybe just maybe, videos like this will inspire teachers to try integrating more technology in their classroom.

     Sorry for the shaky camera work.  I had the flu when I shot this video.

If you would like to learn more about Schoology, play the video below.

Apps for Research

I'm really excited.  Gale has an app for iPhone/iPad and Android for their databases.  So that I won't be repeating myself a million times after database orientation, I created a short tutorial in iMovie for the students.   I just hope they will find the mobile app to be a helpful tool when working on research papers/projects this year. 

Pinterest & School Librarians

Pinterest is my relaxing 'after work' activity.  Simply put, Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love.  In my case it can range from libraries/reading to make-up and anything pink...it just depends on what kind of mood I am in.  

I began using Pinterest last year after attending the CPS iPad Academy Technology Conference.   I met some teachers from Wisconsin who were heavy 'pinners' and they encouraged me to try it the popular site.  I've been hooked ever since.  I have this app on my cell phone, iPad and desktop computer.  

The really cool thing is that there is a large school library community on Pinterest.  This has been extremely helpful to me because I'm always looking to expand my Personal Learning Network beyond blogging.  This year, Pinterest has helped me improve my library displays.  Check out two of my boards, Library Displays and Library Bulletin Boards on my Pinterest page.  These pages influence the displays and bulletin boards below.

That's real popcorn glued to a piece of paper

Very simple displays, baskets from the dollar store

People often think I'm only familiar with Street Literature.  Not true!

School information infused with e-cards

My alma mater Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana

Making use of my wig stand from home!

My students love the Chicago Bears

This display is important.  Some of my freshman students did not have the experience of working
with a Librarian while enrolled in elementary school.  These pictures of me with popular
 authors, social media and pro library signage really helps.

I finally made use of the electronic picture frame that was given to me five years ago!!!

This is my little LOVE display next to the front door.

Weebly It Is!

I am DONE with my old library wikispace.....it can kick rocks!

I've decided to try Weebly after hearing rave reviews from my colleague at Brooks College Prep .  So far, Weebly has lived up to all I've heard.  Uploading content, template options (I did opt to pay for the extras on the site) and the overall look of the site has been great.  I'm still uploading content but here's a sneak preview.

The Phillips Library Media Center Website - http://phillipslmc.weebly.com 

The Phillips Library Media Center Website

CPS Tech Talk 2013

On Friday, February 1, 2013, Chicago Public Schools held 'Tech Talk', a energizing conference that highlights technology integration in K-12 education.  During the ceremony, I was one of eight educators that was awarded the 'Ones to Watch Award.'   This is a huge honor and I am very thankful for it.  Below are two presentations that I presented with LaVonna Williams and my co-worker Reginald Brown, Jr.   Check out the Tech Talk hashtag feed, #cpstt on Twitter to view related conversations from the day. 

Please enjoy the presentations and pictures below.

Lights! Camera! iPads! Phillips HS from K.C. Boyd

Nook Book Clubs: Learn How to Create A Club In Your School! - hirsch and phillips hs from K.C. Boyd

February 6, 2013 - Digital Learning Day

February 6, 2013 is Digital Learning Day!  Digital Learning Day is a national campaign that celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country.  This is Chicago Public School's second year participating in this nationwide initiative.   Here are four ways you can get your school involved:

#1. Show Digital Learning in Action at Your School! (Chicago Public Schools)
Record a short 1-2 minute YouTube video showing how digital learning  is being utilized at your school. Creativity is strongly encouraged! Submit your YouTube video to this form, http://
tinyurl.com/CPS-DLD13Form, for consideration on the CPS Digital Learning Day webpage.  Video
submissions are due by February 8th, 2013 at 5 PM.

#2. Meet Tech Talk 2013’s Ones to Watch!  (Chicago Public Schools)
Each year the Center for Digital Education helps CPS put on TechTalk, a one day conference dedicated to engaging staff in conversations around educational technology.  Learn about CPS TechTalk’s Ones To Watch 2013 and the excellent work they do daily in the district.  2013’s Ones to Watch Winners (Announced after February 1st, 2013)  For a list and bio of TechTalk 2012’s Ones to Watch Winners: http://cpstechtalk.blogspot.com/p/ones-to-watch-tech-leader-award.html

#3.  A Special Message from Jonathan Scott!
Chicago Bears player Jonathan Scott (#79, Tackle) has a special message for CPS about Digital
Learning Day 2013. Please visit http://vimeo.com/57653483  to view what he has to say.

#4. Join the National Conversation!
The Alliance for Excellent Education will be putting on a Digital Learning Town Hall Simulcast on
February 6th, 2013 from 12-1:30 PM.  This online event will celebrate dignitaries, policymakers,
and education leaders from around the country.  Visit http://digitallearningday.eventbrite.com/ to
sign up.

Last year, I submitted the video below for consideration for the CPS Digital Learning Day.  I didn't exactly follow the directions (LOL!) but I was pleasantly surprised that a couple of clips from my school were actually included in the district's compilation video (2nd video).

@The Phillips Library from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.